Goal number two

The afternoon glow in the distance is mirrored by the glow on the players’ faces

Celebration time. The sun and the hard synthetic playing surface are unforgiving

Another goal to the Wood following accurate passing and ball-play. Delightful controlled soccer.

Second half now and its goal number three. How will Chelmsley respond?

Celebration time number two as some spectators leave to seek re-hydration. Understandable

Chelmlsey, in Blue, welcome Walsall Wood to the fitted carpet at Coleshill.

Celebration time number 1

A game characterised by accurate passing and off- the ball running in today’s sporting contest

Hard work under the glare of the firece summer sun…for all the players.

Celebration time number three as some dejection creeps in to Chelmlsey. The Wood are flying high

One more goal. Chelmsley’s substitute goalkeeper is severely put to the test.

But the home side are not done for and mount a spirited resurgence

Joey Butlin soon begins to weave his magic on this billiard-table smooth synthetic non-grass pitch , in the semi-tropical heat

Taking still photos today the Wood’s expert cameraman and two WWFC stalwarts are transfixed by the excellent soccer display being put on by the WWFC team today. Come on the Wood!

And another celebration. The Wood are unstoppable this afternoon

To their eternal credit Chelmsley played positive sporting soccer and gave total commitment all through the match

With doubtless thoughts of a post-match refreshing shower and possibility of a glass of lemonade in their minds, the players toil away: the Wood keen to keep a clean sheet, and clean kit, too

A close shave as the Wood challenge Chelmsley

first goal to the Wood . There would be seven by the end of the match

Images and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans

A stonking away win for Walsall Wood again last Bank Holiday Monday (28th August 2017) as they demolished Chelmsley Town on the astroturf at Coleshill.

Bill Shaw was there, and while happy, isn’t counting the chickens just yet:

Hiya Bob,

League leaders Chelmsley Town had won five out of six but hadn’t beaten anyone of note, in fact Atherstone Town beaten four-one by Wood on Saturday had beaten them six-one on Saturday 12^th August.  The form book was again proved right as Wood just swept them aside with a very impressive performance that will have everyone thinking that their pre-season favourite tag was more than justified, as they are now the only team in the division with a 100% record in August with 20 scored and only three conceded.

Littleton are the visitors on Saturday, they haven’t had a brilliant start but Wood are now certainly the team to beat and the opposition will be raising their games accordingly.

There are interesting times ahead at the Wood, as well as exciting ones.  Come down and see for yourself.

Chelmsley Town 0 v 7 Walsall Wood

Wood who are now the only side with a 100% record (five out of five) took their time before going ahead against the league leaders, 2-0 up at the break they ran riot in the last 30 minutes. A superb performance by stand in keeper Chris Gummery kept the score in single figures as he made a string of brave saves late on.

Wood were in control from the start but the home side worked hard to restrict space. On 12 minutes Lewis Hayden made the right of the box, cut the ball back into the path of Paul Sullivan whose first time low drive was well held by keeper Michael Turner. A minute later it was Peter Till racing clear wide left, his vicious low cross missed by everyone.

Images supplied by Russell Smith from TheWoodTV – check our the website for more professional match media here!

A minute later a clumsy, untidy, high clearance from the Wood found Alex Knight to volley an effort out of the ground. 16 minutes gone Till released wide left, his low cross found Lewis Taylor Boyce whose first time drive came back off the bar, Joey Butlin first to the loose ball, his shot blocked on the line. It was Butlin a minute later beating the off side trap as he raced into the left of the box, Turner out to meet him as he fired a low drive wide. A lovely right wing move saw Craig Deakin play the ball inside to Butlin to set up Sullivan, his low drive superbly saved. The goal Wood deserved came on 29 minutes, Danny Okojie collected the ball wide left, came inside and hit a cross to the far post that beat Turner to nestle in the far corner of the net. Call it what you will but that’s the third identical goal in 2 months. Wood won the ball back from the restart, Sullivan making the left of the box, his cross cum shot bouncing to safety off the top of the bar with Turner beaten. On 45 minutes Okojie wide left crossed to the far post for Butlin to volley home. Right on half time Deakin ran through a tiring defence, played the ball right to Butlin who fired first time wide.

It took Wood just four minutes of the second half to put the game to bed, Okojie wide left finding Sullivan in the box, he got to the byeline, crossed low for Butlin to fire home number three. Town then replaced keeper Turner with outfield substitute Chris Gummery who made a couple of good saves but he was powerless on 66 minutes when Jordan Fitzpatrick raced clear wide left, his low cross fired home by Sullivan.

To their credit Town tried to take the game to Wood, two minutes later Richard Lernihan powered in a header from a right wing cross to bring a full length save from Wood keeper Lloyd Ransome.

Back came Wood, two minutes later Fitzpatrick made space wide right, his ball inside found Butlin whose low drive was pushed away by Gummery. The defence couldn’t get the ball away, Sullivan running onto a ball from the left, turning defenders inside out before calmly slotting home number five. It was Sullivan cutting inside from wide left five minutes later, Gummery saving bravely at his feet. four minutes later a ball over the top of the defence into the left of the box was collected at pace by Clarke who cut inside his marker, his low cross shot pushed out by Gummery. Lewis Taylor Boyce first to react to score into the roof of the net. On 84 minutes Clarke raced into the right of the box, going down under a clumsy challenge – penalty – Sullivan – who else – hat trick – seven-nil. In the last five minutes Clarke was denied three times by the brave Gummery in one on one situations, before right on time the keeper raced from his line to deny the impressive Sullivan.

Wood with five wins from five move ominously into second place, a point behind new leaders Studley, but with two games in hand. They controlled this game from start to finish and could have had 12 or more if stand in keeper Chris Gummery hadn’t turned in a five star performance.

It’s Littleton the visitors on Saturday, is there still needle from season 2012-13? Why not come down the Wood and see?

The Teams:

Chelmsley Town – Turner, Keeley, Sadler, Casey, Kent, N. Ellis, Knight, R. Ellis, Mills, Lernihan, Williams, Egege, Sweeney, Taylor, Gummery, Barrett.

Walsall Wood – Ransome, Deakin, Okojie, Westwood, Campion (captain), McFarlane, Till, Hayden, Sullivan, Butlin, Taylor Boyce, Clarke, Jones, Fitzpatrick, Slater, Faultless.

Thanks for the report and wonderful pictures are due to Bill, David and Russell – thanks lads for great coverage as ever. For the good of tThe Wood!