First half and the first goal to the Wood as the matchball ( yellow) finds a place in the sproutbag.

First half and a fine urgent clearance kick by Bolehall, as the Wood turn up the pressure, incrementally. Smashing game to spectate, and played on real grass with liberal coatings of mud.

The Wood score another goal, seen in the distance from the shelter of the stand. Later in the second half

First half and Bolehall show their determination as they attack the Wood goalmouth. Game on!

First half and one of many magic moments of pure skill and sport. Delightful.

At the limit of my camera now. The sun has set and the temperature has fallen, un-noticed by any of the determined players. That sort of a positive sporting match.

First half corner kick and players take up their strategic positions to break free within a flash. Love soccer.

Second half and Bolehall mount a spirited attack on the Wood.

The contest was played in a determined and totally sporting manner. A credit to both teams

Bolehall Swifts vs Walsall Wood FC on a sharp, cold, bright December afternoon. Real non-league winter soccer

The Wood are on song, today and are playing smooth, sweet, accurate football. Bostin.

A terrific powerful header by no 10 scores the third goal to the Wood. First half still.

Celebration time and Bonce- polishing time for the Wood. A tradition

Second half and its goal number four for the Wood. Magic football being played today.

Clear sky, low-level winter sunshine and the appeal of a soccer match in the refreshing clean air.

Second half, played under floodlights. A Virgin dashes past in the near distance

Early in the first half and some neat passes and accurate kicking by both teams.

Bolehall played in their home strip of green and yellow.

Some of the visiting spectators. In fine melodious voice, of course.

Second goal to the Wood. Bolehall’s goalkeeper was put to the test today.

Then its all over and ghostly figures emerge from off-camera to shake hands with their opponents. A totally captivating game to spectate and a credit to the sport, this match today.

Celebration and head –polishing moment after goal no 4. Huge smiles all round. Wood supporters are over the moon simultaneously keeping their chilled feet firmly on the ground. Only WWFC

Goal scorer’s communal head massage moment.

Later in the second half. A chill in the air, a stamp of the feet to keep warm, but on the field both teams are working hard. Bolehall are undaunted. Real, real soccer match, this.

Images and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans

Must say, it’s nice to be featuring reports of Walsall Wood FC getting back on their winning run – yesterday, Saturday 23rd December 2017 they travelled to Tamworth to face Bolehall, and after a good-spirited match they came away the victors, again by a considerable margin.

Bill Shaw sent the following report:

Hiya Bob,

Five goals and a clean sheet as Wood delivered an early Christmas present to their supporters, but the icing on the cake came with the defeat of Leicester Road by lowly Nuneaton Griff, a result that nobody could have foreseen.  Proving that there are no easy games in this division.

Thanks for the coverage, all the support and the good wishes health-wise, it’s all very much appreciated.

One thing to be sure of, the next four months are going to be exciting.

Keep the faith.

Bolehall Swifts 0 v 5 Walsall Wood

Back to normal service for the Wood, when Stan Mugisha fired home number five it was Woods’ 100th goal of the season in all competitions. An early Christmas present came with Nuneaton Griff winning 2-0 at Leicester Road cutting the gap at the top to five points still with four games in hand.

Within a minute Jake Humphries won the ball on halfway, ran on and fired a 30 yard effort into the top right hand corner, keeper Mathew Hill pushing the ball over the top.

Wonderfully professional match footage as ever,  from Russell Smith and The-wood.tv

On six minutes Aaron O’Neill raced onto a ball wide left, cut inside before hitting a near post drive that was pushed away by keeper Lloyd Ransome standing tall.

Four minutes later Humphries ran onto a ball into the right of the box, his low drive blocked. Fifteen minutes gone and Lee Butler won the ball wide left and fed Peter Till down the line, his cross headed goalwards by Sam Agar, Hill saving well.  8 minutes later Ransome launched a left wing free kick forwards, Paul Sullivan, reading the flight of the ball perfectly, ran on before coolly slotting the ball past the advancing Hill. Four minutes later Till cut inside from wide left, crossed for Humphries to hit first time, Hill with a superb point blank save. On 30 minutes Callum McFarlane played the ball forward into the box, Daniel Wain headed the ball out to Agar whose 25 yard rising drive was superbly saved by Hill at full stretch.

Seven minutes later O’Neill got clear wide left, cut inside and hit a rising near post drive that was well held by Ransome.

On 42 minutes a free kick left of the D by Jordan Fitzpatrick was too hot for Hill to put Wood two up.  Wood won the ball back from the restart and Till won a left wing corner. The flag kick bulleted home by the head of Agar.

Four minutes into the second half Agar was put clear by Humphries and he calmly slotted the ball past the advancing Hill.  A minute later Agar outpaced Wain through the centre, his low drive bouncing to safety off the foot of the left hand post.

On 54 minutes a neat move through the centre ended with substitute Kory Burke racing into the right of the box, Ransome making a great near post save.

Four minutes later McFarlane crossed from wide left to find Craig Deakin in the centre of the D, his shot back across goal going well wide.  An appalling misplaced crossfield pass put Agar clear to run into the box, Hill out bravely to save at his feet. Two minutes later Agar raced into the right of the box, rounded the keeper and from the byeline crossed for substitute Tony Clarke whose shot was blocked by a defender on the edge of the six yard box.  Fitzpatrick fired a 20 yard free kick wide on 67 minutes.

On 70 minutes a free kick on halfway was delivered into the Wood box, Wain powering in a header that was well held by Ransome.

On 80 minutes Fitzpatrick crossed from wide left, McFarlane headed the ball down to Agar to fire a first time effort inches wide. Four minutes later an intricate move inside from wide left ended with substitute Stan Mugisha firing home Woods 100th goal of the season from the centre of the box.

Wood were always in control and were well worth the win that took them back up to fourth place.  On Boxing Day Wood take on Stafford Town at home before they visit Lichfield City on the last Saturday of the year as they work on closing the gap to the top of the table.

Compliments of the season to everyone from Oak Park, the ML Safety Stadium.

Bill Shaw

The Teams:

Bolehall Swifts – Hill, B. O’Neill, McConerville, Forbes, Wain (captain), Dunlevy, A. O’Neill, Stokes, Smith, Jones, Heaton, Burke, Wainwright, Palmer, Wickett, Hurdman.

Walsall Wood – Ransome, Deakin, McFarlane, Butler, Hurren, Tolley (captain), Till, Humphries, Sullivan, Agar, Fitzpatrick, Clarke, Walker, Mugisha, Hayden.

There’s always good footy at Walsall Wood, and thanks to Bill, David and Russell for the reports and media – Merry Christmas and a winning new yer to you all, and to all the Wood faithful.