Earlier today, Walsall Football Club's Under 18s side returned to Football League Youth Alliance (North West) action as they played host to Rochdale at Ray Hall Lane.
Neil Woods' Saddlers arrived at the game in third position in the FLYA, and hadn't played a league game since mid-December. Rochdale's sat tenth position in the Alliance table, and were last in action on 9th January, picking up a point from a goalless draw with Tranmere Rovers.
Walsall started the game strongly and took an early lead as Cameron Peters was on hand to slot home from a Rory Oliver cross. A nice move from the Saddlers as they open their goalscoring account.
Peters would go on to grab his,and the Saddlers' second goal with around fifteen minutes on the clock, he brushed off his marker and sent a deflected effort over the goalkeeper.
Walsall were both unlucky not to extend their lead, and lucky not to concede as the half went on, with Maziar Kouhyar being denied by some terrific last-ditch defending, while Dan Jezeph was also alert to keep the Saddlers' two goal advantage just before the break.
Walsall started the game strongly and took an early lead as Cameron Peters was on hand to slot home from a Rory Oliver cross. A nice move from the Saddlers as they open their goalscoring account.
Peters would go on to grab his,and the Saddlers' second goal with around fifteen minutes on the clock, he brushed off his marker and sent a deflected effort over the goalkeeper.
Walsall were both unlucky not to extend their lead, and lucky not to concede as the half went on, with Maziar Kouhyar being denied by some terrific last-ditch defending, while Dan Jezeph was also alert to keep the Saddlers' two goal advantage just before the break.
HT | FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST)
WALSALL 2 ROCHDALE 0
The Saddlers started the second half in similar fashion to the first and saw a couple of good goal-scoring opportunities created as Jordon Sangha found space and volleyed over the bar, while Maz Kouhyar got a little closer as he rattled the bar a few minutes later.
Walsall further extended their lead with under twenty minutes of the game remaining as Maz Kouhyar beat his man, and several other potential tacklers, to fire past the goalkeeper, a deflection also helping the ball into the back of the net.
Rochdale grabbed a goal back almost instantly as Callum Schorah fired past Dan Jezeph in the Walsall goal.
The Saddlers went on to make a couple of substitutions as the clock wound down, but the score remained the same as Walsall would go on to record their first win of 2016.
Walsall further extended their lead with under twenty minutes of the game remaining as Maz Kouhyar beat his man, and several other potential tacklers, to fire past the goalkeeper, a deflection also helping the ball into the back of the net.
Rochdale grabbed a goal back almost instantly as Callum Schorah fired past Dan Jezeph in the Walsall goal.
The Saddlers went on to make a couple of substitutions as the clock wound down, but the score remained the same as Walsall would go on to record their first win of 2016.
FT | FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST)
WALSALL 3 ROCHDALE 1
GOALS | Peters (4', 12') Kouhyar (71') -- Schorah (73')