REPORT | Walsall 3 Gillingham 2 REPORT | Walsall 3 Gillingham 2

REPORT | Walsall 3 Gillingham 2

Earlier today, Walsall Football Club's first-team played host to Gillingham in a top-of-the-table Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our match report below.
Earlier today, Walsall Football Club's first-team played host to Gillingham in a top-of-the-table Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. You can read our in-depth match report below.

A minutes silence was held ahead of kick off as we're nearing on Remembrance Sunday, the increased crowd observed the silence impeccably as the game got underway.

Walsall won a free kick early on, Milan Lalkovic elected to have an effort but struck the wall and the opposition easily cleared the danger.

The visitors were later awarded a free kick of their own, as George Evans was adjudged to have fouled his man in a 50/50 challenge. Bradley Dack took the effort, which went well over the bar, no danger for the returning Etheridge.

Dack was involved again soon after, he forced a save from Etheridge, but the attacker was offside during the build up, resulting in a Saddlers free kick.

Walsall also saw an effort of their own go over the bar, as on-loan Manchester City midfielder George Evans, who has scored two-in-two since his arrival at the club, fired well over from distance.

 12' - GOAL  The visitors opened the scoring after twelve minutes of play, Cody McDonald was sent through on goal by a cutting Doug Loft pass, which split the Saddlers defence, McDonald did well to slide the ball past Etheridge to put his side ahead.

Gillingham's Jermaine McGlashan was the first player to be added to the referee's book, as he felled Romaine Sawyers from behind, the Saddlers opted to take the free kick short, looking to build into the box, sadly the opposition cleared the danger on this occasion.

The match, which had started at a fairly frenetic pace, began to settle down into a defensive battle, with both sides pressing high up the pitch, looking to create space in the final third.

George Evans continued his lively start as he sent an effort behind goal, some nice footwork on display from the Premier League prospect as he looks to impress on his Banks's Stadium debut.

The visitors won a corner after around twenty-six minutes, Jason Demetriou blocking a cross. The flag kick was cleared by Etheridge as he stood tall in his area.

Demetriou found space at the other end a few minutes later as he engineered a dangerous cross into the Gills' area. Away 'keeper Neilson did well to collect and clear.

 PENALTY  The visitors were awarded a penalty just after the thirty-minute mark as Paul Downing felled Bradley Dack inside the Walsall area, a dangerous clearance from the visitors creating the opportunity in the Saddlers half.

 32' - GOAL  The visitors doubled their lead soon after, as Bradley Dack stepped up and slotted home from the spot, Neil Etheridge being sent the wrong was as Walsall fell further behind.

Following the goal, Walsall's Milan Lalkovic sent an effort of his own over the bar as he found space and looked to get his side back in contention.

 37' - GOAL  Walsall grabbed their opening goal of the game with just over ten minutes of the half remaining. Kieron Morris smashing a low effort from thirty-yards, his shot beating the 'keeper with ease, a tremendous strike from the wide-man.

 38' - GOAL  Walsall went on to bag their second goal of the game almost immediately after. Milan Lalkovic scoring his third in three games as he slotted home from close range following a dangerous right wing cross.

Man City's George Evans would soon attempt another strike on goal, this time his shot went wide of goal as the pace of the game picked up, both sides keen to grab the next goal.

With a few minutes of the half remaining, the visitors saw another effort go over the bar, a Donnelly effort taking flight following a worked free kick, nice play from the visitors, but a poor end product.

Walsall won a corner with mere moments of stoppage time remaining. Kieron Morris took the kick, and following a couple of partial clearances, the Saddlers would win another, which came to nothing as we reached the break.

SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - HALF TIME
WALSALL 2-2 GILLINGHAM

Walsall saw an early worked cross gathered and cleared, as many members of the side made their way up field.

With just under five minutes of the half gone the Saddlers created a good spell of play which resulted in a Tom Bradshaw cross-goal header being cleared for a corner. The flag kick was poor and cleared as the Gills looked to get a foot on the ball.

Bradshaw was involved again soon after as a quick Saddlers break was fed to the former Shrew, Gillingham's Lennon doing well to block the effort and prevent the shot on goal.

The visitors also saw a shot on goal as McGlashan had an effort palmed away, Donnelly was unlucky on the rebound as Walsall cleared the ball and the danger.

 GILLS SUB  McGlashan OFF Garmston ON 

Following the first substitution of the match, the visitors had another effort on goal, as Aaron Morris drilled a shot wide of Etheridge's goal, no real danger for the Saddlers but yet more space for the visiting attack.

Kieron Morris looked to grab his second goal of the game as the Saddlers broke down the field and, following a blocked Bradshaw effort, worked some space for the Hereford-born midfielder. His effort was too straight and easily gathered.

The Gills won a corner just after the hour mark, Dickinson sent the ball in but Neil Etheridge was alert to clear. Rico Henry gained possession and was felled by his marker, earning the free kick and a booking.

Walsall would win a corner of their own as Paul Downing advanced up the field and forced a save out of the goalkeeper. The visitors elected to clear the corner for another, the second corner was also cleared but the Saddlers retained possession, forcing the visitors back, and winning yet another corner.

The third flag kick was also cleared as Bradshaw looked to connect with the cross. The Saddlers again regained the ball and forced the Gills back, though they were able to break and force the Saddlers to commit a foul via Adam Chambers, some unhappy Saddlers on the pitch as they felt the free kick was a little too soft.

Donnelly stepped up and sent the free kick over the bar, a disappointing effort for the visiting side.

The referee saw fit to book both Milan Lalkovic (Walsall) and Ryan Jackson (Gillingham) as both couldn't keep their tempers under wraps in a sometimes tense atmosphere.

 GILLS SUB  Dickinson OFF Hessenthaler ON 

Following the above substitution Walsall's Jason Demetriou was the next player to be entered into the referee's book, a poor challenge on McDonald. The visitors worked the free kick, and eventually saw McDonald fire over the bar.

The visitors looked to push the Saddlers back into their own half and won a corner, the flag kick was worked in and poor, a goal kick to the Saddlers.

Milan Lalkovic saw a header go wide of goal following a whipped Demetriou cross. Milan was immediately replaced as Dean looked for fresh legs.

 WALSALL SUB  Lalkovic OFF Cook ON 

As we reached the final ten minutes of the game, the hosts won a corner kick following a blocked Lennon effort. Neil Etheridge would come to punch the corner ball clear, but the visitors recovered to win another. The second effort was poor and eventually fell for a goal kick.

The visitors continued to be the stronger side, including having yet another corner cleared, and pushed the Saddlers back into their own half.

 WALSALL SUB  Evans OFF Flanagan ON 

Following his late arrival, Reece Flanagan's first task was to help defend a throw as the Gills looked to grab a late winner, the ball was cleared well as Walsall had a break of their own.

The Walsall attack was cleared well as the match looked to be heading to a seventh draw in a row...

 SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH  Romaine Sawyers 

 90+1' - GOAL  As the referee awarded three minutes of added on time, Walsall went into the lead, Jason Demetriou scoring his first Saddlers goal, the defender slamming home at the far post following Jordan Cook's miscue. A great comeback for the Saddlers

 WALSALL SUB  Henry OFF Taylor ON 
 GILLS SUB  Jackson OFF Williamson ON 

Reece Flanagan had an effort blocked from close range as the Saddlers stood firm to secure the win, and move to the top of Sky Bet League 1.

SKY BET LEAGUE 1 - RESULT
WALSALL 3 GILLINGHAM 2
McDonald (12'), Dack PEN (32'), K.Morris (37'), Lalkovic (39'), Demetriou (90+1')
ATTENDANCE | 6,663 | (689 Gillingham)
REFEREE | Mr. Darren DRYSDALE | Lincolnshire
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