First half. Goal number four to the Wood. The Wood are on song, as were the choir of angels.

One of Coventry’s players adds weight to the attack. Second half.

Second half and Coventry continue to make valiant efforts, frequently to the surprise of the Wood, as Lord Gaffer whispers sweet words from nearby.

Second half and another goal to the Wood, as I ferret around to find another herbal lozenge. Spectators cheered, manfully clutching half-emptied glasses of precious throat oil.

Second half. Goal. Winter non-league soccer at the Theatre of Dreams. Players now have dirty kneecaps and mud-caked shorts to match . They all look tired, but all have visibly enjoyed this contest today.

First half, early and the third goal to the Wood. Coventry certainly not dispirited by this..To their credit they strived hard, even though repeatedly being out-played by more accurate passing and positional understanding.

Still first half and Coventry power their way towards the Wood goalmouth, leaving imprints of the surface as they do.

The goal that wasn’t. The ball rolled along the goalline, and rolled past the post. No idea how this was.. the invisible effect of an essence of fried onions? The burgers are so good, though

The match ends to applause from all the spectators, and Coventry’s manager can now get his breath back after all the vocal and positive encouragement he has given his team all through the match.

Wwfc ground staff have achieved more than King Canute ever did, so, a playable surface, a goodly crowd of mostly absentee husbands, a quick check of stocking seams and the scene is set.

No time to get to the stand, first few minutes of the first half and a storm of three goals within five minutes to the Wood. This is the first, before I had had finished my herbal lozenge. Bostin.

First half and hardly a clean kneecap in sight.

First half and another goal to the Wood .

Coventry again on the attack, later in the first half. Smashing to see their determination.

First half second of three early goals. Still on my first herbal lozenge .

Second half and the players work hard to master the heavy going, yet without malice or any unsporting play. A credit to all who entertained the appreciative spectators today.

Captain Splendid with his Coventry chaperone. They made a lovely pair, rarely leaving each other’s side.

Approaching half time and the lure of the fried onions is irresistible. Diets come to an end for many.

Later on in the first half and the last of the clean kneecaps.

Celebration time, first goal, first half .

Pictures and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans

Saturday 27th January 2018 saw a remarkable game of football at Walsall Wood FC’s Oak Park ground – a game that was widely expected to be cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch went ahead thanks to the diligence and hard work of the grounds crew, and the home side beat visitors Coventry Elvis a whopping 8-0.

Bill Shaw wasn’t

Hiya Bob,

Another demolition job with the basement boys blown away in six minutes, with Atherstone Town and Ilkeston Town held to draws by Chelmsley Town and Nuneaton Griff it was a good day all round for the Wood men.

At the ML Safety stadium in the league it’s played nine, won nine, goals for 41 , against four. So not a place to look forward to visiting,  as Coventry Copsewood do next Saturday. Factor in a fit again Paul Sullivan and with 12 home games still to play things are looking good for the Wood.

I hope to be there next Saturday and able to do my own report and not rely on Twitter, so fingers crossed.

Walsall Wood 8 v 0 Coventry Alvis

Wood rocketed out of the blocks and with them 4–0 ahead after just six minutes it was game over, the basement boys to their credit tried to take the game to Wood but shipped another four goals as Wood took their league tally to 92 from 23 games.

Great match footage as filmed and edited by the wonderfully talented and professional Russell Smith from The-wood.tv

Paul Till linked up with Jordan Fitzpatrick who fired in the first goal. Virtually straight away Ben Lund made it two.  Keeping up the pressure Wood soon make it 3-0, Lei Brown racing into the box to slot home.  When he slots home number four from a corner with just six minutes gone it looks like a calculator will be needed.  Next it was Lund putting Tony Clarke in on goal, he beat keeper Abidan Edwards but hit the outside of the post.

A rare Alvis excursion into the Wood half from a counter attack, winning a corner that is comfortably cleared.

Wood lose Till to injury with Lee Butler replacing him.  He fires in a corner Brown heading just over. A powerful left wing run by Craig Deakin ends with him firing a low drive just wide.  Andrew Westwood then releases Lund into the right of the box, Edwards blocking his fierce rising drive.  Great play by Brown sees him slip in Clarke to calmly put away number five.

After the start they had Alvis very relieved to go in at half time only five behind.

The first attack of the second half sees Brown unselfishly set up Clarke to make it six. This stunned the visitors into life, Westwood racing back to break up an attack before keeper Lloyd Ransome made a great save. Edwards then denied Clarke his hat-trick.  Paul Sullivan beat the keeper but a defender got back to clear off the line.   Edwards then saved from Sullivan.

Another counter-attack with a snap shot off the bar.  Sullivan then puts Butler in on goal to make it seven. With time running out Sullivan completed his return from injury by lashing in number eight.

A superb all round performance by the leaders as they wrapped up their second double of the season with a 15-0 aggregate win.

With Atherstone and Ilkeston both held away by lower opposition Wood now open up a six point gap at the top still with a game in hand over the next four teams.

Coventry Copsewood next at Fortress Wood on Saturday 3rd February.

Bill Shaw

The Teams:

Walsall Wood – Ransome, Hayden, Deakin, Westwood, McFarlane, Tolley (captain), Till, Fitzpatrick, Clarke, Lund, Brown, Sullivan, Hurren, Butler, Slater, Rowley.

Coventry Alvis – Edwards, L. Wilson, Hill, Murray, Shiels (captain) K, Palmer, McGarrity, King,C. Wilson, Carey, Dodds, Healey, Samuel, E. Palmer, Rooney, Tregarth.

Thanks to Bill, David and Russell for the report as ever – For the Good of The Wood!