Walsall Wood ready for another tough test

Wood, who climbed back into top spot in the Premier Division with a 2-1 win at Stourport in midweek, face a tricky looking test away to a rejuvenated Boldmere St Michaels outfit.

The Mikes have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes following the appointment of former Stafford Rangers and Rushall boss Neil Kitching.

But their improvement is no surprise to Wood’s joint boss Kris Taylor.

“I know Neil Kitching, I played under him at Stafford Rangers, and he is a good manager,” said Taylor.

“He has gone in at Boldmere and galvanised them. He has got them playing well and I think they have only been beaten once in their last eight or nine league games.

“This game is as tough as we could have at the moment.”

The victory over Stourport saw recent signings Connor Deards and Lewis Hayden impress with Deards marking his arrival from Redditch with a goal.

“I know Connor from his time at Rushall,” said Taylor. “He has also played at Alvechurch and has a good pedigree.

“He scored on Tuesday, so it was a nice start for him. It was also Lewis’s first game and I thought he was the best player on the pitch.”

Tividale boss Dave King will be on weather watch tonight, hoping the rain relents and his side can get back in action away to Highgate following a frstrating run of postponements.

“We haven’t played a league game in just over a month and not played on any of the last four Saturdays,” said King.

“I am concerned that all the good work we did pre-season and at the start of the season will be undone through not playing.

“The lads made a superb start to the season and we just want to get back out there.

“You can train all you like, but there is no substitute for playing games.

“It will be like starting from scratch again in the league. You don’t want to be in a situation where you are playing catch up.”

AFC Wulfrunians head for second-placed Heather St John’s while Lye Town are away to Romulus.

“When a player like Connor becomes available, you would be daft not to speak to him.

“We have a chat and what he wanted and what we wanted fitted nicely.

“We signed with

“We are very pleased with how the lads have responded to us taking charge.

“That was our first league game in charge on Tuesday.

“We had seen a couple of games called off and fallen down to fourth as a result.

“It had been a frustrating couple of weeks due to the weather.

“That victory took us back to the top of the table but I think it’s far too early to be looking at the table too closely.

Connor Deards and lewis hayden

“We are at Highgate on Saturday, although there is more rain forecast, and then we have a JW Hunt Cup game at Sikh Hunters in midweek and a league game at home to Selston the following weekend.

“It would be great to have a busy week.

“It was disappointing to see the game called off on Tuesday.

“The ref came in and inspected the pitch early afternoon and called it off.

“I think that was a bit early, personally.

“We have played in worse conditions this season and we actually trained on the pitch on Tuesday after the game had been called off.