A loss for the wood, but onwards and upwards, hopefully.

It was a tough match at Oak park last Tuesday as Walsall Wood FC faced Wolverhampton Sporting Community FC, and sadly, the home side lost two nil.

Bill Shaw  submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

Some will say justice was done, but Wood struggled to put a side out because of FA restrictions, the proof of how the new management team are doing will come when they can field their first choice team, starting with Saturday’s game at home to Tividale, followed by the visit of AFC Wulfrunians on Tuesday next.

Staffs Senior Cup
Walsall Wood 0 v 2 W’ton Sporting Community

Sporting went through to the next round and an away tie against Hednesford, Wood feeling benevolent kicked off, lost the ball and after just 22 seconds the visitors had back their lead from December’s abandoned game. A late goal wrapped the game up as Wood’s frailty in front of goal surfaced again.

It couldn’t have started worse for Wood, they kicked off lost the ball, John Letford raced clear wide left, delivered the ball to the near post for skipper Dan Westwood to open the scoring with just 22 seconds on the clock.

Shell-shocked Wood took 15 minutes to threaten the away goal, Steven Hayles got clear wide left, his cross fired just wide by Joey Butlin. It was Butlin again 10 minutes later, Ricardo Ricketts playing a ball up to him on the right edge of the box, his low drive deflected just wide.

Three minutes later Chris Rabone charged into the left of the Wood box only to drag a cross shot narrowly wide.

For the next 15 minutes both sides had half chances but couldn’t get the all-important next goal. Wood then put the visitors under intense pressure as we approached the break, Ashley Jackson cut inside from wide right and fired a cross shot just wide. Butlin raced into the left of the box, his low drive bringing a great full length save from keeper James Gettings. Drew Aiton then crossed from wide right to the far post, the ball just inches away from Leon Taylor. Finally Hayles crossed from wide left to find Aiton on the right of the box, his first time rising drive finger-tipped onto the bar by Gettings.

Five minutes into the second half Letford went on a left wing run, his near post cross hit first time by Dimitri Dunkley, keeper Lewis Gwilliams with a superb save. It was Letford again racing through the centre 10 minutes later before setting up Dunkley, he beat Gwilliams but Ricketts stopped the ball on the line, Dunkley stabbing the loose ball wide of the left hand post.

On 67 minutes a flowing right wing Wood move saw Jackson cut inside from wide right and find Butlin, his touch set up Aiton to fire first time high and wide.

With 78 minutes gone and Kyle Delaney intercepted a ball on halfway and raced for goal through the centre only to fire wide of the advancing Gwilliams and the post.

Within a minute the game was sewn up, a quick throw in by Alex Moore on the left found Chris Rabone in the left of the box, his cross cum shot deceiving Gwilliams and nestling in the far corner.

Wood kept trying to get back in the game but this wasn’t their night and the visitors progressed through to the next round at Hednesford.

It’s back to league action for Wood with four home games before they finish the month with a visit to St. Andrews of Leicester, weather permitting of course.

Bill Shaw

The Teams:

Walsall Wood – Gwilliams, Ricketts, Hayles, Mansell, L. Harris, Juxon, Taylor, H. Harris,
Butlin (captain), Aiton, Jackson, Graham, Beckett, O’Doherty, Strazzanti, Okojie.

Wolves Sporting – Gettings, Harvey, Delaney, Haynes, Vaughan, Barnes, Dunkley, Northwood, Westwood (captain), Letford, Rabone, Fuller, Moore, Franco, McErdy, Clarke.

Thanks to Bill for the report, as ever.It’s a joy and an honour to publish them here.

For The Good of the Wood!