John Ward's Walsall Development side were back in Central League (North) action on Tuesday afternoon as they travelled to the Woodhouse Grove School in Apperley Bridge to face Bradford City. Here is our brief Match Report.
Bradford City XI | Raeder; Hanson, Field, Devine, Mangan, Thompson, Gibson, Pybus, Poleon, McCartan, Patrick
Substitutes | Darke; Maltby, Birchall, Kirkpatrick, Powell
Substitutes | Darke; Maltby, Birchall, Kirkpatrick, Powell
Walsall XI | Ganley; Tonks, Fisher, Shorrock, Vann, Kendrick, Oliver, Cuvelier, Peters, Candlin, Hayles-Docherty
Substitutes | Dawe; Cairns, Massamba, Leivesley, Parker
Substitutes | Dawe; Cairns, Massamba, Leivesley, Parker
The Saddlers arrived at Tuesday's game on the back of last week's superb seven-one victory over York City, the result, which saw Simeon Jackson net four goals, helping the side move up the table and begin to close the gap on the leading sides. The Bantams, who named a strong side for the midweek meeting, had played just two Central League games heading into Tuesday afternoon's clash, winning one and losing the other.
Despite recent form, it was the Bantams who started the match on top, creating two chances in the opening munities. First, Jordan Gibson curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box, while Omari Patrick forced a save out of 'keeper Brandon Ganley.
Bradford would go on to grab the opening goal of the afternoon after just six minutes of play as Dominic Poleon's edge-of-the-area shot found the back of the net after taking a big deflection to loop over Ganley into the top corner of the Walsall goal.
Our hosts went on to double their lead just a few minutes later as Omari Patrick showed fine feet to cut inside from the left flank before sending an unstoppable effort past the 'keeper and into the far top corner.
Bradford's third goal came midway through the first-half as Omari Patrick grabbed his second of the game. After being played into space inside the box, the winger turned inside his marker Sam Tonks before slotting the ball into the back of the net with a low drive.
City went into the break with a comfortable three goal lead, however the Saddlers were not completely overshadowed, John Ward's create a few openings of their own with Will Shorrock, who bagged a brace during last week's comfortable victory over York City, and wide midfielder Rory Oliver both forcing Bantam's 'keeper Lukas Raeder into action.
Our opponents started the second-half brightly and were denied a fourth goal by some superb goalkeeping from Saddlers stopper Brandon Ganley, who did well to deny Jordan Gibson twice from close range.
Despite recent form, it was the Bantams who started the match on top, creating two chances in the opening munities. First, Jordan Gibson curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box, while Omari Patrick forced a save out of 'keeper Brandon Ganley.
Bradford would go on to grab the opening goal of the afternoon after just six minutes of play as Dominic Poleon's edge-of-the-area shot found the back of the net after taking a big deflection to loop over Ganley into the top corner of the Walsall goal.
Our hosts went on to double their lead just a few minutes later as Omari Patrick showed fine feet to cut inside from the left flank before sending an unstoppable effort past the 'keeper and into the far top corner.
Bradford's third goal came midway through the first-half as Omari Patrick grabbed his second of the game. After being played into space inside the box, the winger turned inside his marker Sam Tonks before slotting the ball into the back of the net with a low drive.
City went into the break with a comfortable three goal lead, however the Saddlers were not completely overshadowed, John Ward's create a few openings of their own with Will Shorrock, who bagged a brace during last week's comfortable victory over York City, and wide midfielder Rory Oliver both forcing Bantam's 'keeper Lukas Raeder into action.
Our opponents started the second-half brightly and were denied a fourth goal by some superb goalkeeping from Saddlers stopper Brandon Ganley, who did well to deny Jordan Gibson twice from close range.
The Saddlers would eventually grab a goal back after seventy-three minutes of play as Jacob Hanson directed a Walsall cross into the back of his own net, not the greatest piece of defending as the visitors were handed a glimmer of hope.
City went on to win the match by three-goals-to-one, however the result doesn't do justice to the contest. The Saddlers had forced their opponents back on several occasions, and - much like their first-team counterparts - should've made better use of their openings, especially those coming from corners.
Central League (North) | FT
Bradford City 3 Walsall 1
Poleon (6'), Patrick (10', 22') // Hanson OG (73')
Poleon (6'), Patrick (10', 22') // Hanson OG (73')