Long range clearance and dash brings Coleshills second goal.

A daylight game of soccer played in slippers on this synthetic grass surface. Different. Very different.

Coleshill in white shake hands with WWFC before the start of the match …and no minute’s silence.

Fast and furious was the order of the day for Coleshill. The Wood are seen here in an early attacking move through a vociferous Coleshill defence

Second half and the Wood break through and come so close to scoring much to the chagrin of Coleshill defence

Some high kicking moments caused the heart to skip a beat. This one caught the attention of the official. There were others.

The home team go strangely silent here, as amazingly a clear handball by the defender goes unseen One of those games.

Long range clearance balls and mad dash tactics by Coleshill dominated the game. First goal seen here following an accurate shot

Another unsuccessful attack by the Wood as Coleshill’s bemused players look on

A goal to the Wood in the second half leaves the goalkeeper looking on .

The final whistle brings this match to an end.

Another goal to Coleshill from the same tactic. Effective.

Second half and the Wood work their way to score their second goal, but Coleshill’s well worked tactic which suited the different playing surface was to bring them victory.

But there were a few moments of soccer skilful footwork by several players in both teams, which went some way to gladdening the heart in this up and under/ blitzkrieg style of football.

Images and captions by the young David Evans, still clearly bearing a grudge over astroturf.

Walsall Wood FC disappointed the fans yesterday (Saturday 25th March 2017) when they lost to Coleshill Town in a high scoring match.

Bill Shaw was there, and as usual, isn’t mincing his words…

Hiya Bob,

The four game unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt on the Coleshill plastic.  It’s still tight at the bottom with Wood still five points clear of 20^th place.  However players must realise that when you are in trouble that communication is extremely important at all times no matter what.

Still a lot of football to be played, the next three at home, Highgate Saturday 1^st April, Long Eaton Saturday 8^th and Rocester Tuesday 11^th.

Now nine points would see us safe, so come on folk, get behind the team and keep us in the Midland League Premier division – please.

For the Good of the Wood.

Coleshill Town 5 v 2 Walsall Wood

Coleshill kept alive their slim title hopes with this Simeon Cobourne inspired performance.  Wood just couldn’t handle the diminutive wide man who spelled danger every time he had the ball.

On two minutes a long ball over the top of the Wood defence saw keeper Adam Jenkins race out of the area to kick clear from Mykel Beckley.

Wood had the first shot on target after nine minutes, James Spray holding the ball up before laying it back to Michael Williams who cleverly released Liam Molesworth into the right of the box, his first time rising drive pushed away by keeper Paul Hathaway.

On 10 minutes a left wing corner was played short to Dean Rathbone on the left edge of the box, he took one touch and curled the ball into the far corner to open the scoring.  It was almost two when four minutes later Mykel Beckley dissected the centre of the Wood defence to put Simeon Cobourne in on goal, Jenkins sticking out a right foot to keep the ball out. On 24 minutes a weak back header saw Jenkins race to kick clear from Beckley – just.

A minute later a powerful Williams run left of centre saw his pass out wide collected at pace by Spray, his low powerful cross missed by everyone.

On 31 minutes Rathbone raced onto a ball left of centre, his low 25 yard drive tipped onto the left hand post by Jenkins, the ball bounced off the inside of the post across the goal before going out for a corner just beyond the right hand post. Five minutes later Tom Weale powered forward and fed Cobourne wide right, his lovely ball inside found Rathbone, his first time low drive pushed away at full stretch by Jenkins. The second goal came on 39 minutes Rathbone raced onto a ball through the centre, played the ball out to Giovanni Dainty on the right of the box, he cut back inside his marker and arrowed the ball into the far corner of the net giving keeper Jenkins no chance.

Six minutes into the second half a ball from Williams was headed down by Butlin into the path of half time substitute Josh Mansell who ran at goal but under pressure finished weakly to give Hathaway a comfortable save. Three minutes later Butlin held the ball up wide right before finding Molesworth inside, he laid the ball back into the path of Drew Aiton whose first time low drive was diverted just wide. From the left wing corner the ball fell to Aiton, this time his shot was blocked.

On 56 minutes a long ball out of defence was collected at pace by Cobourne who went on a right to left diagonal run, his ball into the left of the box found Beckley, Rikki Bains saving Wood with a superbly timed challenge. Two minutes later Cobourne made the left byeline, his ball inside hit first time by Beckley deflecting off a defender towards the right hand post for Dainty to tuck home

Number three, three minutes later Josh Quaynor raced from halfway into the left of the box, Jenkins saving bravely at his feet. On 68 minutes a neat left wing move ended with the ball into the box finding Beckley, his rising drive superbly saved.

On 70 minutes Mansell hit a ball from wide right into the near post, Butlin holding the ball up before turning and firing into the roof of the net to give Wood a glimmer of hope. Within two minutes the three goal cushion was restored, Quaynor’s ball inside from wide left found Rathbone on the left of the box, he took one touch and buried the ball in the far corner. Four minutes later a long ball forward was cleverly won by Curvin Ellis who ran into the box, his pinpoint diagonal ball found Beckley who made no mistake to make it five-one.

Wood then lost substitute Lewis Taylor Boyce to two yellow cards but on 76 minutes pulled a goal back, a move left of centre gave Butlin a shooting chance, his shot was blocked but he was first to react playing the ball back to Mansell to hammer the ball home through a crowded box,

There was still time for former Wood favourite Andre Gonzales to set up Dainty, Jenkins tipping over his rising drive. Another ball in from Gonzales right on time was somehow headed wide by Ellis from five yards with the goal gaping.

For once this season the form book was proved right, but 11^th hour changes didn’t help Wood who had to make tactical changes just hours before kick-off.

Highgate (never an easy game) next for Wood at home on April Fools Day.

Bill Shaw.

The Teams:

Coleshill Town – Hathaway (captain), Gonzales, Quaynor, Weale, Fishwick, Mulligan, Dainty, Taylor, Beckley, Rathbone, Cobourne, Leek, Tymon, Ellis, Evans, Shaw.

Walsall Wood – Jenkins, Williams, Deakin, Brooks, Bains, Wood, Aiton, Adams, Butlin (captain), Spray, Molesworth, Taylor Boyce, L. Harris, Mansell, Taylor, Henry Harris.

As ever, thanks to Bill and David for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!