Walsall were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they travelled to Kent and took on Gillingham in their second game of the 2025/26 campaign.Looking to build upon their season-opening victory over Swindon Town, the Saddlers only made one change as Lewis Warrington replaced the suspended Brandon Comley in midfield.
Gillingham began the game brightly, winning a corner just two minutes into the contest as Jamie Jellis cleared the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the early flag-kick, however, as Max Clark's cross into the box was turned wide by Robbie McKenzie.
Another corner followed for the hosts just three minutes later, as Mason Hancock put the ball behind, though nothing would come of that either.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, just eight minutes in, as Rico Browne was caught by Joseph Gbode; fortunately, he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Walsall created their first chance of note, in the twelfth minute, as Jonny Stuttle and Aaron Pressley combined to set up Charlie Lakin, but the midfielders' effort from the edge of the box sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Things settled a little as play continued, with both teams seeing spells with the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences. However, twenty-two minutes in, the hosts could have taken the lead, as Remeao Hutton delivered a cross into the box, which was headed away but only as far as Bradley Dack, whose effort on goal, from outside the area, sailed over the crossbar.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with neither side creating much going forwards. The Gills did win a corner, in the thirty-second minute though, as Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts put the ball out of play. Hutton crossed the ball in from the flag-kick, for Dack, but he was unable to find the target from a tight angle, and the scores remained unchanged.
Gillingham goalkeeper, Glenn Morris became the first player to draw the attention of the referee, being shown the yellow card following a foul on Stuttle, in the thirty-fourth minute.
The resulting free-kick was played in by Jellis, for Hancock, whose headed effort goal-wards was scrambled clear by the man between the sticks.
The hosts had a chance to open the scoring, four minutes before the break, but Clark's effort was well blocked.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time the Saddlers won a corner, as Shadrach Ogie turned the ball out of play.
Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Evan Weir's ball in was easily dealt with, and the referee called time with the scores still level at the break.
Gillingham opted to make a change as the teams returned, with Joseph Gbode sitting out the second-half, as Josh Andrews took his place. The hosts began the half brightly, winning a corner kick, just three minutes in, as Connor Barrett put the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The first ten minutes of the second-half were a pretty quiet affair, but Jamie Jellis became the second player to see his name added to the referee's notebook, in the fifty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Ogie.
Just one minute later, Jonny Stuttle joined him playing on a caution, as the yellow card was brandished in his direction after he fouled Morris.
With fifty-eight minutes on the clock, Gillingham found the breakthrough, as a long throw from Hutton eventually found its way to Andy Smith, who played the ball on for Dack, whose right footed effort from the centre of the box found the back of the net.
There was a brief halt to proceedings as we reached the hour mark, as Conor Masterson went down requiring treatment. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Sam Gale was brought on in his place.
With sixty-six minutes played, the Saddlers opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, with Aaron Pressley, Jamie Jellis and Jonny Stuttle departing, in favour of Jamille Matt, Courtney Clarke and Josh Gordon entering the fray.
The Gills opted to make a third change to their line-up, in the seventy-first minute, with Bradley Dack making way for Ethan Coleman.
Another Walsall substitution followed, just three minutes later, as Lewis Warrington departed in favour of Jake Hollman.
Josh Andrews joined those playing on a caution, fifteen minutes from time, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Weir.
The game had settled into something of a midfield battle before the raft of changes were made, but they did little to alter the momentum. Walsall saw plenty of the ball as the game continued, but were unable to create much going forwards.
Gillingham opted to make a further change to their line-up, in the seventy-eighth minute, with Elliott Nevitt departing, and Marcus Wyllie filling his place.
Nine minutes from time, the hosts won a corner, as Barrett turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the opportunity.
The Saddlers opted to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon, in the eighty-third minute, with Evan Weir making way for Albert Adomah, as the side looked to grab a late goal to level the scores.
Gillingham could have put the game to bed, two minutes from time, as Wyllie fired goal-wards from outside the box, but his effort failed to find the target, sailing wide. The hosts continued to press, with Coleman seeing an effort saved by Roberts, two minutes later.
Seven additional minutes were added to end the match. Just one minute into those added, Courtney Clarke joined those playing on a caution, as his name was added to the referee's notebook following a foul on Morris.
Walsall could have levelled the scores, four minutes into added time, as Gordon found himself in behind the Gills defences, but Morris was able to gather his tame effort to deny him.
Ethan Coleman was shown the yellow card, in the ninety-sixth minute, as he was cautioned for a foul on Matt.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Gillingham beating Walsall by one-goal-to-nil.
| DACK (58') | |
| AT | PRIESTFIELD STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ROSS MARTIN |