The Saddlers were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the New Lawn in Nailsworth, where they took on National League side Forest Green Rovers in their final pre-season game.Forest Green Rovers began the game brightly, creating their first chance just three minutes in, as the ball was crossed in for Laurent Mendy, but Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was alert to the danger and got down well to keep the headed effort out.
Both teams settled into the game as it continued, and ten minutes in, Walsall created a chance themselves as Jonny Stuttle collected the ball and fired an effort towards the near post from the edge of the area, forcing Forest Green 'keeper, Luke McNicholas to parry clear.
Things settled after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball, without creating much to test their opposition defences. That changed, however, in the twentieth minute, as Walsall took the lead through Stuttle, who met a ball into the box from Mason Hancock and headed home, into the far corner.
Rovers went close to levelling the scores, in the twenty-seventh minute, as Tre Pemberton cut the ball back for Kyle McAllister, but Harrison Burke put his body on the line to divert the effort wide.
With thirty-two minutes played, Walsall doubled their tally, as Hancock crossed the ball into the danger area for Aaron Pressley, who headed into the top corner.
The Saddlers almost added a third goal, in the thirty-eighth minute, as Charlie Lakin won the ball some thirty-five yards from goal and looked to find the back of the net, but McNicholas was alert to the danger and got across well to gather.
Forest Green looked to pull a goal back, in the forty-second minute, as Mendy fired goal-wards, but his effort failed to trouble Roberts as it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Walsall won a free moments before the break, from which Hancock sent an effort in on goal, but his dipping effort had just a little too much on it and the ball sailed over.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by two-goals-to-nil at the break.
Forest Green opted to make a double change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Tre Pemberton and Harvey Bunker sitting out the second-half, as their places were filled by Sean Long and former Saddler, Tom Knowles.
The second-half began a rather quiet affair, with both sides enjoying time with the ball without creating anything of note.
Rovers chose to add a third substitute in the fifty-fourth minute, as Neil Kengni was replaced by Jamie Robson, with a further change following just four minutes later, as Kairo Mitchell saw his place taken by Christian Doidge.
Walsall were forced to make their first change of the game, in the sixty-second minute, as Harrison Burke limped off the pitch, with Daniel Cox being brought on in his place.
After a quiet twenty minutes, Walsall could have added to their tally, in the sixty-fifth minute, as Pressley got on the end of a deep cross, but his ball goal-wards sailed wide.
The hosts went close at the other end, moments later, as Mendy picked out Jayden Clarke with a cross into the area, but the wingers effort deflected wide.
The visiting side went close again, in the sixty-ninth minute, as Stuttle pulled the ball back for Jamie Jellis, whose effort on goal was blocked behind by Robson.
Twenty minutes from time, Rovers chose to make another change, with Yahya Bamba making way for Jose Marquez.
Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Jamie Jellis, Aden Flint and Jonny Stuttle making way for Courtney Clarke, Priestley Farquharson and Josh Gordon.
Forest Green looked set to score, in the seventy-eighth minute, as Doidge found himself through on goal, but Roberts was alert to the danger and made the save, before Clarke fired the rebound high over the crossbar.
Walsall chose to make four further changes to their line-up, ten minutes from time, with Mason Hancock, Aaron Pressley, Brandon Comley and Connor Barrett departing in favour of Vincent Harper, Jamille Matt, a Trialist and Albert Adomah.
Moments after the changes were completed, Walsall added a third goal to their tally for the afternoon, with Lakin firing home from some twenty-five yards out.
The home side sought a late goal through Marquez, who saw his effort blocked, before Adam May saw a low effort gathered by Roberts, two minutes from time.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by three-goals-to-nil.
| STUTTLE (20') PRESSLEY (32') LAKIN (82') |
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| AT | THE NEW LAWN |