Walsall went into Saturday's clash on the back of an Emirates FA Cup - First Round victory over Wycombe Wanderers and a performance that will have given Michael Flynn and his side plenty of confidence ahead of kick-off.
With the Saddlers and Cumbrians now set to face-off in the cup in just a few short weeks, Saturday's match provided both managers with an opportunity to check out their opponents and hopefully identify a few weaknesses worth exploiting in their upcoming cup clash.
Following a minute long silence to remember the fallen, the match got underway. Walsall began the game brightly, with Donervon Daniels playing in Danny Johnson just two minutes into the contest, but the strikers effort on goal sailed wide of the upright.
The game settled following the early effort, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to test their opposition defences.
Thirteen minutes in, Carlisle won the first corner of the game, as Hayden White was forced to turn the ball out of play. The ball in was punched clear by Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans, but fell to Callum Guy, whose effort from outside the area was blocked, before Jack Armer saw a shot from the centre of the box deflected out of play for a second flag-kick, which in turn led to a third, both of which came to nothing as Evans made a save to deny an Armer headed effort from close range, affording Walsall some respite.
The hosts had soon regained possession though, with Guy seeing an effort from outside the area blocked by Isaac Hutchinson in the nineteenth minute, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, but twenty-eight minutes in, Walsall won a corner a Tom Knowles effort from a free-kick, was turned behind by Jon Mellish, but the flag-kick would come to nothing.
Evans was called into action again at the other end in just four minutes later, as Armer crossed the ball in towards the back post where Finley Back was waiting to meet it, but the shot-stopper was able to tip the headed effort over the crossbar. The resulting corner came to nothing as Evans gathered Owen Moxon's ball in.
Back at the other end, moments later, the Saddlers created a chance to open the scoring as Daniels crossed the ball to Manny Monthe, but the defenders shot from the centre of the box sailed high and wide of the target.
The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner in the thirty-sixth minute as Moxon turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the set-piece, as a foul from Johnson as the ball was swung in saw a free-kick awarded to the hosts.
The hosts won a corner at the other end a short time later, as Liam Gordon put the ball out of play, but they were unable to make use of the ball in and the Saddlers cleared the danger.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time the hosts were presented with an opportunity to take a lead into the break, as Moxon and Jordan Gibson combined to play in Taylor Charters, but the midfielder was unable to keep his effort on target, sending the ball sailing over the crossbar. The sides ultimately heading off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME SCORE
| CARLISLE UNITED | 0-0 | WALSALL |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the match got back underway. The opening seven minutes of the second-half were a quiet affair, but Moxon found himself in shooting range, fifty-two minutes into the contest, but failed to take advantage as his effort from outside the area sailed wide of the upright.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Knowles crossed in for Daniels, whose effort on goal sailed wide of the target.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Gordon playing in Johnson moments later, but the strikers effort was tipped over the crossbar by Carlisle 'keeper, Tomáš Holý, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
As we reached the hour mark, the hosts won a corner as Monthe cleared the ball out of play. The ball in from Charters looked good, but the Saddlers defences were able to clear the danger.
Walsall were again quick to work the ball up to the other end, but after combining well with Knowles to work the ball into the area, Jacob Maddox fired wide.
With sixty-seven minutes on the clock, Carlisle opted to make their first change of the afternoon, with Taylor Charters making way for Kristian Dennis.
Five minutes later, Walsall chose to make a change to their line-up, as Tom Knowles made way for Jack Earing.
The Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous position moments after the change, as Back fouled Gordon. Brandon Comley stepped forth to take the set-piece, but his effort was tipped over the bar by Holý, with the resulting corner coming to nothing as the hosts broke with the ball and won a corner themselves at the other end, which Maddox turned behind for a second flag-kick, but nothing would come of the move.
With seventy-eight minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make a second change to their team, with Danny Johnson making way for Andy Williams.
Three minutes later, United also opted to introduce a second substitute, as Jordan Gibson was replaced by Jack Stretton.
Stretton was quick to get involved, drawing a foul from Comley which saw his side awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Moxon played the ball into the box, but Hayden White was on hand to turn the ball out of play, with the resulting corner being cleared by the Walsall defences.
The home side continued to seek a late goal, with Moxon crossing the ball to Morgan Feeney three minutes from time, but the defenders shot from thirty yards out sailed high and wide of the target.
The Saddlers were presented with a chance to open the scoring in the eighty-ninth minute, as Maddox beat his man and worked himself into space, but his shot was poor and missed the target.
Three additional minutes were added to end the game, during which time the Saddlers won a free-kick in a promising position, but Liam Bennett was unable to find the target with Comley's ball in. That would be the final action of note, and the match was brought to it's conclusion with the scores unchanged from the start of the afternoon.
FULL-TIME SCORE
| CARLISLE UNITED | 0-0 | WALSALL |
| AT | BRUNTON PARK |
| ATTENDANCE | 5,493 (317) |
| REFEREE | OLLIE YATES |