Walsall Under 18s were back in action on Saturday morning as they took on Shrewsbury Town in the first group match of the Youth Alliance Cup. Here is a brief report from Shrewsbury Sports Village.
Shrewsbury Town XI | Gregory Corfield Walker Lovett Davies Shielis Leask Taylor Higgs Barnett Mwandwe
Substitutes | Bevan Rowlands Redding Ofori Millington
Walsall XI | Dawe Little Fisher Mason Kendrick Leak O'Sullivan Friel Riley-Stewart Bates Nolan
Substitutes | Rogerson Willis Leivesley Massamba Cairns
The match started brightly with both sides looking to gain an early advantage. However neither could break the deadlock as the both sets of defenders prevailed, though not without some fine attacking play keeping them on their toes.
Shrewsbury probably had the better of the early going and looked the more likely to score with Charley Higgs, who was substituted midway through the opening forty-five, and Ryan Barnett in particular causing plenty of panic in and around the Saddlers' eighteen-yard box.
The Saddlers started the second-half well and would go on to break the deadlock just after the hour mark as substitute Joe Cairns stepped up and slotted home from the penalty spot.
Walsall weren't in the lead for long as Shrewsbury levelled just moments later as Lifumpa Mwandwe slammed home from Barnett's cross. A disappointing time to concede for the Saddlers, though the home side probably deserved to be on level terms.
Walsall would go back into the lead with eighty-two minutes gone as Dan O'Sullivan slotted home from the spot. A harsh penalty decision from the referee.
Once again the Saddlers failed to hold on to their lead as the Shrews equalised just a few minutes later as Barnett's cross went straight into the back of the net. Substitute Tyrone Ofori may well claim a final touch.
The Shrews, buoyed by their equaliser, wouldn't waste any time as they went into the lead almost immediately after levelling the scores as Kian Taylor's cross was directed into the back of the net by Barnett, three-two to the home side.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE CUP | FT
Shrewsbury Town 3 Walsall 2
⚽ Mwandwe (64') Barnett (85', 86') - Cairns PEN (64'), O'Sullivan PEN (82')