Saturday November 3rd Walsall Wood v Brocton

A hard fought game where too many stoppages and bookings did little for a classic game.

Walsall Wood started the more brightly but were repelled by a solid Brocton defence, and when Brocton attacked they always looked more assured in front of goal than their opponents. The game was calling for more cultured football but both teams were anxious to clear their lines with high balls up to their forwards, which resulted in a first half dominated by defensive play. At one stage the referee booked 5 players in succession as the game moved to boiling point with robust tackles from both sides. Walsall Wood came the closest to scoring in the foul riddled first half, just before the break when Ben Harrison cleared off the line with Shelper beaten from a shot by Simon Tollock.

The second half started better for Brocton as James Dyke’s shot was cleared off the Walsall Wood goal line and Andre Campbell had a goal disallowed for offside. Walsall Wood however had their moments, when Simeon Tullock and James Fuller combined on 60 minutes leaving four Brocton defenders to watch the ball pass just outside Shelper’s post. Brocton were getting more of the play and were giving Walsall Wood more concerns with their raids down both flanks and through the middle and were looking the most likely to score, which they did from a low driven corner by Dyke into the path of Gary Fife. Walsall Wood came storming back and it was Shelper who saved the day for Brocton with a magnificent full length save which was finally cleared of the line by Richard Jones on 87 minutes. It was Brocton’s day and an excellent follow up to the mid week success at table topping Coleshill.

Walsall Wood 0 v 1 Brocton