Walsall Wood draw a blank against Coleshill
Another blank 90 minutes for Wood as their neat footballing display failed to penetrate a resolute Coleshill rearguard. A poacher's goal by Matt Brown on 26 minutes made it two defeats on the trot for the home side.
It was a lively start from both sides, Town's Dean Rathbone winning a corner which Ryan Nash glanced wide.
At the other end, Lewis Taylor Boyce played a neat through ball to Max Black who rode a tackle but under pressure rolled the ball past keeper Paul Hathaway and agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
On 12 minutes, Brown raced onto a ball on the left of the box, but under pressure from Lee Stretton chipped the ball tamely into keeper Raj Gill's hands.
Back came Wood, Taylor Boyce feeding Black who again rolled his shot beyond the keeper but wide.
Then Gavin Saunders and Black combined for Jamie Hawkins to hit a first-time effort just over.
Rathbone fired well wide for Town on 21 minutes but did far better five minutes later as his side bagged the winner. Rathbone's left-wing cross was hit first-time by Oliver Casey; Gill made a superb one-handed save low to his left, but Brown was first to the loose ball and scored.
Coleshill nearly got a second on 36 minutes when Gill raced from his box to kick clear as Daniel Holgate raced onto a through ball.
The second half was initially a midfield stalemate until on 63 minutes Brown raced through on the left and was foiled by Gill.
Wood then lost promising 18-year-old left-back Steven Hayles, taken off on a stretcher after 69 minutes with what looked to be serious ankle ligament damage. He was replaced by Danny Rock.
On 82 minutes, a slide rule ball by Black found Taylor Boyce, who went through one tackle but fired wide under pressure.
A minute later, Hathaway blocked bravely at the feet of Craig Hancox as Wood strove unsuccessfully to find an equaliser.
Wood entertain Tividale on Thursday night in the Walsall Senior Cup.
