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Managed by Miguel Llera, Walsall opened their pre-season campaign with a short trip to Dales Lane where they faced Liam McDonald's Pics in a bid to boost fitness and match sharpness ahead of the new campaign.
WALSALL TEAM
T.Jackson; J.Simcox, A.Trialist, N.Angafor, B.Taylor, J.Shaw, S.Sarvari, R.Maher, M.Onabirekhanlen, B.Trialist, C.Derry
Substitutes: Hedge; Sawyers, Christofaro, Toor, Hunter, Baldwin, J.Perry, C.Trialist, D.Trialist, E.Trialist.
RUSHALL OLYMPIC STARTING XI
A.Trialist; Green, Lyttle, Fitzgerald, Clarke, Whittall, Reid, Thorley, Glover, B.Triallist, Nelson
Fielding a young eleven along with a couple of unconfirmed trialists, the Saddlers took on Rushall in front of a healthy number of fans, as both teams sought to try out a few different tactics with just a few weeks before the season gets underway.
Rushall, however, named a team mixed with youth and experience and were able to take control of large portions of the opening stages of the contest.
The Pics went on to grab the opening goal of the game with around half-an-hour on the clock as Rakeem Reid, who was found in space by one of the trialists, smashed the ball high into the goal past Saddlers stopper Tommy Jackson.
The home side continued to enjoy the majority of possession and went on to double their lead with five minutes of the first-half remaining, as a Michael Nelson cross saw an unfortunate defender slot the ball into the back of his own net after the 'keeper had saved the initial effort.
HT
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ROFC
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2 - 0
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WFC XI
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The second-half saw the home side pick up where they left off during the opening forty-five as Alex Moore extended Rushall's lead just ten minutes on the clock as he sent a curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the area.
The scoring didn't end there, as the Pics netted a fourth of the afternoon with twenty minutes of the game remaining, as Simeon Cobourne got on the end of a Mitch Clarke pass to slam the ball home. A more than comfortable lead for the Dales Lane side.
A tough afternoon for the young Saddlers as their hosts showed plenty of desire to take the game to their opponents and deservedly ran out comfortable winners. Plenty of work ahead for Miguel and his young charges.
FT
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ROFC
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4 - 0
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WFC XI
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Reid (30') Own Goal (41') Moore (55') Cobourne (70')
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VENUE
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Dales Lane
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REFEREE
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TBC
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