Staffordshire Senior Cup: Walsall Win on Penalties to Reach Round Two Staffordshire Senior Cup: Walsall Win on Penalties to Reach Round Two

Staffordshire Senior Cup: Walsall Win on Penalties to Reach Round Two

Here is our match update from Wednesday evening's Staffordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round One clash between Walsall and hosts, Wolverhampton Sporting.
John Ward's Walsall Development side went into this evening's match with something of a young line-up as first-team boss Dean Keates looked to rest his senior side ahead of this weekend's League One clash with Oxford United.

Walsall, who were knocked out of last season's competition by Sporting at the Third Round stage, had to stand up to plenty of pressure in the opening stages as their opponents looked to grab an early advantage.

Sporting named a much-changed side from their weekend defeat to Worcester City, as manager Amandeep Sandur looked ahead to their upcoming league clash with Shepshed Dynamo.

There were no goals during the opening forty-five minutes, although Saddlers stopper Ethan Dawe did have to clear off his line in the early stages and also had his crossbar rattled as Sporting pushed for an opener.

The first goal of the game arrived early in the second half as Sporting forward Colin Smith unleashed a screamer from outside the penalty area, leaving stopper Dawe with no chance as his side fell behind.

With around thirty-minutes of the second-half in the books Ward's Saddlers levelled the scores as former Birmingham City prospect Alfie Bates curled a free-kick into the top corner of Rhys Jeavons' goal. A super strike to get his side back on level terms.

There were no further goals in open play and the match would subsequently go to penalties with a place in Round Two up for grabs.

Despite failing to score their first two efforts, the Saddlers would go on to advance to the second stage as they netted five penalties compared to Sporting's four. Joe Brown scoring the match-winning spot-kick for John Ward's side.

Wolves
1 - 1
Walsall
C.Smith

Douglas - SCORED
Couchane - SCORED
Amenku - SCORED
R.Smith - SAVED
McPike - SAVED
Wall - SCORED
- MISSED
Bates

Bates - SAVED
Hayles-Docherty - MISSED
Nolan -  SCORED
Flanagan - SCORED
Leak - SCORED
Moss - SCORED
Brown - SCORED
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