Yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 21st October 2018), Walsall Wood F.C. faced Quorn F.C. at Oak Park, and I’m pleased to say Walsall Wood again won in a fast paced game with lots of action.

David Evans worte:

A beautiful bright October afternoon to welcome Quorn all the way from their very posh expensive synthetic surface, to WWFC; real grass

Walsall Wood played in their home strip, as their mascot for the day, Liam Jinks ,proudly accompanies the team the teams on to the pitch.

A fine photo for the family and club albums

The two teams’ managers, having shaken hands, take a moment to engage in pleasant conversation.

Early in the first half and an attacking move by the Wood to challenge Quorn. Positive

First half and already some neat moves, deft touches, and also some thudding challenges. How will the contest develop?

First half and the Wood come so close. How will Quorn respond?

First half and to show both prowess and physicality of approach. Ref had a hard time today

Later in the first and another ever so nearly moment. But Wood have their tails up!

First half and one of Quorn’s more athletic and skilful players takes on the Wood. Good game.

First goal, first half, to the Wood. Home crowd and team were delighted and showed this .

Wood celebrate their first goal. A very well-worked play manoeuvre from their repertoire.

First half and the ref has his first of several words with a Quorn player and presents a yellow card. Is this an indication of things to come?

Later in the first half and a free kick is sent into the sky by Quorn.

Later in the first half and Quorn muscle their way, one way or another, to score the equalising goal.

Quorn celebrate scoring their equalising goal, to odd criticism from one quarter in the away terrace.

Late in the first half and a Quorn player is “ putting it about a bit”. Never a wise venture.

A Quorn player, already on a yellow card, attracts more words of wisdom from the man in black. Time for a break beckons .

Final pre-break flourish by the Wood, but no goal. Not this time.

The second half gets under way and Wood attack. So do Quorn. Heavy soccer now.

Second half and different tactics by both teams. Interesting to compare. Good teamwork

Second half and the Wood are on the hunt for another goal , to the chagrin and increasing frustration of the visiting team.

Second half and Quorn join in the hunt for a goal from an unusual free kick. Excellent goalkeeping save.

Quorn player asks to leave the pitch to have an eyebrow scraze dressed.

Second half, second goal to the Wood, to the delight of players and home spectators.

Wood celebrate their second goal. Now for some sparkling physical soccer by Quorn, I expect.

The last quarter of the game and its full on, wholemeal soccer, with crusts.

Final moments and Quorn launch a four limb attack on the Wood’s goal. But, despite all, to no avail.

The final whistle and competitors now shake hands. Good, hard match.

A final sporting gesture as managers and colleagues shake hands to round off the afternoon.

Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans

Hi Bob

Walsall Wood FC 2 v 1 Quorn

An unexpectedly warm late October afternoon, thin sunshine and no breeze. The pitch looked glorious… freshly cut real grass, immaculate and a feast for the eyes. Newly installed boards round the pitch are now complete and the footpath around it just completed. Each week some new work and visible improvement reflects the hard work and devotion of the volunteers who toil to bring the sporting spectacle in all its glory to those who are fortunate to attend.
 
Quorn the visitors have travelled from far away to bring their sporting challenge to Oak Park. The usual warm welcome and courtesies are offered and readily accepted.

Just as the game was about to start a beautiful marauding buzzard flies high over the field of play. Fine feathers, but no club badge. Groundhopper?
 
The game itself  turned out to be a hard, physical challenge by the visitors, which brought out the controlled patient team soccer that we always enjoy. Today home and away spectators were delighted to witness skilful, though physical soccer both two teams who were determined to win. And this showed, sometimes in deft footwork, sometimes in accurate passing and running. Perhaps inevitably there were some, deliciously interesting moments which challenged the officials throughout the match. But patience was the bye-word today, both for the  match officials and especially for Walsall Wood.

Sharp breakaway moves by Quorn reflected the game they play on their home synthetic grass surface. But, as we have seen recently, the whole range of soccer tactics are limited; here at Oak Park the visitors were repeatedly frustrated when dispossessed of the ball.
 
The first goal, in the first half, brought a sense of satisfaction, joy and contentment  for the home team, and an amazing outburst of petulance from elsewhere  – away from the field of play. But, to their credit, the visiting players now set to their task of achieving an equalising goal, as the Wood increased their own tempo. Super game to watch.
Quorn ‘s hard work and effort was rewarded when they scored that precious equalising goal, not long before the break brought when both teams enjoyed that magical  cucumber sandwiches, no crusts, and Earl Grey  tea time, and spectators took a while to re-lubricate sore throats , to reflect and blink again on what they had seen… and heard.
 
The second half brought with it a harder, more physical display of soccer, with both goalkeepers performing to their limit, bringing appreciation from the spectators. Some substitutions were made to implement different tactics. A fast flowing game of soccer was apparent in the second half play, with some odd apparent clumsy tackles here and there, but no real antagonism. The Wood scored their second goal from a brilliantly worked out and executed plan. 

Despite all the hard effort, bluster and gritty determination by the visitors the  final score remained two goals to the Wood, and one goal to Quorn.

The final whistle was blown and the Wood gained the reward of a well-deserved home win against some spirited play by the visitors from their posh synthetic surface in Leicestershire. The visiting team, for their part, contributed fully to make this match a delightful one to spectate. 

David Evans

Thanks to David for the report – much appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!