Walsall were back in action on Friday evening as they welcomed the Spireites to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for the Second Leg of the League Two Play-Off.Taking a two-goal advantage into the match, the Saddlers had a strong first leg performance to build upon, as they looked to book their place at Wembley Stadium in the Final.
Chesterfield got the match underway, but it was Walsall who enjoyed the better of the early play, going close just three minutes into the contest, as the ball was played into the box for Jamie Jellis, whose shot from a tight angle was turned behind by Chesterfield 'keeper, Ryan Boot, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall continued to press, winning further corners in the minutes which followed, as Kyle McFadzean and Lewis Gordon put the ball out of play, but nothing would come of either, as the Spireites defences stood firm.
Chesterfield won a corner themselves, in the ninth minute, as Alfie Chang blocked a long range effort from Jenson Metcalfe, though they were unable to make use of the flag-kick.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a brighter spell, having grown into the game, and they could have opened the scoring shortly after the quarter hour mark, as Metcalfe crossed the ball into the box for Aribim Pepple, but the strikers header goal-wards lacked power and was easily saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin.
The Spireites were allowed to see much of the ball as play continued, though they were prevented from creating anything of note by the Walsall defences, until they won a corner in the twenty-third minute, as Chang put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the set-piece.
Chesterfield went close to opening the scoring, in the twenty-eighth minute, as Armando Dobra found space to shoot from outside the area, but Simkin was alert to the danger, in the Walsall goal, and made a comfortable save to deny him.
Walsall went close themselves, at the other end, six minutes later, as Liam Gordon picked up a loose ball from Metcalfe and played it through for Jellis, who worked his way into the box before getting a shot away, but Boot was alert to the danger and made the save.
Nathan Asiimwe became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was cautioned for time-wasting, in the thirty-sixth minute.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning a corner in the thirty-seventh minute, as Liam Mandeville turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, though, as Jamille Matt headed over.
The visiting side soon had the ball back at the other end, but were unable to find the target, as Pepple fired wide from outside the area, shortly before the ball was again played through for the same player, with Simkin able to make the save after a poor connection with the ball from the striker.
Three 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 the scores unchanged.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the second-half action underway. The sides settled into the second period, with both enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Jenson Metcalfe became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on George Hall, in the fifty-first minute.
Chesterfield had the ball in the back of the net, in the fifty-fourth minute, as Metcalfe fired home from twenty yards out, but a handball in the build-up saw the goal chalked off.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-sixth minute, allowing Simkin to receive attention from the medical team. It was soon determined that he would be able to continue and play resumed.
As we reached the hour mark, Taylor Allen joined those playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card.
Walsall chose to make their first changes of the evening, in the sixty-second minute, with Alfie Chang and Jamille Matt making way for Brandon Comley and Levi Amantchi.
John Fleck was shown the yellow card, in the sixty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Jellis.
Chesterfield continued to see much of the ball as play continued, though they were unable to make the possession pay, as the Saddlers continually thwarted their efforts to get forwards.
The Spireites chose to introduce fresh legs, in the sixty-seventh minute, with Jenson Metcalfe and Lewis Gordon departing in favour of former Saddler, Will Grigg and Jack Sparkes.
Sparkes was quick to get involved in the action, firing a powerful effort goal-wards, just two minutes after his introduction into the game, but his shot failed to find the target as the ball was blocked.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, as Hall raced forwards before squaring to Amantchi, but the former Spireite was unable to find the target as his tame effort was denied by Boot.
Fifteen minutes from time, the Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Jamie Jellis and George Hall were replaced by Albert Adomah and Charlie Lakin.
Chesterfield also took the opportunity to introduce more fresh legs, with Liam Mandeville and Ollie Banks departing, in favour of Ryan Colclough and Dylan Duffy.
Armando Dobra joined those listed in the referee's notebook, in the seventy-sixth minute, as he was booked for simulation, after going down inside the area.
Walsall put the game to bed, in the eighty-first minute, as Adomah crossed the ball into the box for Lakin, who headed home from close range to all but ensure the Saddlers would be returning to Wembley.
Chesterfield responded to the goal, by making their fifth and final change of the evening, with Tom Naylor being replaced by Michael Jacobs.
The visiting side could have levelled in the eighty-third minute, as Sparkes crossed the ball in for McFadzean, but his headed effort was cleared off the line by Stirk.
The Spireites continued to press, with Colclough seeing a low effort saved by Simkin, five minutes from time.
Walsall could have doubled their tally for the evening, in the eighty-seventh minute, as Lakin crossed the ball in for Amantchi, whose his low strike sailed inches wide of the upright.
The Saddlers chose to make their final change of the evening, as we entered six additional minutes, with Nathan Asiimwe making way for Donervon Daniels.
The hosts should have added to their tally, in the ninety-third minute, as Allen fired goal-wards from a tight angle, but his shot sailed inches wide of the far post.
Chesterfield were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Grigg crossed the ball in for Dobra, who fired home from the centre of the box to level the scores in the night.
It took Walsall just one minute to restore their earlier lead, however, as Adomah crossed the ball into the area for Amantchi, who headed into the bottom corner from close range.
Levi Amantchi was then shown the yellow card, being booked for excessive celebration.
There was a pause in proceedings following the goal, as supporters spilled onto the pitch. Eventually the field of play was cleared once more, allowing Chesterfield one final touch of the ball before the final whistle sounded, with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-one on the night, and by four-goals-to-one on aggregate.
| LAKIN (81') AMANTCHI (90+5') |
DOBRA (90+4') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | BEN TONER |