BOLEHALL SWIFTS 0 WALSALL WOOD 2

BOLEHALL were left stunned as their title dreams suffered another dent with defeat to bottom club Walsall Wood.

Wood, under new manager Mark Swann, hurled the form book out of the window even after going down to 10 men with 23 minutes remaining.

Bolehall started well and Michael Swan won the ball and curled a 20-yard effort just wide of the far post.

A minute later, Swan scythed through the centre of the Wood defence but his fierce low drive brought a superb full-length save from debutant keeper Lee Evans.

A ball over the top of the home defence then saw keeper Darren Acton race from his box and completely miss his kick but Todd Perry raced back to save his blushes as the first half ended goalless. After the break, Jordan Brown released Damian Charie into the left of the box but Daniel Rock saved Wood with a superb last ditch tackle.

Wood went ahead on 59 minutes. Rock delivered a left-wing free kick and Ian Purvey flicked the ball on. Keeper Acton hesitated and Nathan Jones forced the ball home at the far post to put Wood in the lead.

Three minutes later, another left-wing free kick was collected by Purvey on the right of the box. He cut back inside and fired a rising drive just over the near angle.

On 67 minutes, scorer Jones was sent off for a second yellow after a tackle on Jake Kirshoff-Sleet.

Rather than put Wood on the back foot, they went further ahead two minutes later as Purvey hit a looping drive over Acton.

It stung the leaders into action.

Charie was fouled 25 yards out but Dominic Coulson's free kick was pushed around his right-hand post by the flying Evans.

On 72 minutes, Craig Haywood crossed from the left, but Evans slapped the ball away from the lurking Swan and Charie.

Swifts put the Wood goal under intense pressure but, when they did get the ball past Evans, Rock and Tom Howard made goal-line clearances.

Swifts boss Daren Fulford said: "Forget Walsall's league position, we knew it would be a tough game.

"They had a new manager in place who lifted them. He had added new faces to the squad while others had a point to prove to him.

"We were well set in the game but conceded a scrappy goal. The second goal was another gift and the confidence was sapped from the players.

"We tried to force things after that but they'd got something to defend and did it well."