Some delightful, sporting soccer duels graced the match today.

And so nearly a well-worked goal to Romulus, late in the second half.

Romulus played in yellow and black at Oak Park today

A moment to celebrate, then its back to work for both teams. Romulus so far undaunted.

An excellent goal, from a clever combination of close passing, and the Wood’s second goal

A cracking goal and number three to the Wood

Take that, Walsall Wood! Romulus get it right to score this peach of a goal in the second half

And it seemed that everything went right for the Wood reserves again today.

Well-deserved celebrations after the Wood’s first goal. How would Romulus respond?

Romulus goal-scorer keen to get on with the match

Yes, another goal to the Wood and some frustration becomes apparent in the Romulus team…

Within a few moments into the second half and the Wood continue their pressure. Goal !

A brief moment of celebration then its back to work, again. Wood are on song!

Some superb inter-play and accurate passing made this match a delight to spectate

The match ends with handshakes after a very sporting match. Well done both teams.

Wood score another goal as Romulus were caught cold, late in the second half

Romulus turned up the pressure to strive to score a goal with effort, concentration and determination.

Romulus on the attack in the first half. Both teams played excellent accurate soccer

An early goal to the Wood.

That magic moment of sheer elation when you score a sweet, sweet goal. Number four to the Wood

Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans

It’s now late February and the mixed fortunes at Oak Park continue – the first team still have yet to bag a win in 2017, and came back from Quorn with a score draw to show; but the reserve team continue their stonking run of good form, beating Romulus 6-1.

David Evans watched the reserves, and Bill Shaw travelled to Quorn.

David wrote:

WWFC Reserves 6 v 1 Romulus

Romulus fielded a ten- man side from the kick-off, and were at a disadvantage, but credit to the Wood who played some very good positive football today.

An excellent, proficient and confident performance by Walsall Wood. Romulus outplayed by clever tactics and skill throughout.

Yeasterday afternoon (Saturday, 25th February), Walsall Wood F.C. faced Quorn F.C. away, and after a challenging match, the Woodmen came home with another score draw. Bill Shaw was there, and as usual, doesn’t mince his words:

Hiya Bob,

We came home with a  point, but it really should have been all three, the situation at the bottom is so tight with only eight points between the team in 20^th Highgate United and the team in 9^th Long Eaton United.

To survive, Wood are going to have to start winning, starting with Rocester at the Wood on Saturday.

Quorn 1 v 1 Walsall Wood

A goal by Callum Thompson two minutes from time gave Quorn a share of the spoils but Wood had wasted a host of first half chances that should have seen them out of sight, but their lack of finishing power saw them almost pay the ultimate price.

It took just three minutes to open the scoring, Liam Molesworth picking up the ball on halfway and running at the defence, he played the ball forward to Joey Butlin and carried on his run into the right of the box, Butlin held off two tackles and found Molesworth who was unceremoniously bundled over, penalty, which Drew Aiton hammered home. On nine minutes Charlie Shaw played the ball out wide left to Aiton who cut inside into the box, his low drive blocked. Butlin first to the loose ball, but his shot was charged down.

A minute later Callum Thompson went on a right wing run, his far post cross met by a header from Nathan Dale that keeper Adam Jenkins pushed round the post. On 19 minutes Dale got clear wide right, his low driven cross deflecting off a defender and flashing across the face of goal. With 28 minutes gone Leavi Oshungbure made the right of the box, his cross headed weakly goalwards by Dale giving Jenkins an easy save.

A minute later Molesworth went on a right to left crossfield run, played a neat one-two with Butlin but finished weakly. It was Molesworth a minute later releasing Butlin into the right of the box, keeper Taylor McMillan saving bravely at his feet.

On 43 minutes Dale crossed into the centre from wide left, Jenkins racing from his line to kick clear from Oshungbure.

A minute later Molesworth again released Butlin into the right of the box, McMillan with another brave block. Right on halftime Butlin cleverly held the ball up on the left of the box before putting Aiton in on goal, his low cross shot flying inches wide with the keeper beaten.

Just a minute into the second half Butlin cut inside from wide left before firing in a cross shot from an impossible angle that landed on the roof of the net. Two minutes later Aiton went on a left to right crossfield run and set up Josh Mansell to fire a cross shot inches wide.

On 51 minutes James Hick put Thompson clear on the right of the box, his vicious low cross superbly taken at his near post by Jenkins.

Five minutes later Craig Deakin’s long ball forward found Butlin who was fouled just left of the D, he took the free kick himself, McMillan pushing the ball onto his right hand post.  From the left wing corner James Jepson powered a header towards his own goal, McMillan with a brilliant reflex save.  On 64 minutes Butlin raced into the left of the box, he pulled the ball back to Aiton his first time rising drive bringing another great save from McMillan.

Two minutes after that a long high ball forward saw substitute Suleiman Nassor outmuscle two defenders before running on but  under pressure finishing weakly.  On 75 minutes a left wing corner to the far post was headed back across goal by Niall Mather, Deakin heading the ball off the line. Two minutes later a right wing corner was met by Mather to head over the angle.

On 81 minutes Deakin played Aiton clear wide left, he crossed into the centre, Butlin powered in a header that McMillan somehow pushed onto the bar.  From the corner Sam Brooks put his header just over.  On 83 minutes Butlin collected a ball on the right of the box, his vicious cross shot superbly held by McMillan.

After 86 minutes a left wing corner was headed wide at the far post by Simon Alcott. A minute later a right wing cross was headed goalwards by Thompson, Jenkins with a point blank save. With a minute left, a right wing cross deflected off the head of a defender to the far post and Thompson bundled home the equaliser.

Wood came within two minutes of their first win of 2017, but all credit to the home side for never giving up until the very end.

Next up for Wood it’s Rocester at home this coming Saturday, as the situation at the bottom looks to encompass anyone from 9^th place downwards, with no-one looking safe.

Bill Shaw

The Teams:

Quorn – McMillan, Alcott, Dodds, Mather, Selway, Juma, Dale, Oshungbure (captain), Hicks, Jepson, Thompson, Nassor, Asamoah, Turner, Goold, Hoult.

Walsall Wood – Jenkins, Williams, Adams, Juxon, Bains, Brooks, Molesworth, Shaw, Butlin (captain), Aiton, Mansell, Deakin, H. Harris, Taylor-Boyce, Rickards, Taylor.

Thanks to Bill Shaw for the report and David Evans for the photos – much appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!