Image kindly supplied by David Evans

Walsall Wood FC travelled on Tuesday evening (1st November 2016) to Tividale, and came home with a good win, hopefully signalling a return to form.

Walsall Wood Football Club are a top local side with a big-hearted faithful who know how to have a great time supporting their lads, and welcome all to enjoy great local soccer. The boys from The Wood have been at the heart of the local community for a century or more, so please do go check out a match or two if you’re curious.

Bill Shaw was there as ever, and cautiously welcomed what he saw:

Hiya Bob,

A step in the right direction, a win to start November off.

Tividale, let’s not forget are in 21st place, Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday will give us a better idea of if we have banished the lethargy that was painfully obvious for all to see during October. Ashley Jackson started his first game since breaking his ankle on 17th August, he collected a knock on the ankle in the 43rd minute and was taken off. We are hoping it’s not too bad. Joey Butlin came on and scored, his first goal since his brace against Brocton on 23rd August.

New young signing Romeao Hutton with a goal and an assist looks an exciting prospect, but time will tell.

Hopefully more good news to report on Bonfire Night.

P.P. League Cup
Tividale 0 v 3 Walsall Wood

A comfortable win for Wood to start November off, to move on to an away game in Round Two at either AFC Wulfrunians or Shawbury United.

A lively start by both sides but both teams seeing neat approach play break down on the edge of the opposition  box.

On 13 minutes a clever interchange wide right involving Craig Deakin and Romeao Hutton (making his Wood debut) won Wood a right wing corner.  The flag kick to the far post met by a header by Ben Birch, the ball bouncing clear off the bar. Six minutes later a left wing free kick was played into the path of Steven Hayles to fire first time wide.

Dale’s first effort came on 20 minutes, Dan Smith releasing Lewis McPike into the centre of the box only for him to fire straight into the arms of keeper Andy Hughes.

Within a minute Wood were ahead, the ball played forward to Karl Edwards to release Hutton into the centre of the box and he opened his Wood account with a rising drive into the top right hand corner of the net.

An immediate reply saw an intricate right to left move across the face of the Wood box, Birch with a great tackle stopping Smith.  On 30 minutes McPike was released into the right of the box, his low drive deflected just wide.

Tividale finished the half on top but couldn’t break down a well organised defence.

Two minutes into the second half a long clearance by Wood keeper Hughes was headed on by Edwards to find Drew Aiton, he cleverly made space and fired a low drive just wide.

On 51 minutes a ball into the right of the box was met by Smith, keeper Hughes out quickly and bravely to save at his feet.

On 58 minutes Hutton raced clear wide right and crossed to the far post, Joey Butlin getting to the ball a split second before keeper Luke Kriskinans to force the ball home. Nine minutes later Wood wrapped the game up, a left wing corner was half cleared to Drew Aiton who found Leon Taylor on the left of the six yard box, his low drive making it three-nil as the player coach kept up his ‘Supersub’ tag.

On 76 minutes a piece of magic by Taylor and Butlin put Hutton in on goal, his first time rising drive deflected just over. A minute later a long ball forward was collected at pace by Taylor, he held off two defenders and fired wide of the left hand post. Butlin, Aiton and Taylor all went close as Wood kept the pressure on, but they couldn’t add to their goal tally.

Wood’s second win in eight games, they played with far more purpose and passion last night than they had in previous outings.  Let’s not get carried away by this result, it was lowly Tividale remember, Shepshed Dynamo away on Saturday will present a far sterner test, but it was a step in the right direction.

Bill Shaw.

The Teams:

Tividale – Kriskinans, Hurdman, Bustin, Wedderburn, M. Hunt, Stevens (captain), McPike, Grainger, Smith, J. Hunt, Jones, Bates, Potter, Preston.

Walsall Wood – Hughes, Deakin, Hayles, Boothe, Birch, Juxon, Hutton, Harris (captain), Edwards, Beckett, Jackson, Mansell, Taylor, Butlin, Graham, Aiton.

Walsall Wood F.C. As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!