To a loud cheer from all the spectators the match gets under way as the sun shines and the wind blows.

Second half and the Wood need to get another goal to make sure. Would the Wood?

Some excellent determined soccer to delight all the crowd. Bostin!

Good to see Bill Shaw here today in the balcony… with friend. Bill’s wearing gloves.

first goal to the Wood and a moment to celebrate. This is going to be an interesting sporting encounter…with the tempo increasing as the game progressed. Delightful.

The teams emerge, with HInkley sporting an all- purple strip. This is going to be a good, good match!

second half and Hinkley repeatedly put the Wood under pressure and the away supporters clutch the railings, after sampling the local spring water in the Tap Room. Love a good game of soccer.

Pause for thought and a word of wisdom, then its back to the game, chaps. Rightyho, old bean.

This thrilling contest ends with applause from all the spectators. True sporting soccer shone through, today. All the players were a credit to their clubs….as were the Hinkley away supporters.

This match was played out in true sporting spirit and bright sunshine. ,

Tussles, there were quite a few, but all played out in sporting manner. Good to spectate

Brief moment to celebrate then its back to work for HInkley

Catch me if you can……yes, he did!

Second goal to the Wood. Spot the ball. How will Hinkley respond?

Celebration…..but the game ain’t over by any means….

An excellent well-worked goal to Hinkley. A wake-up call for the Wood…ahem..

So close, so often in the second half. Cracking soccer, by two good sides.

HInkley respond with vigour –positive, uncomplaining sporting soccer being played by Hinkley, making their first visit here..- enjoying every minute. A captivating contest.

Images and captions kindly supplied by the young David Evans

Yesterday afternoon (Saturday 28th October 2017) had Walsall Wood at home to entertain visitors Hinckley, and Walsall Wood continued their wining streak – but not without a hard fight.

Bill Shaw was there, as ever, and sent the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

Another three points but it certainly was by no means easy.  Hinckley scored all the goals, unfortunately for them two into their own net.

There was some good football played by both sides but each team struggled to break down well organised defences.

The win keeps Wood four points adrift of leaders Studley but still with two games in hand.

Bill Shaw (centre left) brings his white-haired mate (centre right) to the match. You need to eat more pies, Bill. Image appropriated from David’s set above.

Walsall Wood 2 v 1 Hinckley

Another hard earned three points for Wood as they keep the gap to leaders Studley at four. Two goals from the Hinckley central defenders midway through the first half had put Wood firmly in control but a double save by keeper Tyrell Belford on 41 minutes kept them in the game, they then went up the other end and Steve Hart scored a peach, suddenly it was a very different contest but Wood defended superbly to record their first double of the season.

The visitors opened brightly, on five minutes a long ball forward by keeper Tyrell Belford was headed down by Josh Willis into the path of Steve Hart, he raced into the right of the box, keeper Lloyd Ransome saving bravely at his feet.

On 10 minutes a right wing run by Lewis Hayden saw him release Tony Clarke into the right of the box, he cut inside and went down under a clumsy challenge, loud penalty shouts ignored. Six minutes later Sam Agar pounced on a poor clearance on the right edge of the box, his neat ball back found Clarke who ran across the face of the box only to have his shot blocked.  Wood went ahead on 24 minutes, Clarke raced away wide left, had the benefit of the bounce as he made the box, his vicious low cross put into his own net by Dominic Perkins under pressure from Agar.  From the re-start Wood won the ball back, Mitch Tolley released Clarke wide left, he cut inside and hit a rising drive that brought a superb full length save from Belford.

Peter Till was fouled wide left on 32 minutes, Jordan Fitzpatrick fired in the free kick that bounced off the inside of the far post and back across goal, with a posse of Wood players bearing down on him Richard Munday headed into his own net to put Wood two nil ahead.

On 41 minutes Hayden played Clarke into the right of the box, he cut inside, Belford saved bravely at his feet, Clarke swung a foot at the loose ball, Belford somehow keeping the ball out from a kneeling position.

Yet more wonderful, professional match footage from the indefatigable Russell Smith for Thewood-TV – check out their site here.

A minute later a left wing move ended with Hart cutting inside and scoring just inside the near post, putting a totally different slant on the half time team talks.

Hinckley came out at the start of the second half with all guns blazing, first it was Willis putting a header inches over on 47 minutes, a minute later Isaac Cooper cut in from wide left to fire over the far angle. Three minutes later a crossfield ball picked out Marcus Jackson wide right, his far post cross bouncing inches wide. Two minutes later Cooper delivered a howitzer long throw, Perkins just wide with a stooping header.

On 62 minutes a right wing cross from Till was headed back across goal by Fitzpatrick, Andrew Westwood off balance pushing the ball wide.

Four minutes later substitute Bekir Halil fired in a right wing cross under the bar, Ransome acrobatically pushing the ball over. Three minutes later Perkins and Halil combined wide right, Halils’ cross headed goalwards by Willis, Ransome with a comfortable save. On 75 minutes another long throw into the box dropped into the centre, Ransome dropping onto the loose ball.

On 87 minutes a long ball forward into the right of the box was fired goalwards by Hart, Ransome with a superb full length save. On 90 minutes Luke Richards raced into the right of the box, Tolley with a superbly timed challenge.  Into injury time and from a left wing corner Hart put a header onto the roof of the net.

For the third home game in succession Wood were made to work really hard for the victory and being honest a draw would have been a fair result.

It’s JW Hunt cup action on Tuesday night at Gornal Athletic before next Saturday Wood visit bottom club Coventry Alvis.

Bill Shaw.

The Teams:

Walsall Wood – Ransome, Hayden, Deakin, Meakin-Richards, McFarlane, Tolley (captain), Till Westwood, Agar, Clarke, Fitzpatrick, Hurren, Taylor Boyce, Slater, Okojie, Gould.

Hinckley – Belford, Williams, Tomlinson, Perkins, Munday, Lavery Cooper, Willis, Thornton, Hart, Jackson, Healy, Halil, Richards, Minto, Rad.

I know many of you lot love the match reports and news from Oak Park, and it’s great to be able to share them: I thank Bill Shaw profusely – he’s a top bloke.

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 comers to come 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.

I guarantee you’ll have more fun cheering on the local chaps than you ever will watching the over-priced prima donnas on TV…

For the good of The Wood!