Nearly half-time now and Best beefburgers, fresh chips, topclass tea beckon. And a glass of neck oil, or two perhaps.

But Stafford, to their infinite credit, played with determination and played hard to get something out of this sporting match today, but to no avail. Not today. Not this match. Not against the Wood.

Danger time for Stafford. First half.

The Wood are now totally dominating this game. Possession soccer at its best.Stafford look dejected.

Celebration time, First goal. Hairstyles left un-ruffled. Too blinking cold, today

Excellent ground passes, strong kicking, determined challenging and tackling characterised the Woods performance today, and set them apart. Love the WWFC

First half and so close. Patience

Second half celebration time, in the gathering gloom of Boxing Day, and the Wood are un-stoppable

The Wood’s number seven with matching hairstyle. Nifty or what?

Walsall Wood welcome Stafford who wore bright yellow. A cold, bleak Boxing Day afternoon where supporters tried hard to focus on the game. Such was the pace of this cracking game today.

The game comes to an end. A visiting Groundhopper spectator from Preston, making his first visit to the Theatre of Dreams here has seen a delightful exhibition of top class soccer today Both teams are applauded as they leave the pitch. Says it all.

Stafford in defensive moves as the Wood home in to harry and hustle, which they did throughout this match.

One of the Wood’s sponsors. Immaculate hairstyles on display today, as always. Love the Thermos flask.

A very early full-scale attacking move by the Wood

Another goal. First half magic. Oh yes it is!

One of several interesting tussles which captivated spectators today. Sporting match, this was.

Second half and a penalty shot, neatly “ put away”

Celebration time and posh Xmas hairstyles left unruffled.

Another goal. Its six goals to nil now. Late in the second half

Three on one!

Mid-winter poor daylight but lightning fast play to thrill and enchant. The Redmen were on song today and displayed excellent play thought this match.

Early in the first half- no glasses of lemonade visible among the home supporters- yet. Staffords goalkeeper played his heart out today and made a save of the season from a vicious snap shot.

Not enough time to blow my nose, then..First goal to the Wood. First half

Goal for the Wood. They are on the boil, are the Wood.

In the stand the local ghost is caught briefly waving his white shirt for the camera while spectators clench and grit their frozen dentures , unaware of the pine splinter mementos the seating offers to the unwary.

Images and captions by the young David Evans

Boxing Day (Tuesday 26th December 2017) Walsall Wood again continued their renewed upward trajectory with a competent and hearty 6-0 victory at Oak Park over visitors Stafford Town.

Bill Shaw was there, and kindly submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

That’s Christmas over for another year, Santa has been good to us this time but we could have done without the injury to Peter Till just before half time, let’s hope it’s nothing serious.

It’s three mid-table teams next for Wood with away games at Lichfield City and Paget Rangers on the next two Saturdays before Tuesday 9th sees Heath Hayes visit the Wood. Saturday 13th when Studley visit and the 20th when it’s Ilkeston Town are now massive games and remember the home game against Leicester Road has still to be arranged.

Keep up the support everyone, it’s very much appreciated, if you want to see goals folks the ML Safety Stadium at Oak Park is the place to be.

Keep the faith.

Walsall Wood 6 v 0 Stafford Town

Wood’s second stroll in the park in four days, another six goals without reply as they moved smoothly up to second place, helped by a Sam Agar hat-trick.

Wood had the better of a lively opening few minutes taking just eight minutes to go ahead. Jake Humphries in the centre circle playing a ball out wide right for Lee Butler to run onto, he crossed to the far post and Sam Agar scored with a header back across keeper Josh Moreton. Four minutes later Peter Till crossed from wide left, Agar bulleting a header home. On 15 minutes a move left of centre ended with a cross from Humphries that was scythed over his own bar by Tom Wright. Five minutes later Jordan Fitzpatrick in the centre fed Agar wide right, he ran on and his low cross was put behind by Wright to deny Paul Sullivan. Three minutes later a scramble developed from a right wing corner, Sullivan firing in a close range effort that was saved at point blank range by the alert, hard-working Moreton.

On 26 minutes Ryan Pace won the ball on halfway, ran on and released Jordan Dodd into the box, Callum McFarlane deflecting his low drive just wide.

Great match footage from the professional and wonderfully talented Russell Smith for The-Wood.tv

With 32 minutes gone Till made space wide left, crossed to the far post, livewire Humphries played the ball back across the goal, Fitzpatrick firing home at the left hand post.  From the restart McFarlane won the ball back, swept the ball out wide right to find Sullivan, he raced clear crossed low into the centre for Agar to score on the half volley to complete his hat-trick with a superb strike on the counter attack.

On 39 minutes a free kick just over halfway by Pace was headed just wide of the right hand post by Wright.  The last action of the half saw Godwill Moraka head just wide from a left wing corner as Town tried to at least get something from the first half.

Four minutes into the second half Stan Mugisha (on for the injured Till) made space wide left, cut inside and found Sullivan in the centre of the box, he went down under a clumsy challenge, penalty – Sullivan, 5-0.

On 53 minutes Pace ran at the Wood defence after winning the ball on halfway before being crowded out on the penalty spot.

Two minutes later Agar came out of defence with the ball and released Sullivan to race clear, calmly slotting the ball past the advancing Moreton.

67 minutes gone and a neat Town move right of centre ended with Jake Partridge crossing from wide right, Mitch Tolley putting the ball behind to deny Dodd.

4 minutes later Lewis Hayden crossed from wide right, Sullivan glancing a diving header wide.

On 76 minutes a move through the centre ended with Dodd racing onto a through ball, keeper Lloyd Ransome making a brave save to deflect the ball over the bar.

The last goalmouth action of the game came on 85 minutes, Hayden wide right fed the ball inside to Agar, his ball left picked out Mugisha wide left to cut inside and fire in a rising drive that brought a superb full length save from Moreton.

With 11 goals, six points from two games over the festive period moved Wood up from 6th to 2nd. The gap to leaders Leicester Road is five points but with four games still in hand. Leicester Road host free falling Uttoxeter Town on Saturday whilst Wood travel to mid-table Lichfield City there shouldn’t be any change on the last but one day of 2017.

Bill Shaw

The Teams:

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

Stafford Town – Moreton, Butler, MacPherson, Vundla, Wright, Partridge, Moraka, Downing, Dodd, Pace (captain), Hall, Manase, Whordley.

Walsall Wood are a good team and an excellent, community-spirited club. They deserve our support.

Please do get out and support the Woodmen – with footy this great on your doorstep for such a small ticket price, you’d be mad not to go see them and experience the fantastic atmosphere at this historic club.

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