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Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the EV Charger Points Stadium and took on Cheltenham Town.Looking to rebound from last weekend's defeat to Barrow, Mat Sadler made just one change with Jid Okeke coming in to replace Vincent Harper, who looked out of sorts after coming back from international duty last weekend.
It took a while for the game to really get going, with much of the early action centred around the midfield area as the sides cancelled one another out.
However, Walsall were able to create the first chance of note, in the eleventh minute, as Connor Barrett and Daniel Kanu combined well, with the latter firing an effort in on goal which drew a save from Cheltenham 'keeper, Joe Day.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, going close again in the fifteenth minute, as Jid Okeke beat his marker and raced into the box before passing to Aaron Pressley, whose effort on goal sailed over the crossbar.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the nineteenth minute, allowing Pressley to receive attention from the Walsall medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
Walsall continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring as the game continued, with Courtney Clarke drawing a save from Day, in the twenty-third minute, as he curled an effort in from the edge of the area.
Cheltenham tested the Walsall defences for the first time, in the twenty-sixth minute, with Ethon Archer crossing the ball in for Arkell Jude-Boyd, who was unable to find the target as he sent the ball wide.
The home side continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Sam Sherring playing the ball to former Walsall man, Isaac Hutchinson, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
There was another short pause in play, in the twenty-eighth minute, allowing Lewis Warrington to receive attention from the medics. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Brandon Comley was introduced in his place.
Jonathan Tomkinson became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the thirty-sixth minute after he felled Jamie Jellis with an industrial tackle.
Walsall soon had the ball back in the danger zone, as Jellis played the ball in for Rico Browne, but Day was alert to the danger and made the save to deny the defender a goal from a tight angle.
The visiting side continued to press, with Pressley heading the ball in for Kanu, whose effort on goal was blocked by Sherring, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was forced to make his first real save of the game, as Jude-Boyd fired an effort in on goal.
Luke Young became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned four minutes into the added, following a foul on Jellis.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the first-half was brought to a close with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, with Clarke seeing an early effort on goal blocked, just one minute after the restart.
Jid Okeke joined those playing on a caution, in the forty-ninth minute, as he was shown the yellow card after kicking the ball away in frustration.
A loose ball from the Cheltenham defence allowed Walsall another shot at goal five minutes into the half, as Jellis capitalised, drove into the box and fired goal-wards from eighteen yards out, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the fifty-fifth minute, as a Jellis effort was turned behind by James Wilson. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Day gathered.
Cheltenham were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where they won a corner themselves, as Okeke turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of that either though as Walsall broke with the ball, a move which culminated in Jellis crossing into the box for Clarke, whose header goal-wards missed the target by a matter of inches.
Walsall chose to make a double change, twenty minutes from time, with Aaron Pressley and Jamie Jellis making way for Albert Adomah and Charlie Lakin.
The visiting side went close again, in the seventy-third minute, as the ball was played through for Comley, but his effort from the edge of the area was turned away by Day.
Walsall continued to press, winning a corner for their efforts, in the seventy-seventh minute, as a Clarke strike which looked to be headed for the top corner, was turned over by Day. The resulting corner saw the ball fall to Okeke, whose shot rattled the crossbar.
Ten minutes from time, Cheltenham chose to make a double change, with Isaac Hutchinson and Jordan Thomas making way for Tom Taylor and Josh Martin.
Things remained settled after that, and four minutes from time the Saddlers chose to roll the dice, making their final two changes of the afternoon, as Courtney Clarke and Daniel Kanu departed, with Ryan Finnigan and Jamille Matt joining the fray.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, and two minutes into them Cheltenham took all three points, as Aden Flint turned the ball into his own net.
Cheltenham chose to make another change to their line-up following the goal, with Jake Bickerstaff making way for former Saddler, Liam Kinsella.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as Cheltenham held on to take the win. A disappointing result for the Saddlers, who had looked the more likely of the two sides to find the breakthrough for much of the game.
| FLINT [OG] (90+2') | |
| AT | EV CHARGER POINTS STADIUM |
| REFEREE | OLLIE YATES |