Walsall continued their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign as they made the short trip to New Bucks Head where they would take on Telford United with Head Coach Michael Flynn looking to learn more about his squad.
The match got off to a slow start, as the sides settled into the contest, but seven minutes in, Walsall were presented with an opportunity to open the scoring, as the side won a corner. Issac Hutchinson swung the ball into the area, where Donervon Daniels was waiting to head home, but his effort ultimately sailed over the crossbar.
Telford United created their first chance of the game four minutes later, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position. The ball was crossed in to captain, Jordan Piggott who was unable to find the target as he fired wide.
The Saddlers had soon worked the ball back up to the other end, where Hutchinson was able to get another shot away, but the Bucks defences were alert to the danger and ensured the ball would not find the target.
Unperturbed, the visiting side continued to press, and Flynn Clarke was a little unlucky not to get a shot in in the twenty-third minute, as a last gasp clearance prevented him dispatching an effort.
As we reached the half hour mark, the hosts were presented with a chance to open the scoring, as a free-kick awarded close to the half-way line was played into the box, but Peter Clarke was first to the ball and cleared the danger.
Moments later, Telford were forced to make their first change of the afternoon, as Koby Jae Chong was replaced by Prince Ekpolo.
The Bucks were a little unlucky not to take the lead in the thirty-third minute, as Devarn Green beat two men and found himself one-on-one with the Walsall 'keeper, who did well to make the save.
Telford continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position in the forty-second minute, which Brendan Daniels fired goal-wards, though he was unable to find the target as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
The final action of the first-half saw a well-placed cross in from the right meet the head of Andy Williams who coolly nodded the ball past Telford's trialist 'keeper to gift Walsall a one-goal lead at the break.
HALF-TIME SCORE
| TELFORD UNITED | 0-1 | WALSALL |
Walsall opted to make three changes to their team as the sides returned, with Ronan Maher, Flynn Clarke and Taylor Allen sitting out the second-half, as Douglas James-Taylor, Liam Kinsella and Cameron Green took their places.
With forty-nine minutes on the clock, the Saddlers doubled their advantage, as Daniels set Williams through on goal, with the scorer of the first goal seeing his effort denied before Hutchinson picked up the loose ball twenty yards from goal and fired home.
With fifty minutes on the clock, Telford were forced to make their second change of the afternoon as Josh Dugmore picked up an injury which forced him from the game. Liam Nolan the man to take his place.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with little action of note from either side, though fifty-nine minutes in, the Bucks did win a corner from a free-kick, though it ultimately came to nothing.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers opted to make a trio of changes to their side, with Andy Williams, Peter Clarke and Donervon Daniels making way as Timmy Abraham, Liam Bennett and Aneurin Livermore joined the fray.
Another Walsall change followed just five minutes later, as Issac Hutchinson was replaced by Jonas Mukuna.
Telford also took the opportunity to make two changes themselves, as Brendan Daniels and Sam McLintock made way for two trialists.
Yet another Walsall substitution followed in the sixty-seventh minute, as Brandon Comley's place was taken by Brendan Kiernan.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle once more as it continued, with neither side creating anything to concern their opposition defences.
Fifteen minutes from time, the hosts opted to make three further changes to their team, with Byron Moore, Brad Bood and Devarn Green making way for Jez Abbey, Bailey and Carl Baker.
With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, the home side almost pulled a goal back, as one of their trialists fed Baker, who returned the ball to the trialist, who fired a low shot goal-wards, but Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans did well to push the effort round the post, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Telford continued to press, with two trialists combining well in the eighty-second minute, to test Evans again, but the effort from twenty-five yards out was well held by the 'keeper.
Four minutes from time, the Bucks won a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Baker played into the box, looking for Matty Brown, but the defender was unable to make a connection with the ball and the chance went begging.
The Saddlers almost added a third goal to their tally for the afternoon in the final moments of the game, as Abraham and James-Taylor combined, but the latter saw his effort blocked, moments before Abraham forced a save from the Telford shot-stopper.
That would be the final action of the game. Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil.
FULL-TIME SCORE
| TELFORD UNITED | 0-2 | WALSALL |
| WILLIAMS (45') HUTCHINSON (49') |
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| AT | NEW BUCKS HEAD |
| ATTENDANCE | 1,080 (430) |
| REFEREE | GREG ROLLASON |