WALSALL WOOD 2 ECCLESHALL 0
(FA Vase First Round)
IT WAS the end of the road in this season’s FA Vase as far as Eccleshall are concerned on Saturday.
They bowed out away to Walsall Wood of the Midland Combination premier, who put Eccleshall under pressure from the start and had an early chance but Shawn Boothe headed over from a corner.
A poor hack out by Stuart Plant, in the Eccleshall goal, led to Ahmet Bilgmer running through but Plant dived at his feet to save.
At the other end there was a call for a penalty when Dan Jones appeared to be brought down following a through ball from Callum Hassall but the referee waved away appeals.
Sixteen minutes had gone when Walsall Wood took the lead. Bilgmer slipped though the Eccleshall defence to place the ball under Plant.
Lewis Taylor-Boyce for the home side shot wide then Corey Currithers ran to the bye line before passing back to Taylor-Boyce who shot wide again.
Eccleshall had threatened little as half time arrived.
Plant was bought into action early in the second half but dealt easily with Taylor-Boyce's curling shot.
The home side forced a couple of corners but missed the target again with Currithers firing the second over.
Eccleshall started to show more threat and forced a corner which Paul Ridley headed over. Plant then saved well from Currithers with his legs.
Eccleshall came back again and with some good play attacked down the right but Jones’ cross was too strong for his colleagues and the chance was lost.
A ball sent in from the right found Jones running off a defender on the left to fire into the net only to find he had been flagged for a dubious offside.
Walsall Wood ended Eccleshall's fight back with four minutes to go when a ball crossed into the visiting box found Bilgmer and he applied the finishing touch. Eccleshall AFC had no game this week.
This Saturday, Eccleshall, still looking for their first league win of the season, entertain ninth place Oldham Boro.
The Eagles have picked up just two points so far this term and are currrently one place off the bottom of the North West Counties division one table.
Eccleshall AFC return to action in the Staffs FA Vase at Bilston Town (both 3pm).
