WALSALL WOOD (Oak Park)

FA VASE QUARTER FINAL, WALSALL WOOD 0-0 GUERNSEY FC (AET)
ATTENDANCE: 676

Well, after what seems an eternity trying, I finally found myself watching a game at the home of Walsall Wood. My previous attempts stretching back to last December had been foiled by the Great British weather as rain and snow forced the cancellation of my intended matches.

The crowd queueing at the gate, all eager to see the
"biggest game in Walsall Wood's history"

Oak Park has suffered badly over the recent weeks, but the pitch was fine today. Sanded in places and obviously still quite heavy, but playable. The ground, at the back of a Leisure centre, was well worth the wait to visit as the Main Stand dates from the 1930's and is believed to the only surviving stand of it's kind in England.

The stand today was full of the green of Guernsey as they swelled the crowd to a bumper 676, though it seemed there was a lot more in attendance. I was guessing it was nearer to 1,000. Regardless, the attendance was slightly better than the 54 at the previous home game!  The locals had certainly embraced the the occasion, which the club were billing as the biggest game in their 98 year history.



The historic Main Stand, packed to the rafters with fans


Walsall Wood were the lowest ranked team left in the last 8 as they ply their trade in the Midland Combination, which is Step 6 in the pyramid, whilst Guernsey are in the Combined Counties Premier, which is Step 5.



Luke Perry's sculpture in the background,
commemorating Walsall Wood's mining heritage.
Oak Park is close to where the colliery was
located, until it closed in 1964.



Both teams are handily poised in their respective promotion races, with plenty of games in hand though this could work against them as the fixtures pile up. Guernsey still have 23 league games to play before the seasons end whilst Walsall Wood have a mere 10 games in hand on leaders Bromsgrove.

The last thing both teams needed was a replay, but that is how it panned out.

The Green Lions made a sluggish start and it was The Wood who had the better of the exchanges in the opening 20 minutes. The Islanders eventually worked their way back into the game and it was a pretty even affair from from that point, with both teams matching each other blow for blow.

The really clear cut chances were few and far between and both goalkeepers, Dale Faultless for Walsall Wood and Chris Tardiff for Guernsey were in fine form in keeping the scoreline blank.

The best chance of the first half fell to Walsall Wood when just before the break when Ahmet Bilgimer broke clear, dinked his effort over the advancing Tardiff but the ball was cleared off the line as the home crowd looked for a "Russian" Linesman. This Linesman however got the decision absolutely spot on.

Guernsey had the better of the chances in the second half but Faultless produced a, err, faultless performance in 'keeping his team in the competition.

As the second period wore on extra time seemed inevitable as tiredness began to creep in. It was in the second period of extra time that Guernsey had their best chance when Dave Rihoy broke clear and smashed a shot which had Faultless finally beaten, but the ball crashed against the crossbar. The rebound landed at the feet of Dominic Heaume but he blazed his effort over with the open goal at his mercy.

No goals but an absolutely absorbing encounter, so it is off to the Channel Islands next weekend for the replay. Sadly I will not be able to attend but I really wish I could. The eventual winners will play Spennymoor in the two-legged Semi-Final.

 

A Wood supporter seeks
a better view
at a packed Oak Park





       

The sun sets on this cup tie, both teams will have to try again next weekend