On Saturday afternoon Graham Biggs' Walsall Under 18s side returned to action as they played host to Morecambe Under 18s in the latest EFL Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season.
WALSALL TEAM TO PLAY MORECAMBE
STARTING XI | Ganley, Tonks, Cockerill-Mollett, Cela, Vann, Kendrick, Hayles-Docherty, Maddocks, Peters, O'Sullivan, Shorrock
SUBSTITUTES | Caswell; Freemantle, Candlin, Mason, Fisher
The Saddlers sat at the top of the North West table ahead of kick-off having won eight of their eleven alliance games, including last week's 2-0 victory over Carlisle United.
Morecambe were one place above the foot of the table ahead of kick-off, the young Shrimps had won just two of their opening ten Alliance fixtures, and arrived at the match following a draw with last season's league champions Wigan Athletic.
The Saddlers enjoyed a solid start to the match as Callum Cockerill-Mollett, Will Shorrock and Dan O'Sullivan all found space and had efforts at goal.
Walsall took the lead after nineteen minutes of play as Cameron Peters reacted well to a near-post corner, the forward turned on the spot and slotted the ball past Niall Maher in the Morecambe goal.
The hosts continued to be dangerous in attack as Peters, who found himself on the end of some stiff tackles as the defence struggled to cope, and Shorrock both had chances at goal, a superb display from the Saddlers as the match continued.
Despite the Saddlers' dominance the first half had no more goals but the same can't be said for the second as the men in red and black doubled their lead within three minutes of kick-off as Tobias Hayles-Docherty received the ball and slotted home following a swift attacking move. A deserved goal for the Saddlers.
Following his goal Hayles-Docherty had a few more chances to increase his side's lead, the first, a header which drifted wide of goal, the second called for the 'keeper to intervene as Maher stood firm to deny Tobias one-on-one, and the third, which took place with around twenty-minutes of the match remaining, saw a defender step in as his shot deflected for a corner.
Graham Biggs made changes over the course of the second half as Ethan Freemantle replaced O'Sullivan, Stefan Mason came on for Peters and Ashley Maddocks made way for Mitchel Candlin.
Second-half substitute Ethan Freemantle came close to extending the Saddlers' lead as the clock ticked down, his first effort, a header from a deep corner, was deflected into the 'keepers arms, and the second was a strong shot which was palmed away by Maher.
Morecambe did have their chances in front of goal but were unable to dirty Brandon Ganley's sheet as the young stopper remained unbeaten and his side secured another well-deserved victory.
Morecambe were one place above the foot of the table ahead of kick-off, the young Shrimps had won just two of their opening ten Alliance fixtures, and arrived at the match following a draw with last season's league champions Wigan Athletic.
The Saddlers enjoyed a solid start to the match as Callum Cockerill-Mollett, Will Shorrock and Dan O'Sullivan all found space and had efforts at goal.
Walsall took the lead after nineteen minutes of play as Cameron Peters reacted well to a near-post corner, the forward turned on the spot and slotted the ball past Niall Maher in the Morecambe goal.
The hosts continued to be dangerous in attack as Peters, who found himself on the end of some stiff tackles as the defence struggled to cope, and Shorrock both had chances at goal, a superb display from the Saddlers as the match continued.
Despite the Saddlers' dominance the first half had no more goals but the same can't be said for the second as the men in red and black doubled their lead within three minutes of kick-off as Tobias Hayles-Docherty received the ball and slotted home following a swift attacking move. A deserved goal for the Saddlers.
Following his goal Hayles-Docherty had a few more chances to increase his side's lead, the first, a header which drifted wide of goal, the second called for the 'keeper to intervene as Maher stood firm to deny Tobias one-on-one, and the third, which took place with around twenty-minutes of the match remaining, saw a defender step in as his shot deflected for a corner.
Graham Biggs made changes over the course of the second half as Ethan Freemantle replaced O'Sullivan, Stefan Mason came on for Peters and Ashley Maddocks made way for Mitchel Candlin.
Second-half substitute Ethan Freemantle came close to extending the Saddlers' lead as the clock ticked down, his first effort, a header from a deep corner, was deflected into the 'keepers arms, and the second was a strong shot which was palmed away by Maher.
Morecambe did have their chances in front of goal but were unable to dirty Brandon Ganley's sheet as the young stopper remained unbeaten and his side secured another well-deserved victory.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST) | RESULT
WALSALL 2 MORECAMBE 0
GOALS | Peters (19'), Hayles-Docherty (48')