After suffering final day heartbreak, the Saddlers were looking to make it two wins in as many games and take an advantage into their upcoming second leg clash at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a corner just one minute into the contest, as Jamille Matt headed the ball in for George Hall, whose effort on goal was turned wide by Chesterfield 'keeper, Ryan Boot. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, or the one which followed as Tom Naylor put the ball out of play.
Things settled a little as play continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
Chesterfield created their first real chance of note, in the ninth minute, but Ryan Colclough's effort on goal was deflected wide by David Okagbue, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing.
Michael Olakigbe became the first player to draw the attention of the referee, as he was cautioned following a foul on Taylor Allen.
The hosts went close to opening the scoring, in the twentieth minute, as Colclough was allowed to cut inside before firing an effort in on goal, with Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin pulling off a fine save to deny him. The resulting corner came to nothing as the visitors cleared the danger.
Walsall were awarded a penalty in the twenty-eighth minute, as Liam Gordon was felled inside the area, by Liam Mandeville. Allen stepped forth to take the spot-kick and duly converted, to give his side the early advantage.
The home side were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, after the restart, as they looked to get back on level terms, with Okagbue conceding a corner to prevent a shot on goal. The Saddlers were able to clear the danger from the set-piece.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the thirty-second minute, allowing Simkin to receive attention from the Walsall medical team. He was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Walsall doubled their advantage, in the thirty-ninth minute, as Alfie Chang collected the ball on the edge of the area and fired home.
Chesterfield won a free-kick in a promising position, shortly before half-time, but failed to beat the first man with the ball in.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by two-goals-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Chesterfield got the action back underway. The hosts began the second-half brightly, winning a corner within a minute of the restart, as Nathan Asiimwe turned the ball behind, although nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Another Spireites corner followed, just two minutes later, as Simkin was called into action to keep a Tom Naylor header out. The Saddlers defences stood firm to ensure nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Chesterfield manager, Paul Cook, was shown the yellow card, in the fifty-second minute, as he was cautioned for dissent.
Walsall won a corner, in the fifty-fourth minute, as Naylor blocked a Ryan Stirk effort on goal, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as the hosts cleared the danger.
Chesterfield went close to pulling a goal back, in the fifty-sixth minute, as a powerful strike from Mandeville was blocked on the line.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-ninth minute, allowing Chang to receive treatment, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue, albeit with a slight limp.
However, it soon became apparent that Alfie Chang would be unable to see out the remainder of the game, and Brandon Comley was brought on in his place, in the sixty-fourth minute.
Chesterfield opted to make their first change of the afternoon, in the sixty-seventh minute, with Michael Olakigbe making way for Armando Dobra.
The hosts won a corner, in the seventieth minute, as Allen turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of it as a second was conceded as Simkin turned the ball in back out of play. The second Spireites flag-kick would also come to nothing, as the Saddlers continued to defend well.
Walsall chose to make a double change, fifteen minutes from time, with Jamille Matt and Ryan Stirk departing, as Levi Amantchi and Charlie Lakin filled their places.
The Spireites opted to make two further changes to their own line-up, five minutes later, with Ryan Colclough and Tom Naylor departing, in favour of Dylan Duffy and Aribim Pepple.
Two further Saddlers changes followed, in the eighty-second minute, as Jamie Jellis and George Hall made way for Josh Gordon and Albert Adomah.
Walsall could have added a third goal to their tally, in the eighty-fifth minute, as Amantchi fired goal-wards from outside the area, forcing Boot to put the ball over the bar, with the resulting corner coming to nothing as the Chesterfield defences stood firm.
Chesterfield chose to make two further substitutions, three minutes from time, with John Fleck and Lewis Gordon being replaced by Michael Jacobs and Jack Sparkes.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Simkin was forced to make a good save to deny Pepple, whose headed effort appeared to be creeping in at the back post.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion, with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil, leaving Chesterfield with it all to do in the second leg.
| ALLEN [P] (28') CHANG (39') |
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| AT | SMH GROUP STADIUM |
| REFEREE | MARTIN COY |