Walsall Under-18s returned to action on Wednesday afternoon as they made the short trip to Shropshire and Montgomery Waters Meadow where they faced Shrewsbury Town on the First Round of this season's FA Youth Cup.
Managed by former Sheffield Wednesday man Miguel Llera, the young Saddlers have started the 2020/21 campaign well, with their performances in the Youth Alliance being a particular highlight.
Campbell, who continues to be one of the breakout players in Walsall's youth ranks, got on the end of a looping cross to give his team an early advantage.
The Shrews responded to the Saddlers' goal by going in search of one of their own. Liam Thomas saw a shot creep past the post whilst Elliott Tibbs forced Lewis Walker into a save following Ben Crompton's cross.
Managed by former Sheffield Wednesday man Miguel Llera, the young Saddlers have started the 2020/21 campaign well, with their performances in the Youth Alliance being a particular highlight.
WALSALL TEAM
Walker; Foulkes, Lynch, Sharp, Campbell, Francis, Mukadam, J.Perry, Perez-Duah, Stephens, Baldwin
Substitutes: Hedge; Taylor, Sarvari, Allamby-John, Simcox, Derry, Onabirekhanlen
SHREWSBURY TOWN TEAM
Bevan; Bell, Tibbs, Barlow, Wilson, Kaninda, Thomas, Crompton, Lloyd, Caton, Bloxham
Substitutes: Cooper, Sears, Aris, Dubbery, Spiers, Harper
Tuesday's match, which kicked-off at 2.00pm, started well for the young Saddlers as winger Jayden Campbell continued his fine spell of form by grabbing the opening goal of the game with around five minutes on the clock.
The Shrews responded to the Saddlers' goal by going in search of one of their own. Liam Thomas saw a shot creep past the post whilst Elliott Tibbs forced Lewis Walker into a save following Ben Crompton's cross.
The home side's frustrating half continued as they saw two players noted in the referee's match report as Ben Compton and Tom Bloxham both saw yellow for separate incidents.
Thomas looked to level the scores just before the game entered time added on at the end of the first-half as he drove inside from the wing and sent a strong effort just over the bar. Close but not close enough for the Shrews as the Saddlers went into half-time with a narrow but deserved lead.
-
|
HT
|
-
|
SHREWS
|
0 - 1
|
WALSALL
|
Shrewsbury's search for an equalising goal continued into the second forty-five as Thomas earned a free-kick on the edge of the Saddlers area just moments into the half. Crompton was the man to take the shot but couldn't keep his effort down as the ball flew over the bar.
The next man in Blue and Amber to have an effort was Louis Lloyd who saw a header go wide of goal following Tibbs' well-directed cross. Tibbs soon joined his colleagues in the referee's notbook after picking up a yellow card.
Walsall were not without goal-scoring chances of their own and saw young defender Joe Foulkes send a header just wide of Jaden Bevan's goal around seven minutes into the half.
Shortly after the Reds made their first change of the match as Ramani Stephens was replaced by Jayden Allamby-John they went on to not only double their lead but triple it within just two minutes of play.
The first of Walsall's duo of quick goals saw the recently signed Troy Perez-Duah send a powerful effort beyond the 'keeper before Saif Mukadam made the most of another attack to slot the ball home, seemingly putting the game beyond the home side.
Despite their comfortable lead Walsall continued to push for more goals and saw Jack Lynch link-up with opening goal-scorer Campbell to see the latter send an effort just wide of goal.
There was also another change for the Saddlers as London-born goal-scorer Perez-Duah was replaced by Bradley Taylor.
Shrews goalkeeper Bevan was soon called into action as he parried a shot wide of his post as Walsall kept up the pressure with around twelve minutes of the contest still to play.
The only real slice of bad news for the Saddlers arrived in the form of an injury as Jayden Campbell was forced onto the side-lines with Callum Derry taking his place on the field of play.
Walsall's superb second-half showed no signs of ending as they went on to grab a fourth goal as substitute Taylor slotted home with just two minutes of the match remaining.
There would be no further goals as they young Saddlers eased through to the Second Round of the competition.
-
|
FT
|
-
|
SHREWS
|
0 - 4
|
WALSALL
|
Campbell (5') Perez-Duah (67') Mukadam (68') Taylor (88')
|