Walsall played host to Huddersfield Town Under-19s in their opening Central League Cup game of the season on Tuesday afternoon, with the match being played behind closed doors at the Birmingham County FA's headquarters on Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr.
Managed by player/ coach Mat Sadler, the Saddlers named a mixed age group line-up with Jack Rose, Hayden White, Jack Lynch, Joe Foulkes, Jayden Campbell, Jack Nolan, Tom Leak, Joe Willis and Sam Perry joining two unnamed trialists in the starting eleven.
Although Walsall enjoyed much of the early possession, the game got off to a slow start with the first shot in anger not arriving until after ten minutes-or-so as summer signing Jack Rose was on hand to stop Kian Harratt's low-drive from opening the scoring.
The Saddlers' first effort arrived via Joe Willis' curling free-kick which Terrier stopper Nicholas Bilokapic did well to gather, preserving his clean sheet.
Joe Willis was soon back on the attack and forced the Terriers defence into action after evading his marker then getting a shot away. The visitors were also forced into retreat with Joshua Okpolokpo heading away a free-kick.
Despite their spells of pressure the Saddlers ultimately fell behind on the half-hour mark as Terriers winger Will McCamley got on the end of a well-placed long-ball before beating his man and slamming the ball home.
The Saddlers continued to push for a goal of their own and went close just before the break as winger Jack Nolan forced the 'keeper into an admittedly comfortable save as his clean sheet remained intact.
TOWN
|
HT
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WALSALL
|
WALSALL
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0 - 1
|
TOWN
|
The Saddlers, fresh of their half-time team talk, started the second-half in style as former Reading winger Jack Nolan cut inside his man onto his left foot before slamming the ball past the 'keeper at his near post, levelling the scores.
Huddersfield were soon looking to regain their lead and went close via Sam Sharrock-Peplow who sent an effort just wide of Rose's goal following midfielder Myles Bright's neat through ball.
The Saddlers' first change of the game saw summer signing Hayden White, who was on a yellow card following an argument with the match official, was replaced by Alex Worley.
Sadly for Walsall the change could not prevent them from going behind as Mustapha Olagunju did well to get on the end of Sharrock-Peplow's cross, the winger doing well to break free from his man to deliver the ball, to poke the ball past Jack Rose in the Walsall goal.
The visitors went on to make their first change of the contest as Darnel Baxter-Alleyne came on to replace Rio Connell.
Walsall then went in search of another equaliser as Nolan, who had pout his side back on level terms just moments into the second-half, forced the 'keeper into a save, although not a difficult one.
Huddersfield's second change saw Ernaldo Krasniqi, who had been down receiving medical treatment just a few minutes earlier, replaced by David Adewoju.
Saddlers substitute Worley then joined the man he replaced in the referee's book as he was cautioned for a late challenge on Sharrock-Peplow who had done well to control the 'keeper's ball before being felled as he looked to advance into the area.
The resulting free-kick came to nothing as former Southampton stopper Jack Rose read the danger and gathered the ball without incident.
Walsall's next changes saw Jayden Allamby-John and Danny Coogan introduced in place of Jack Lynch and one of the Trialists.
The visitors were presented with a golden opportunity to seal the win just minutes from time as the ever-present Sharrock-Peplow was felled in the area with the referee awarding a spot kick.
Annoyingly for the Saddlers, and despite Rose saving the initial penalty, the visitors went on to lengthen their lead as opening goal-scorer Will McCamley was on hand to slip home the rebound to add to the Saddlers' woes.
Walsall were able to shorten their visitors' lead in second-half injury time as substitute Allamby-John was alert to capitalise upon an error at the back to slip the ball into an empty net, making the final score Walsall 2 Huddersfield Town 3.
TOWN
|
FT
|
WALSALL
|
WALSALL
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2 - 3
|
TOWN
|
Nolan (46') Allamby-John (90+3') |
McCamley (30') Olagunju (65') McCamley (88')
|
VENUE
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Ray Hall Lane
|
REFEREE
|
TBC
|