Walsall Wood 0-2 The Mikes

Following on from their home victory against Selston on Saturday the Mikes made the short trip to face league leaders Walsall Wood. A fine display against an uncompromising home side resulted in a superb away victory to move the Mikes further away from the relegation zone.
The home side fresh from an 8-0 drubbing of Coventry Sphinx started on the front foot and sprayed the ball out to wing backs Chad Degville-Cross and Jonathan Haynes regularly. Their resultant play and indeed any forward threat from Max Loveridge and Joey Butlin was met with stiff resolve from a resolute Boldmere back four where captain Joe Lyng led by example. Fellow defenders Brandon Williams, Harry Craven and Harry Sweeney all had the bit between their teeth and apart from a couple of long-range efforts going wide Lewis Fenney was largely untroubled. At the other end it was a different matter Kyle Byrne posing a threat on the right and his fellow flanker Kaden May on debut doing likewise. The midfield trio of Owen Parry, Stephen Palmer and Jakob Burroughs out battled their more experienced opponents whilst Jack Skinner worked his proverbial socks off up front. Given this fine all-round effort throughout the team the two-goal victory margin was well deserved and the Wood could have little complaint about the outcome. Lyng had flicked a back header onto the crossbar with Lloyd Ransome beaten before the first of two fine goals. A free kick on the right was fed on first by Lyng then by skinner before May lashed a fierce volley into the roof of the net for a 12th minute lead.

It was not to be relinquished and an equally fine second after a corner had been returned across goal saw Palmer swivel to fire past the home custodian shortly after the interval. There was to be no further score although Parry, spotting Ransome off his line, did try an audacious long range shot from his own half that sailed just off target. As the game entered it’s closing stages things got a little fraught. Home substitute Garfield Robinson lasted barely ten minutes, receiving two yellow cards in quick succession whilst Cameron Lee was perhaps lucky not to follow when cleaning out substitute Daniel O’Sullivan minutes before the final whistle.

A second clean sheet in four days must have pleased the new management team, hopefully this is the start for a concerted push up the league table, all will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney, Brandon Williams, Harry Sweeney, Jakob Burroughs, Harry Craven, Joe Lyng, Kaden May (James Medford 90+3), Stephen Palmer, Jack Skinner, Owen Parry (Brad Lindsey 81), Kyle Byrne (Daniel O’Sullivan 72). Subs not used: Jack Burgess, Jack Storer