Last Saturday, 21st September 2018), Walsall Wood F.C. entertained Derbyshire club South Normanton Athletic at Oak Park, and in an entertaining, gripping match the Woodmen sent the visitors home roundly defeated five nil.

The former village “ Playing Field “and site of the old Recreation Centre, now a smart overflow carpark

the visiting team, from South Normanton in Derbyshire are wearing their smart blue strip to add colour to the occasion.

an early foray by the Wood and an indication of the physical nature that was to develop.

This encounter would be characterised by the close marking by the visitors.

Early in the first half and the home team score the first goal.

a moment to celebrate scoring that important first goal. South Normanton now had a hard task .

excellent accurate soccer in the bright sunshine….and the Wood are on song!

second goal to the Wood… Celebrations!

half time approaches and supporters enjoy the sunshine, ale, and beefburgers as the industrious players play on.

first half still and a tangle of determined sportsmen. Spot the ball.

close marking , also known as physical football…showing the visitors are being outplayed? Officials were given a hard to job today by the visitors approach to the game at times.

Nearly half time and the visitors have twice sent tremors through the home side with two blistering shots on goal…one amazingly deflected by a glorious defensive header and the other slamming in to the cross bar. This game is far from over, then.

the second half get under way. Spectators slowly return from the hydration station, clutching precious amber nectar. A “groundhopper” all the way from Essex, will remember his first taste of the local brew, I am sure.

The half time tea and crumpets have brought new impetus to the visiting side. Here they come worryingly close to scoring, to their obvious chagrin. The less savoury tactics they employed in the first half have been put aside, and their play is all the better for it. Can they now catch up?

Second half and South Normanton again attack the home goalmouth, putting the defence to the test

Later in the second half and one of the home team’s battered warriors scores his second goal.

The Wood way!

a feast of sporting action, passion, determination and dogged soccer to thrill the fans.

later in the second half and there is no let up in the attacking soccer the Wood are playing. Love the Wood!

substitution time and Jack Till gets well deserved and sustained applause from the home fans. One of the jewels today.

more subs time and more thoroughly deserved applause from the home fans.

final subs time and the Wood are having a ball of a time on the pitch. Constant endeavour and a whole range of attacking moves are bamboozling the opponents, to the delight of the home fans.

thirsty work, being a spectator at the Wood!

late in the second half and the Wood score their fourth goal. Magic soccer.

the Wood’s fifth. Oh dear.

The visitors are not done for..Not yet. They put pressure on the Wood late in the game.

Walsall Wood Community Football Club, first team motto, and refreshment?

full time. Handshakes all round. Another fine performance by the Wood.

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

Images and captions kindly supplied by David Evans

Hi Bob

Walsall Wood 5 v 0 South Normanton Athletic

On perhaps the last fine day of this balmy Indian summer the fans saw the beautifully trimmed fresh real grass, the bright red paintwork around the stadium and the welcoming open door to the clubs new bar. We breathed in the heart warming aroma of onions, burgers and hotdogs sizzling in the Refreshment Van. We saw the smiling faces of supporters from home and far away. We heard the friendly banter, met  the enthusiastic Groundhopper gentleman who has driven all the way from Essex to enjoy the experience that is our local soccer.

This, this is Oak Park , Walsall Wood.

Neat white lines, crisp goal nets, starched corner flags – all was set to herald the two teams and the Three Men in Black on to the hallowed ground, this blessed land, this stadium of sunlight.
 
Unlike those matches in other places, we the people have a close-up view of the game. We thrill at the precision, speed, determination and accuracy of the footballers. We proffer advice and opinions, all freely and largely in good grace as befits the occasion.

The match was played out before our eyes, and unlike some games, the play by both teams settled very quickly to well worked and practised moves and tactics. I appreciate positive open soccer in every match. Like a diamond, each facet if properly cut and polished, brings light and lustre to the game. Today we saw some uncut facets which risked marring the precious nature of this game. We see this in other matches, of course.

More highly professional match highlights from the match from Russell Smith of the wonderful TheWood.TV.

The Wood scored their first goal in the first few minutes followed by another goal a few minutes later. Now we saw frustration and some less polished play by the visitors, which at times seemed to detract from their erstwhile positive sportsmanship. Yet, surprisingly, adjudged misdemeanours by the home side attracted the greater share of the referee’s attention, almost to the exclusion of others.

Two thunderous shots on target by the visitors put paid to any  possible complacency by the Wood and brought all the fans to their feet. Real soccer , winning out in the end.

It was , then, a relief for all, when half time arrived. Time for spectators to chew the fat, lubricate their throats and delight in the gourmet beefburgers and chips .

The second half is best characterised as the Wood keeping the momentum and testing South Normanton’s defences without mercy. The Wood frequently  had almost total possession of the ball, and made a variety of passes to the cheers of the home fans.

The team seemingly dared, invited, their opponents to come from the defensive lines; and then  they scored another two beautifully crafted and expertly executed goals to achieve a fine and thoroughly well deserved victory.

South Normanton, who had started the game in a vociferous tone were to leave to ground at the end of the game subdued and tired. I hope they were aware of the sustained applause that rang out around the ground. It was for all the players and  was a sincere mark of the appreciation of all the skilful soccer displayed by all the players of both sides. 

The final result, a five-nilwin for Walsall Wood is a very fair result, ultimately.       

 David Evans

Thanks to David a for the reports and pictures – much appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!