Graham Biggs' Walsall Under 18s returned to Youth Alliance (North West) action on Saturday morning as they played host to Bury at Ray Hall Lane. Here is a brief match report.
Ganley; Little, Fisher, Mason, Kendrick, Brown, Ruddock, Bates, Cairns, Candlin, O'Sullivan
Substitutes | Dawe; Leak, Nolan, Parker, Flanagan
Williams; Skinner, Hatton, Mulgrew, Cooney, Nyaupembe, Alli, Hill, Harker, Styles, Da Silva
Substitutes | Whittaker, Lockett, Sadler, Seriri
Heading into today's match the young Saddlers hadn't been in Alliance action for several weeks and were keen to kick-off October with a win. Biggs's Boys have endured a tough start to their Alliance campaign winning just one of their six fixtures, drawing one and losing four.
The Shakers sat fourth ahead of kick-off, having won three of their five games, and were keen to keep up their momentum against the struggling Saddlers.
Sadly for the young Saddlers it was the visiting Shakers who secured the opening goal of the game as Callum Styles remained calm and lobbed the ball over Brandon Ganley in the Walsall goal. The young stopper caught off his line by the Bury forward.
The Saddlers' best chance of the half didn't arrive until stoppage time as Mitchel Candlin had an effort blocked before Joe Cairns sent the ball wide of goal. Not a great spectacle, but plenty of room for the Saddlers to get back on level terms.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE | HT
WALSALL 0 BURY 1
The Saddlers levelled the scores just four minutes into the second-half as Dylan Parker, who had replaced Tyreece Ruddock at the break, slotted the ball low past Mark Williams in the Bury goal.
Walsall went into the lead shortly after the hour mark as Parker was on hand to gather Cody Fisher's cross and and slip the ball into the back of the net, a great second-half turnaround from the men in red.
Bury were dealt another blow soon after Parker's second as Joe Cairns slammed the ball into the roof of the net to give his side a solid lead. A terrible twenty minutes for the Shakers.
There were no further goals but the Saddlers fully deserved their three points, a solid result after a difficult start to the season. Encouraging to see the side turn a game around after being behind at the break.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE | FT
WALSALL 3 BURY 1
⚽ Parker (49', 61') Cairns (65') // Styles (9')