On Wednesday afternoon John Ward's Walsall Development side played host to Morecambe Reserves in the latest Central League (North West) fixture of the season. You can find news on how the Saddlers got on below.
Ganley; Tonks, K.Roberts, Kendrick, Cockerill-Mollett; Cela, Sangha, Kinsella, Hayles-Docherty, Shorrock, Peters
SUBSTITUTES | Caswell, Fisher, Mason, Maddocks, Candlin
SUBSTITUTES | Caswell, Fisher, Mason, Maddocks, Candlin
Maher; Dutton-Kaye, Davis, Brownsword, Webb, Box, Drewery, Kay, Woodhead, Negrim, Yawson
SUBSTITUTES | Armstrong, Ingham, Nelligan, Hawley
SUBSTITUTES | Armstrong, Ingham, Nelligan, Hawley
The Saddlers have enjoyed a superb Central League campaign so far, winning seven of their eight fixtures, including last week's 1-0 victory over Bradford City, record-signing Andreas Makris bagging the goal to keep his side at the top of the table.
Walsall, who are currently on a twelve-match winning streak in all competitions, defeated Morecambe by five-goals-to-nil in the recent reverse fixture and were keen to repeat that performance today.
Ahead of kick-off Morecambe had won just one of their six Central League fixtures, and were looking to build upon last week's two-nil victory over Port Vale.
Today's match was an energetic affair, with both sides having goal-scoring opportunities. The visitors had the first sight on goal as Quarri Negrim found space but could only send a shot well wide of Brandon Ganley's goal.
Walsall went on to craft a few chances of their own as both Lezion Cela and Tobias Hayles-Docherty forced saves out of Niall Maher in the Morecambe goal, nothing too testing for the 'keeper but enough to keep him alert as the half went on.
Not long after the half reached the mid-way point Morecambe's Steve Yawson sent a tame header wide of goal, a nice cross to find the attacker in space, but no threat to the Saddlers' goal.
Walsall opened the scoring with under ten munutes of the half gone as Cela was on hand to volley home following Hayes-Docherty's cross, a deserved lead for the young development side.
Walsall, who are currently on a twelve-match winning streak in all competitions, defeated Morecambe by five-goals-to-nil in the recent reverse fixture and were keen to repeat that performance today.
Ahead of kick-off Morecambe had won just one of their six Central League fixtures, and were looking to build upon last week's two-nil victory over Port Vale.
Today's match was an energetic affair, with both sides having goal-scoring opportunities. The visitors had the first sight on goal as Quarri Negrim found space but could only send a shot well wide of Brandon Ganley's goal.
Walsall went on to craft a few chances of their own as both Lezion Cela and Tobias Hayles-Docherty forced saves out of Niall Maher in the Morecambe goal, nothing too testing for the 'keeper but enough to keep him alert as the half went on.
Not long after the half reached the mid-way point Morecambe's Steve Yawson sent a tame header wide of goal, a nice cross to find the attacker in space, but no threat to the Saddlers' goal.
Walsall opened the scoring with under ten munutes of the half gone as Cela was on hand to volley home following Hayes-Docherty's cross, a deserved lead for the young development side.
THE CENTRAL LEAGUE | HT
WALSALL 1 MORECAMBE 0
The Saddlers had the first meaningful effort of the second half via Jordon Sangha, as the midfielder, who recently enjoyed a loan spell with AFC Telford United, steered an effort wide of goal. Good to see Sangha in an advanced position as he looks to catch the eye of the backroom staff in attendance.
Walsall continued to create openings with Will Shorrock playing the leading role; first, central defender Kory Roberts found space to meet Shorrock's corner kick, but sadly couldn't extend his side's lead as the ball drifted over the bar. Then, Hayles-Docherty kept the keeper alert as he directed Shorrock's free-kick towards goal,the stopper was once again alert to the danger as he kept the score at one-nil.
Cameron Peters almost doubled the Saddlers' lead with around twenty-minutes remaining on the clock as the attacker met Hayles-Docherty's pull-back pass, sadly Peters, who has been in fine form for both the development and Under 18s sides, could only fire wide after struggling the get the ball under control.
Peters directed another effort wide of goal as he met Callum Cockerill-Molletts powerful cross but couldn't find the back of the net as the lead remained just the one goal.
Morecambe's defence continued to be tested as the clock ticked down, Tyler Brownsword was alert to deny the ever-present Hayles-Docherty as he looked to extend the Saddlers' lead, the defender blocking Tobias' effort on the line.
Walsall remained on top of their opponents and created another goal-scoring opportunity as Shorrock had an effort blocked by a defender following Hayles-Docherty's powerful effort which initially squirmed under the goalkeeper.
Sangha was the next to test Maher as his volley forced the stopper into action, a diving save to prevent the Saddlers from extending their lead.
A good performance from the Saddlers,who were unlucky not to be further ahead by the time referee Philip Hardisty blew the full-time whistle.
THE CENTRAL LEAGUE | FT
WALSALL 1 MORECAMBE 0
GOALS | Cela (37')
REFEREE | Philip Hardisty
REFEREE | Philip Hardisty