In July 2011 Sporting went away from Oak Park with a smash and grab 3-1 victory, albeit in a friendly, this time they came and went away with 3 hard earned, well deserved points. They outfought and out-thought Wood, there were questions asked about both their goals, but there was no argument about the result, Wood's first defeat in 8 games.
It was very competitive from the start with the visitors just having the edge. It was Wood however who threatened first on 9 minutes, Drew Aiton picking the ball up from a right wing throw, going through two tackles before hitting a rising drive that keeper Reece Francis saved comfortably. On 20 minutes a left wing free kick for Wood found Lewis Taylor Boyce in the box, in a tight situation he managed to turn and shoot but Jamie Parker and Francis closed him down quickly. A minute later he played a neat 1-2 with Aiton before finding Andre Gonzales on the left of the box but defenders got back to snuff out the danger.
A minute later a mis-hit clearance by Wood keeper Daniel Ware fell for Danny Deehan who ran on and fired a cross cum shot high over the bar.
After 30 minutes Corey Currithers broke down the Wood left, played the ball inside to Aiton whose low drive deflected off a defender and into the hands of Francis. A minute later Chris Conway was fouled just outside the D. With Wood organising the wall Deehan fired into the roof of the net, the referee waving away heated Wood defenders. 3 minutes later Conway raced onto a ball on the right of the box, his rising drive saved at full stretch by Ware. A minute later a forceful left wing run by Parker saw him pull the ball back for Deehan to blast a first time effort off the foot of the post.
Wood had the last word of the half, Taylor Boyce seeing his shot blocked, only to fall to Currithers whose low drive brought a superb save from keeper Francis to push the ball around his right hand post. The left wing corner was delivered to the far post and Shawn Boothe powered a header just too high.
The visitors were closing Wood down and frustrating them all over the park and then on 58 minutes won a disputed free kick just right of the D, James Blake rolled the ball forward, Deehan accelerated to the byeline, pulled the ball back for Mike Thurbon to hit a first time drive that deflected off a desperate defender and cannoned into the net off the inside of a post.
On 70 minutes an over-hit left wing corner was collected by Currithers wide right, his near post cross met by Lee Stretton but Thurbon and Francis deflected the ball for a corner that was easily cleared.
2 minutes later Francis played the ball forward Keith Draper flicked the ball into the path of Aaron Roberts who raced into the box but rolled his cross shot well wide.
With time running out (85 minutes to be exact), Craig Deakin delivered a right wing free kick to beyond the far post and Harry Harris scored with a brave diving header.
The visitors played the clock down as they continued to frustrate Wood. This was no fluke result, Sporting deserved the win that took Wood off the top, but it's their first Saturday away game next week when they visit Atherstone Town, no easy rehabilitation.
Bill Shaw.
Walsall Wood F.C. |