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Walsall were back in EFL Trophy action on Tuesday evening when they welcomed Chelsea Under-21s to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for a Southern Group C clash.Chelsea got the action underway, with both teams taking some time to settle into the contest. Walsall did show signs of promise at times though, with an early foray into the Chelsea area, in the seventh minute, though nothing would come of the move as Jamille Matt's ball in for Albert Adomah was smothered by a visiting defender.
The Saddlers were then presented with an opportunity to open the scoring, in the eleventh minute, as a loose pass from Kian Best allowed Matt a shot at goal, however, his effort was deflected wide by Kaiden Wilson, and the resulting corner came to nothing.
Fifteen minutes into the contest, the hosts found themselves in shooting range again, winning a free-kick in a promising position, which Ryan Finnigan crossed in towards the back post where Priestley Farquharson was waiting for it, but his effort on goal was poor and Chelsea shot-stopper, Gabriel Slonina was able to block before his defence mopped up.
Frankie Runham became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, picking up a yellow card in the twentieth minute, following a foul on Rico Richards.
Walsall continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring as play continued, going close through Vincent Harper in the twenty-second minute, though his strike on goal was well placed for the Chelsea 'keeper who gathered with ease.
There was a brief pause in play, in the twenty-seventh minute, allowing Deivid Washington to receive treatment for a knock. He was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
The Saddlers should probably have scored as we reached the half hour mark, as a ball across the box from Jid Okeke, was pushed into the path of Harper, by Slonina, but the ball back across the box found Matt, whose header goal-wards sailed wide, when he really should have found the target.
Chelsea created their first real chance of note, in the fortieth minute, as Ollie Harrison crossed the ball into the box for Washington, whose effort on goal was denied by Walsall 'keeper, Sam Hornby.
Vincent Harper became the second player to see yellow, in the forty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Dujuan Richards.
Two 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 still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. Chelsea began the second-half brightly, with Dujuan Richards seeing an effort sail wide of the target, just two minutes after the restart.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Matt crossed the ball to Finnigan, whose strike from outside the area sailed high and wide.
The Saddlers continued to seek an opener, with Okeke breaking, in the fifty-fourth minute, before delivering a low cross to Matt, whose effort missed the target by inches.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Finnigan to receive attention from the Walsall medical team, after taking a knock, but he was soon back on his feet, ready to continue.
It wasn't long before Ryan Finnigan was replaced though, as both he and Rico Richards departed, in the sixty-second minute, as Jamie Jellis and Courtney Clarke entered the fray.
Chelsea also took the opportunity to make two changes to their line-up, with Ollie Harrison and Deivid Washington making way for Reggie Walsh and Sol Gordon.
Justin Osagie joined those playing on a caution, in the sixty-third minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on the recently introduced Clarke.
The Saddlers created another chance to open the scoring, in the sixty-fifth minute, as the ball was crossed into the box by Harper, for Adomah, who didn't get the best touch, sending the ball sailing over the crossbar.
Chelsea could have opened the scoring, in the seventy-second minute, as Dujuan Richards fired goal-wards from the edge of the area, but Hornby was alert to the danger and made the save.
With seventy-three minutes on the clock, Chelsea chose to make another change to their line-up, with Frankie Runham making way for Isaac Silva.
Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Jamille Matt, Rico Browne and Charlie Lakin all departing, as their places were filled by debutant, Paul Makavore, Stan Straw and McLloyd Oben.
The visiting side almost took the lead, in the seventy-ninth minute, as Best crossed the ball into the box from a free-kick, for Gordon, but the midfielders headed effort from close range sailed narrowly wide of the target.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the eighty-second minute, allowing Wilson to receive some attention from the Chelsea medics, but he was soon back on his feet and play continued.
Five minutes from time, Chelsea chose to make their final two changes of the evening, with Lewi Richards and Kobe Barbour making way for Gabriel Sambou and Andrew Pennie.
Chelsea almost found a late winner, in the final minute, as Richards delivered a low cross into the box for Gordon, whose effort from close range was denied by Hornby.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Okeke required attention from the Walsall medics, bringing about another pause in play. He was soon able to return to action though, allowing play to resume.
Kaiden Wilson picked up a yellow card, seven minutes into added time, following a foul on Makavore.
That proved to be the final action of note, and with no goals scored, the game headed to penalties, which Walsall won by four-goals-to-two to take the bonus point, as Clarke, Straw, Jellis and Okeke converted, after Adomah fired over, whilst only Best and Sambou converted for Chelsea as Walsh saw his effort saved and Pennie slipped, sending the ball wide.
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ELLIOTT SWALLOW |