Squad
The under-11 A and B squads were selected from the following players;
Mark Wooldridge (Abbey); Daniel Bedworth (Alumwell); Joshua Pickard
(Blackwood); Ashley Bellingham (Busill Jones); Freddie
Sheridan-Mills (County Bridge); Thomas Fisher, Ben Lund (Greenfield); Joe Titley
(Holy Trinity); Alistaire Cooke (Kings Hill); Matthew Wood (Leamore); Nirankar
Dosanjh, Joseph Mangan, Harry Mason, Alex Weaver, Matthew Yates (Manor); Ryan
Thomas (Millfield); Alex Corbett, Todd Jewkes (New Invention); John
Painter (Pelsall Village); Ryan Allsop, Daniel Hoey (Pheasey Park Farm); Sam
Hughes (St. Anne's); Adam Norgrove (St. James); Greg Ellis, Tommy Frankham (St.
Patrick's); Joshua Scott (St. Peter's); James Willey (St. Thomas of Canterbury);
Alex Bendall, Luke Cox (Short Heath); Nicholas Hadley (Whetstone Field).
Walsall Under-11A 2002-03 pictured before the game
against Gloucester.
Press Reports
Walsall U-11 4 Telford U-11 0
- 5.04.03
The under-11s ended a run of four games without a win as they
turned on the style in the second half in this final Staffordshire league game
against Telford. Matthew Yates (Manor) opened the scoring with a near 40-yard
diagonal shot into the far corner. Alex Corbett (New Invention) set up Ben Lund
(Greenfield) for Walsall’s second. When the Telford keeper fumbled a shot from
Matthew Wood (Leamore), Lund was on hand to score his second goal. Wood
completed the scoring when his long-range effort found the bottom corner.
Sutton Coldfield U-11 3 Walsall U-11 1
- 26.03.03
No report available.
Wolverhampton U-11A 3 Walsall U-11A 3
- 22.03.03
Walsall under-11s came back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a
share of the spoils in this Staffordshire Hickton Shield game. Ben Lund
(Greenfield) gave Walsall an early lead but remarkable hat trick by Ashley
Dicken (Trinity) in the last five minutes of the first half gave Wolves a 3-1
lead at the break. John Painter (Pelsall) pulled a goal back for Walsall early
in the second half. This set up an exciting second half and Harry Mason (Manor)
levelled things with ten minutes left when his angled shot found the net.
Walsall U-11 2 Stoke-on-Trent U-11 3
- 15.3.03
The under-11s said goodbye to any Staffordshire title hopes
after this second successive defeat. Stoke took the lead with a Selwyn Latham
goal but a good ball from Matthew Yates (Manor) set up Ben Lund (Greenfield) for
the equaliser. Ryan Thomas (Millfield) went on a run down the right and saw his
shot well saved at the foot of the post. Stoke regained the lead when a Matthew
Bell shot crept in at the near post. Walsall levelled again when the keeper
fumbled a Harry Mason (Manor) shot and Lund was on hand to tuck the ball away.
Stoke grabbed the vital winner when another shot somehow crept into the net
thanks to a bad bounce.
Walsall U-11 1 Brierley Hill and Dudley
U-11 2 - 8.3.03
Walsall under-11s failed to beat Brierley Hill and Dudley for
the third time this season in this Staffordshire Hickton Shield game. The
visitors look to be heading for a successful season but Walsall gave a good
account of themselves as they ended a nine game unbeaten run. The visitors took
the lead after five minutes and held it until half time. Harry Mason (Manor)
equalised five minutes into the second half and Walsall looked the most likely
side to grab victory as a shot was cleared off the line. The visitors grabbed
the winning goal when a looping shot found the net with ten minutes left.
Walsall U-11 3 Redditch U-11 0
- 1.3.03
The under-11s are also heading for a semi-final in the ESFA
Burton Shield competition after this victory against new opposition from
Redditch and District. John Painter (Pelsall) gave Walsall the lead when he
latched onto a through ball from Ryan Thomas (Millfield). Nicholas Hadley
(Whetstone Field) set up last week’s 6-goal hero Ben Lund (Greenfield) for
Walsall’s second before the break. Lund lost his shooting boots in the second
half when he missed a sitter. Matthew Wood (Leamore) made the game safe when the
keeper was unable to hold onto his fierce shot and the ball deflected
agonisingly into the net.
Halesowen and Stourbridge U-11A 2 Walsall U-11A 6
- 22.2.03
Walsall
under-11s bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a West Midlands
semi-final with this emphatic victory in the Staffordshire league. Ben Lund
(Greenfield) was the star of the show by scoring all six goals in an amazing
personal performance. One of Lund’s goals was a pure individual effort,
beating several players before unleashing an unstoppable shot. Walsall had raced
into a 4-0 lead before Halesowen and Stourbridge pulled a goal back but Lund hit
back to complete a memorable performance.
Walsall U-11A 1 Brierley Hill and
Dudley U-11A 1 - 8.2.03
Walsall under-11s failed to qualify for a West Midlands
semi-final spot after this disappointing draw against Brierley Hill and Dudley.
The draw was enough for the visitors to go through to the semi-finals.
South Birmingham U-11 0 Walsall U-11 6
- 25.1.03
The under-11s extended their winning run to six games with
this hammering of South Birmingham in the ESFA Burton Shield competition. Harry
Mason (Manor) set Walsall on the way when the keeper parried his looping ball
and Alex Corbett (New Invention) forced the ball home. A minute later Mason
scored the second. A 20-yard screamer from Matthew Wood (Leamore) made the game
safe for Walsall. Ben Lund (Greenfield) came on to make it 4-0. Matthew Yates
(Manor) set Lund up for another and Mason completed the scoring when he volleyed
into the far corner.
Halesowen and Stourbridge U-11 0
Walsall U-11 4
- 18.1.03
The under-11s raced to a fifth successive win in this Burton
Shield game and they were 3-0 up at the break. Walsall took the lead when Daniel
Hoey (Pheasey Park Farm) met a corner kick and panic in the home defence
resulted in an own goal. A minute later Harry Mason (Manor) crossed for Ben Lund
(Greenfield) to set up Nick Hadley (Whetstone Field) for the second goal. Just
before the break a Matthew Wood (Leamore) cross was turned in by Joe Titley
(Holy Trinity). The scoring was completed when Mason received a quality pass
from John Painter (Pelsall) and he smashed the ball past the advancing keeper.
Shrewsbury U-11A 0 Walsall U-11A 2 -
14.12.02
The under-11A side opened their Staffordshire fixtures with a
win at Shrewsbury. Joe Titley’s (Holy Trinity) long throw-in was only half
cleared and James Willey (St Thomas of Canterbury) stepped up to drive the ball
home from 25 yards after just five minutes. Five minutes later Walsall scored
again when Harry Mason (Manor) latched onto a through ball from Ryan Thomas
(Millfield). Walsall keeper Ryan Allsop (Pheasey Park Farm) only had one real
save to make when he tipped the ball onto the post at full stretch. Good
defending from Shrewsbury prevented Walsall from adding to their tally.
Bristol U-11A 2 Walsall
U-11A 3 - 7.12.02
The under-11A side travelled to Bristol after a long
lay-off and Ryan Thomas (Millfield) soon put Walsall in front when he hammered
the ball into the roof of the net. Bristol equalised before the break and also
missed a penalty. Walsall keeper Ryan Allsop (Pheasey Park Farm) came to the
rescue when he touched a shot onto the bar. Thomas restored Walsall’s lead
early in the second half. Ben Lund (Greenfield) was pulled back on the edge of
the box and Joe Titley (Holy Trinity) scored from the free kick to give Walsall
a two-goal cushion. Bristol pulled a goal back near the end and then missed an
open goal but Walsall deserved to win.
English Schools' F.A. Under-11
Inter-Association 7-a-sides - West Midlands County Final -9.11.02
Walsall Schools’ F.A. staged the West Midlands County Final of the English
Schools’ F.A under-11 7-a-side competition at Jane Lane School. Walsall
under-11s qualified for the semi-final stage by beating South Birmingham 1-0,
thanks to a Matthew Wood (Leamore) goal, and then drawing 0-0 with Brierley Hill
and Dudley. In the semi-final they lost 1-0 to Wolverhampton.
Jamie Reckord (Dovecotes) gave Walsall keeper Ryan Allsop (Pheasey Park
Farm) no chance with a first half shot from the edge of the box. Despite
terrific second half pressure from Walsall the Wolves defended in depth to hold
onto what they had. Wolves went on to lose 1-0 to Brierley Hill and Dudley in
the final.
Walsall U-11A 3 Shrewsbury U-11A 0
- 2.11.02
The Walsall under-11A side put in a convincing performance to
win this West Midlands game. There were early chances for Ryan Thomas
(Millfield) and Joe Titley (Holy Trinity) before Harry Mason (Manor) set up Ben
Lund (Greenfield) to give Walsall the lead. Early in the second half a long ball
from Matthew Yates (Manor) found Mason who fired into the roof of the net for
Walsall’s second goal. Lund almost claimed his second goal when his shot hit
the bar and bounced down onto the line. Alex Corbett (New Invention) made the
game safe when his well-struck shot found the far corner.
Walsall U-11A 2 Leeds U-11A 0 -
26.10.02
The under-11A side gained a much-needed victory against Leeds
after a run of three successive defeats. Walsall got off to a good start when a
cross from Matthew Wood (Leamore) was whacked into the net by Ben Lund
(Greenfield) after five minutes. Keeper Ryan Allsop (Pheasey Park Farm) was
Walsall’s hero just before half time when he saved a penalty. Wood was denied
a goal midway through the second half when the Leeds keeper pulled off a superb
save. Walsall only made the game safe with two minutes left when a through ball
from Nick Hadley (Whetstone Field) left Harry Mason (Manor) with a clear run on
goal and he made no mistake.
Brierley Hill and Dudley U-11 1 Walsall
U-11 0 - 19.10.02
Brierley
Hill and Dudley turned the tables in the under-11 ESFA Burton Shield game
as Walsall went down to a third successive defeat. Both sides struggled in a
poor first half but Walsall created some chances in the second half only to be
foiled by the home keeper. With two minutes left Brierley Hill and Dudley’s
Alex Hickman (Hurst Hill) scored the vital goal. Walsall can take heart from a
much improved performance after last week’s poor showing against Sutton
Coldfield.
Sutton Coldfield U-11 3 Walsall U-11 1
Full report from Tim Grimsley
Sutton started the game at quite a pace and Walsall
seemed disorganised and gave the ball away far too easily.
Sutton took the lead on 2 minutes when a speculative shot from 30 yards
went over the stranded Walsall keeper. As
Walsall began to wake up some pressure led to a corner that Daniel Hoey (Pheasey
Park) swung in for shots to be saved on the line twice. Half time couldn’t
come quickly enough as Walsall looked in total disarray.
Although Walsall settled a bit better at the start of the second half but it
only took 5 minutes for Sutton to double their lead with classic run from midway
in the Walsall half. The player took on the defence and slotted past the
advancing keeper. Whilst some good
opportunities came the Walsall forwards were caught offside far too often.
Walsall were unfortunate to concede the third when an initial shot was
blocked but the ball fell at the feet of the striker who was able to turn inside
while the Walsall defence were still looking for the ball. Ryan Allsop (Pheasey
Park) was unsighted in the Walsall goal and his late dive was just a bit too
late. Walsall gave themselves a bit
of hope ten minutes from the end when another Hoey corner was knocked in on the
line by the hard working Nick Hadley (Whetstone Field).
Walsall came close on a couple of occasions after that but shot wide and
were fouled on a couple of occasions denying them the opportunity to shoot.
However Sutton were worthy of the win and Walsall were left with much to
do in training.
Walsall U-11A 1 Gloucester U-11A 2 - 5.10.02
Full report from Tim Grimsley
Walsall settled from the start and continued where they left off from last
week and were rewarded for their efforts on 7 minutes with a goal from Ben Lund
(Greenfield). A through ball from
the midfield allowed Lund to stretch his legs and get in behind the defence and
slot past the oncoming keeper from the edge of the box.
Walsall were taken from their comfort zone when a first half substitute
began to run the Gloucester game and picking the ball up from 30 yards hit the
ball clean over the Walsall keeper into the top of the net.
Both teams went into the break with the game wide open.
Walsall
came out from the break in a similar way to the way that they started and were
unfortunate not to be rewarded with a carbon copy goal by Lund.
This time when he shot the keeper was just able to get a hand on and push
it just past the post.
When everyone thought the game was a draw Gloucester squeezed a late
winner.
After some confusion in the Walsall defence and a save from the keeper a
Gloucester forward was on hand to stick it in.
Derby U-11A 1 Walsall U-11A 4 - 28.09.02
Full report from Tim Grimsley.
Walsall U11A were entertained by Derby for the second week running and as
expected they had a harder job than the previous week.
Walsall still had a majority of the pressure in the first half and
strikes from Harry Mason (Manor) and Greg Ellis (St. Patrick’s) hit the bar
before Ben Lund (Greenfield) put Walsall ahead just before half time with a
header from a Joe Titley (Holy Trinity) cross.
After the break Walsall really clicked into place playing some great football.
The hard working Nick Hadley (Whetstone Field) was put in on the left by
Mason and was unlucky not to find the net but for a block from the keeper but
Mason was on hand to stick it in after it was cleared from the line. Mason was on hand again to finish off another blocked shot
that was stopped on the line to make it 3-0 to Walsall. Some outstanding link play down the right from Lund set up
the skilful Kemar Roofe (Chuckery) to add a fourth when he beat the keeper at
the near post. Derby got a
consolation goal in the last minute of time added on when a corner was only half
cleared and the ball was hammered into the roof of the net at the far corner.
Derby U-11A 1 Walsall U-11A 6 - 21.09.02
Full report from Tim Grimsley.
Walsall
wasted no time in putting Derby under pressure and found the net in 2 minutes
with a long-range lob from Joe Titley (Holy Trinity) that dropped into the far
top corner. Walsall
found themselves 2-0 up a minute later. Kemar Roofe (Chuckery) was put through
on the right side of the box and skilfully pushed the pall past the advancing
keeper and Ben Lund (Greenfield) was on hand to make sure on the line.
Derby then dug-in deep and despite several efforts from Walsall they were
unable to add to the tally before half time.
Any hopes that Derby had of getting back into the game after the half time talk
were dashed 3 minutes into the second half when Lund received the ball in the
box 10 yards from goal, spun and hit the ball over the Derby keeper to make it
3-0. Ten minutes into the second half Lund set up Greg Ellis (St Patrick’s) to
fire home at the second attempt.
Ryan Thomas (Millfield) made one of his long-range efforts count when he
rocketed the ball in the far corner from 25 yards.
Five minutes from time Todd Jewkes (New Invention) centre back turned
centre forward only needed 1 minute up front to fire home Walsall’s 6th.
From the resulting kick off Derby got a free kick just in the Walsall
half. The kick found an unmarked forward who had plenty of time to put the ball
out of the keeper’s reach.
Walsall
schools' football