Michael Flynn's Walsall returned to action on Saturday afternoon as, with a welcome win over Tranmere Rovers to build upon, they took on table-topping Forest Green in search of their first back-to-back win of the campaign.
Forest Green Rovers began the game brightly, and should have opened the scoring just four minutes in, as Nicky Cadden delivered a cross into the box for Matt Stevens, but the striker was unable to find the target with his effort from six yards, firing over the crossbar, when he really ought to have scored.
Up at the other end, just two minutes later, Walsall were also presented with a chance to open the scoring, but Tyrese Shade was unable to find the target with his angled shot, and George Miller was also unable to get a touch to tap it home.
With just twelve minutes on the clock, Walsall took the lead. A good move from Emmanuel Osadebe, who picked up the ball twenty-five yards out, setting up Miller, who fired past Rovers shot-stopper, Luke McGee from the centre of the box.
Ebou Adams became the first player to receive a caution from the referee in the seventeenth minute, as he was booked for a foul on Liam Kinsella.
The Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous position, twenty-five yards from goal, in the nineteenth minute, from which Shade attempted to double the teams advantage, but his effort sailed high and wide.
With twenty-one minutes on the clock, Liam Kinsella joined Adams on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card for a foul on the previously booked man.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side creating much to trouble their opposition.
Walsall had another opportunity to extend their lead in the thirty-first minute, but Miller was unable to turn Osadebe's cross home, firing narrowly wide.
Miller went close again in the thirty-eighth minute, as he controlled the ball twenty-five yards out and curled an effort goal-wards, but the ball sailed inches over the crossbar.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Baily Cargill saw an effort deflect over the crossbar, before the Saddlers worked the ball back upfield, where Manny Monthe found space to shoot from distance, but his effort too came to nought, as the ball sailed wide of the upright.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, aside from Rollin Menayese seeing yellow for a foul on Jack Aitchison, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Up at the other end, just two minutes later, Walsall were also presented with a chance to open the scoring, but Tyrese Shade was unable to find the target with his angled shot, and George Miller was also unable to get a touch to tap it home.
With just twelve minutes on the clock, Walsall took the lead. A good move from Emmanuel Osadebe, who picked up the ball twenty-five yards out, setting up Miller, who fired past Rovers shot-stopper, Luke McGee from the centre of the box.
Ebou Adams became the first player to receive a caution from the referee in the seventeenth minute, as he was booked for a foul on Liam Kinsella.
The Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous position, twenty-five yards from goal, in the nineteenth minute, from which Shade attempted to double the teams advantage, but his effort sailed high and wide.
With twenty-one minutes on the clock, Liam Kinsella joined Adams on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card for a foul on the previously booked man.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side creating much to trouble their opposition.
Walsall had another opportunity to extend their lead in the thirty-first minute, but Miller was unable to turn Osadebe's cross home, firing narrowly wide.
Miller went close again in the thirty-eighth minute, as he controlled the ball twenty-five yards out and curled an effort goal-wards, but the ball sailed inches over the crossbar.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Baily Cargill saw an effort deflect over the crossbar, before the Saddlers worked the ball back upfield, where Manny Monthe found space to shoot from distance, but his effort too came to nought, as the ball sailed wide of the upright.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, aside from Rollin Menayese seeing yellow for a foul on Jack Aitchison, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
HT
|
FGR
|
0-1
|
WFC
|
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, and could have doubled their advantage mere moments after the action resumed, as Miller picked up a loose ball at the back post, after some good play from Osadebe to work the ball into the box, but Kinsella was unable to beat the Rovers defences with his eventual effort on goal.
Forest Green were quick to work the ball to the other end, where Aitchison drew a good save from Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth with a headed effort on goal. The home team continued to seek an equalising goal, and were a little unlucky to see a low cross across the box from Stevens deflected away from goal, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The hosts continued to seek a goal to draw themselves back onto level terms, with Rushworth forced to make another save in the fifty-seventh minute, to deny Cadden, who almost found the top corner.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers were presented with an opportunity to put daylight between themselves and their hosts, but Osadebe's effort on goal sailed inches wide of the upright. Unperturbed, the Saddlers continued to seek a second goal, with Miller seeing an effort blocked in the sixty-first minute, moments before Conor Wilkinson saw a shot blocked from the centre of the box.
With sixty-six minutes on the clock, Forest Green opted to make the first change of the afternoon, with Ben Stevenson making way for Sadou Diallo.
The Saddlers continued to ask questions of their high-flying hosts, with Osadebe a touch unlucky not to double his sides advantage in the seventy-first minute, as he combined with Wilkinson before seeing McGee make the save at the second time of asking to deny him.
With quarter of an hour still to play, Rovers were forced to make their second change of the afternoon, as an injury to Jordan Moore-Taylor meant he would be unable to continue, and Dan Sweeney was brought on in his place.
With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opted to make their first change of the afternoon, as new manager, Michael Flynn, handed a Walsall debut to Devante Rodney, who replaced George Miller for the final ten minutes.
The home team also took the opportunity to send on some fresh legs, as they made their third and final change of the afternoon. Jack Aitchison making way for Kasey McAteer.
With eighty-one minutes on the clock, Baily Cargill joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, as he picked up a booking for a foul on Wilkinson.
Just three minutes after his introduction into the game, Rodney was presented with a chance to all but put the game to bed, but his effort from the centre of the box sailed wide of the upright.
Up at the other end, two minutes later, Cadden was a little unlucky not to level the scores, as Menayese got just enough of a touch on the midfielders low cross to turn the ball behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Rodney was presented with another chance to double his sides advantage, just five minutes from time, as Wilkinson played him in, but a well positioned Udoka Godwin-Malife blocked the shot to ensure his side remained within touching distance of their visitors.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, and five additional minutes were announced, Nicky Cadden saw yellow, as he was cautioned by the referee for arguing.
Walsall opted to make their second change of the afternoon, two minutes into the five added, as they looked to slow the game. Conor Wilkinson the man to make way as Sam Perry took to the field.
There was little further action of note, and the game ultimately drew to a close with Walsall holding on to their one-goal lead. A much improved performance from the Saddlers, who built well upon last weekend to win a second game on the bounce, and greatly improve their chances of playing in League Two again next season.
Forest Green were quick to work the ball to the other end, where Aitchison drew a good save from Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth with a headed effort on goal. The home team continued to seek an equalising goal, and were a little unlucky to see a low cross across the box from Stevens deflected away from goal, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The hosts continued to seek a goal to draw themselves back onto level terms, with Rushworth forced to make another save in the fifty-seventh minute, to deny Cadden, who almost found the top corner.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers were presented with an opportunity to put daylight between themselves and their hosts, but Osadebe's effort on goal sailed inches wide of the upright. Unperturbed, the Saddlers continued to seek a second goal, with Miller seeing an effort blocked in the sixty-first minute, moments before Conor Wilkinson saw a shot blocked from the centre of the box.
With sixty-six minutes on the clock, Forest Green opted to make the first change of the afternoon, with Ben Stevenson making way for Sadou Diallo.
The Saddlers continued to ask questions of their high-flying hosts, with Osadebe a touch unlucky not to double his sides advantage in the seventy-first minute, as he combined with Wilkinson before seeing McGee make the save at the second time of asking to deny him.
With quarter of an hour still to play, Rovers were forced to make their second change of the afternoon, as an injury to Jordan Moore-Taylor meant he would be unable to continue, and Dan Sweeney was brought on in his place.
With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opted to make their first change of the afternoon, as new manager, Michael Flynn, handed a Walsall debut to Devante Rodney, who replaced George Miller for the final ten minutes.
The home team also took the opportunity to send on some fresh legs, as they made their third and final change of the afternoon. Jack Aitchison making way for Kasey McAteer.
With eighty-one minutes on the clock, Baily Cargill joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, as he picked up a booking for a foul on Wilkinson.
Just three minutes after his introduction into the game, Rodney was presented with a chance to all but put the game to bed, but his effort from the centre of the box sailed wide of the upright.
Up at the other end, two minutes later, Cadden was a little unlucky not to level the scores, as Menayese got just enough of a touch on the midfielders low cross to turn the ball behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Rodney was presented with another chance to double his sides advantage, just five minutes from time, as Wilkinson played him in, but a well positioned Udoka Godwin-Malife blocked the shot to ensure his side remained within touching distance of their visitors.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, and five additional minutes were announced, Nicky Cadden saw yellow, as he was cautioned by the referee for arguing.
Walsall opted to make their second change of the afternoon, two minutes into the five added, as they looked to slow the game. Conor Wilkinson the man to make way as Sam Perry took to the field.
There was little further action of note, and the game ultimately drew to a close with Walsall holding on to their one-goal lead. A much improved performance from the Saddlers, who built well upon last weekend to win a second game on the bounce, and greatly improve their chances of playing in League Two again next season.
FT
|
FGR
|
0-1
|
WFC
|
Miller (12')
|
REFEREE
|
Alan Young
|
AT
|
The New Lawn
|