Earlier today Walsall Football Club's Reserves side travelled to Lilleshall to take on Shrewsbury Town Reserves in the Final Third Development League Cup.
Ahead of kick off both sides needed a win in order to reach the last four of the competition, where they'll seek to take on Wigan Athletic.
The Saddlers had the first chance of the lively opening exchanges, Jake Heath, who is currently enjoying a spell on loan with Rushall Olympic, fired over the bar from a Reece Flanagan corner.
The Shrews' first chance of the game came from a Hickman cross, his swinging effort was met at the left post by Anderson, who headed just wide of MacGillivray's post.
Walsall opened the scoring after fourteen minutes, Levi Rowley cooly finishing past the 'keeper following Jamie Smith's chipped pass.
Shrewsbury 'keeper Shaun Rowley did well to get down to an Amadou Bakayoko shot, the attacker cutting inside from the left and releasing a powerful low drive.
Reece Flanagan also went close as the Saddlers looked to stretch their lead.
The home side equalised via a James Caton effort, he found the far right corner of the goal from the edge of the area, MacGillivray with little chance to save that one.
Soon after, recently debuted first-teamer Matt Preston headed over the bar from a Saddlers corner as he looked to put the Saddlers back into the lead.
After twenty-six minutes, Jordan Murphy had an effort saved at the second time of asking as 'keeper Rowley fumbled the first effort.
With thirty-two minutes on the clock, the well travelled A.Trialist sent a right-footed shot over the bar with the Saddlers defence backpedalling.
We headed to half-time with both 'keepers having been tested and beaten by their opponents. A lively opening forty-five, with both sides showing some good attacking play.
HT SHREWSBURY TOWN RES. 1 WALSALL RES. 1
After five minutes of the second half the Shrews had a goal ruled out for a foul on Craig MacGillivray during the build-up, Josh Ginnelly disappointed to see his effort ruled out.
Midfielder Luke Delaney replaced striker Tevin Shakespeare as Saddlers' Reserves manager Richard O'Kelly looked for some fresh legs.
The next chance of the game was for the Shrews, and came via Kaiman Anderson, he sent a James Caton cross just past the far post from the edge of the six-yard box.
The Saddlers had a similar effort soon after, Amadou Bakayoko working well down the wing to send a cross into the box, an unmarked Jordan Murphy heading just wide of goal.
After sixty-three minutes the Shrews made their first change of the game, Ethan Jones replacing Niall Flint.
A few minutes later, after a spell of combative midfield play, the hosts made their second change of the tie, as Ryan Hickman was replaced by Tom King.
Reece Flanagan sent a shot wide from distance, as he looked to add to the goal he grabbed during the League tie last week.
The next goal scoring opportunity of the game was for the Shrews', with around fifteen minutes remaining Ben Burton sent a chipped pass in the direction of Anderson who sent the ball wide of goal.
Walsall's Jordan Murphy also had a shot on goal, his effort curling just wide of the top-right corner following a good passage of play from Lewis Probert.
As the clock ticked down Shrewsbury substitute King combined with Ginnelly, the latter sending King's cross wide at the near post.
The Saddlers had a couple of corners, the second of which fell to Bakayoko, who glanced a header just wide of goal.
Shrewsbury took the lead late on, a handball on the edge of the box by Saddlers' trialist David Anderson gifting the home side a free kick; the aforementioned A.Trialist with an unstoppable free kick which found the top right corner of MacGIllivray's goal.
FT SHREWSBURY TOWN RES. 2 WALSALL RES. 1
GOALS Caton 20', A.Trialist 89' -- L.Rowley 14'
REFEREE Mr P. Hardisty
ASSISTANTS Mr B. Boyle and Mr R. Watkins
FOURTH OFFICIAL Mr D. Hill
The Saddlers had the first chance of the lively opening exchanges, Jake Heath, who is currently enjoying a spell on loan with Rushall Olympic, fired over the bar from a Reece Flanagan corner.
The Shrews' first chance of the game came from a Hickman cross, his swinging effort was met at the left post by Anderson, who headed just wide of MacGillivray's post.
Walsall opened the scoring after fourteen minutes, Levi Rowley cooly finishing past the 'keeper following Jamie Smith's chipped pass.
Shrewsbury 'keeper Shaun Rowley did well to get down to an Amadou Bakayoko shot, the attacker cutting inside from the left and releasing a powerful low drive.
Reece Flanagan also went close as the Saddlers looked to stretch their lead.
The home side equalised via a James Caton effort, he found the far right corner of the goal from the edge of the area, MacGillivray with little chance to save that one.
Soon after, recently debuted first-teamer Matt Preston headed over the bar from a Saddlers corner as he looked to put the Saddlers back into the lead.
After twenty-six minutes, Jordan Murphy had an effort saved at the second time of asking as 'keeper Rowley fumbled the first effort.
With thirty-two minutes on the clock, the well travelled A.Trialist sent a right-footed shot over the bar with the Saddlers defence backpedalling.
We headed to half-time with both 'keepers having been tested and beaten by their opponents. A lively opening forty-five, with both sides showing some good attacking play.
HT SHREWSBURY TOWN RES. 1 WALSALL RES. 1
After five minutes of the second half the Shrews had a goal ruled out for a foul on Craig MacGillivray during the build-up, Josh Ginnelly disappointed to see his effort ruled out.
Midfielder Luke Delaney replaced striker Tevin Shakespeare as Saddlers' Reserves manager Richard O'Kelly looked for some fresh legs.
The next chance of the game was for the Shrews, and came via Kaiman Anderson, he sent a James Caton cross just past the far post from the edge of the six-yard box.
The Saddlers had a similar effort soon after, Amadou Bakayoko working well down the wing to send a cross into the box, an unmarked Jordan Murphy heading just wide of goal.
After sixty-three minutes the Shrews made their first change of the game, Ethan Jones replacing Niall Flint.
A few minutes later, after a spell of combative midfield play, the hosts made their second change of the tie, as Ryan Hickman was replaced by Tom King.
Reece Flanagan sent a shot wide from distance, as he looked to add to the goal he grabbed during the League tie last week.
The next goal scoring opportunity of the game was for the Shrews', with around fifteen minutes remaining Ben Burton sent a chipped pass in the direction of Anderson who sent the ball wide of goal.
Walsall's Jordan Murphy also had a shot on goal, his effort curling just wide of the top-right corner following a good passage of play from Lewis Probert.
As the clock ticked down Shrewsbury substitute King combined with Ginnelly, the latter sending King's cross wide at the near post.
The Saddlers had a couple of corners, the second of which fell to Bakayoko, who glanced a header just wide of goal.
Shrewsbury took the lead late on, a handball on the edge of the box by Saddlers' trialist David Anderson gifting the home side a free kick; the aforementioned A.Trialist with an unstoppable free kick which found the top right corner of MacGIllivray's goal.
FT SHREWSBURY TOWN RES. 2 WALSALL RES. 1
GOALS Caton 20', A.Trialist 89' -- L.Rowley 14'
REFEREE Mr P. Hardisty
ASSISTANTS Mr B. Boyle and Mr R. Watkins
FOURTH OFFICIAL Mr D. Hill
SHREWSBURY TOWN Rowley; Sheron, Burton, Fletcher, Grogan, A.Trialist, Hickman (King), Flint (Jones), Anderson, Caton, Ginnelly
SUBS NOT USED Ashton, Watkins, Wilson, Kenton, Millis
WALSALL MacGillivray, J.Smith, Probert, Atkinson, Preston, Heath, Flanagan, Shakespeare (Delaney), Bakayoko, Murphy, L.Rowley
SUBS NOT USED L.Roberts; K Rowley, R.Reid, K.Roberts