Woodmen give it five to send Uttoxeter home defeated

The two sides meet again after a few days’ respite, to strive to achieve an outcome this time. Firecracker time …go!

Early in the first half and the youthful Uttoxeter team mount a rapid attack on the Wood’ goal. Ominous

First half and a patter is emerging. Every dispossession by the Wood prompting immediate vocal outcry form the visitor’s dugout. Going to be one of those matches, then. Okay.

The centrefield ; Walsall Wood’s players’ role was so important in this match and swift covering moves by the Wood’s captain caused frustration and dismay throughout the match. Maturity and prowess. Delightful to spectate .

First half and the match is seemingly going Uttoxeter’s way, with the Wood playing reactive rather than proactive soccer at times. Interesting

End to end fire at will soccer. Here the Wood nearly score…Composure and hard work will win through eventually, but it is a nail- biting contest. The crowd are enthralled.

First goal to Uttoxeter, following some magical footwork by one the Uttoxeter’s sparklers.

Celebration. Well deserved, too. How will the Wood respond?

the Wood begin to test the opponents’ defence.

Ouch. Second goal to the Uttoxeter players.

Uttoxeter’s goalkeeper in interesting unseen action. Wood corner. There were several odd moments here.

Goal to the Wood leaves a dejected goalkeeper prostrate and forlorn. Love the Wood

Another one in the sprout bag from the Wood. Are they beginning to show their maturity and prowess now, then?

Two players. Maximum concentration. Super to watch, despite some unwelcome barracking offstage.

Then, after seemingly an eternity, the referee does blow his Acme Thunderer to signal the end of the match. Wood win, five goal to four after lots and lots of extra time

Pictures and captions Kindly supplied by the young David Evans.

Yesterday evening (Tuesday 18th September 2018) Walsall Wood FC faced down weekend away rivals Uttoxeter Town who had, on the previous Saturday held Wood to a two-all draw.

I’m pleased to note the the Woodmen won on home turf, in a high-scoring game that ended five to four in favour of the home side.

David Evans was there, and enjoyed a great game of football:

Hi Bob

Walsall Wood 5 v 4 Uttoxeter Town

On the floodlit magnificent green grass real lawn that is the  football pitch at Oak Park, the replay of the weekend away match that ended in a two-all stalemate was set to take place.

Numerous away supporters, some not seen at Uttoxeter last Saturday brought their presence and views to this stadium . We were expecting a thriller of a replay match. We were not disappointed.

The visitors started the contest with swift and effective play, sometimes to great effect, and to some measure of consternation among the home side. In what was a nightmare of a first half they were three goals ahead and Walsall Wood seemed to be in shock at this moment. Uttoxeter’s  passing and running was accurate and effective.

The barracking given by the away bench of the referee jarred uncomfortably in my mind and detracted from the fine sport on display by both sides  on the field of play.

The second half saw a revitalised home team emerge after enjoying  a cup of tea and cucumber sandwich with the manager. A different approach and different tactics to grind away at the questionable stamina of the opponents was employed. A pro-active scheme was rolled out.

The full time score was four goals to each side, Walsall Wood playing a magnificent mature game in the second half to achieve this.

Extra time was full blooded football where the maturity and skill of the seasoned home side won through.

The final score was five goals to Walsall Wood, four goals to Uttoxeter Town. Uttoxeter will have learned much from their two FA Vase matches against Walsall Wood and the experience they have gained here will be remembered for a long time, I feel.

The following footage from the weekend away match at Uttoxeter was posted by the ever-excellent The-Wood.tv and Russell Smith last night:

Cheers to David and Russell, the faithful and of course the players. For the Good of The Wood!