Yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 27th October 2018), Walsall Wood F.C. braved the cold to visit Long Eaton at Grange Park, Leicestershire, and came home with a solid two-nil win. 

David Evans was there to enjoy the match, and wrote:

Long Eaton played in blue and black. Walsall Wood played in red

Customary handshake by captains with the match officials

First half and Long Eaton are on the attack. Bright start to an interesting , sporting contest

First half and the Wood are working their way to Long Eaton goal. Superb determined play in action.

A thudding encounter leaves the goalkeeper in need of attention. A hard surface biting cold wind and rain.

Wood players celebrate their first goal, as away fans celebrate as they know how. Love the Wood.

Second half and the Wood are in control. Here, two opponents are detailed to challenge.

Second half and the second goal to the Wood from an inch-perfect shot. The Wood are flying high!

Second goal joy, and a cry of “ tallyho” rings out from the travelling fans.How will Long Eaton respond?

Long Eaton show determination and grit as they pull out all the stops. Later in the second half

The game is played at speed and with no pause. All the players are giving their all. Super to spectate

Later in the second half and some fine skilful soccer is being played, out there, in the biting cold and rain. Respect. Total respect

Nearly all over, but Long Eaton are giving this game everything they have to gain a goal

The referee blows his whistle and the sparkling game we have enjoyed comes to an end

Handshakes all round, between players who have given the spectators a game to enjoy and remember.

Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans

Hi Bob

Long Eaton 0 v 2 Walsall Wood FC

A mighty cold arctic blast brought the summer-like days to a crashing end today. Dedicated followers of the Men in Red travelled through a hostile snow shower to arrive, frozen but eager, at the fine football stadium that is Long Eaton’s Grange Park, to meet the genuinely friendly home spectators and warm welcoming directors and chairman of the club.
 
The wintry climate made the playing conditions challenging and demanding, for both teams
 
The brave soccer fans, wrapped up and cocooned in numerous layers of anything thick, wool, and to hand took their places in the open-plan grandstand as the two teams emerged from the long plastic umbilical plastic tunnel to the real grass playing surface that graces Long Eaton’s main pitch.

Walsall Wood played some excellent, smooth, proficient, mature and patient football this afternoon. There were moments of real individual skill in the visiting team too. Deft moves, leaping for high balls, accurate passing and meaningful challenges brought this game to sparkling life at times and the steady composure of the visiting team brought out the best in the home side too.

Long Eaton’s centre of field players were resolute and strong. They presented the Wood with the challenge of overcoming, or out-manoeuvring this impasse, which the Wood did with panache.

Bright attacking moves by both sides gave the game a measure of spice that kept the attention of all the spectators and match officials alike.  There was no animosity, no complaining by the players – or anyone else – in this Saturday’s game. This was appreciated by those privileged enough to witness it. But the Wood were the more proficient and dominant of the two teams today. They showed composure, controlled passion and confidence in their performance at Long Eaton.

The first goal came from a combination of smart moves and well-understood tactics. The second goal was one to savour and remember for a long while. A  blistering snap-shot, from an oblique and unguarded angle to goal was inch-perfect and rocketed past the hapless goalkeeper.

Long Eaton earned the full respect of the visiting side and the visiting fans this afternoon and will surely have learned new skills to add to their repertoire from the encounter and sporting contest with Walsall Wood. 
 
David
 
 David Evans

There’s also the following footage released in the last week from the previous week’s home game against Quorn that Wood also won. It’s recorded and published by the ever-excellent The-Wood.TV filmed by the hugely talented Russell Smith…

Thanks to David for the report and pictures, and to Russell for the excellent video coverage – much appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!