Walsall were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the Exercise Stadium and took on Harrogate Town as they looked to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing defeat to Colchester United.Despite going into the game second in the table, Mat Sadler's men were under plenty of pressure to right some wrongs following a dismal display against the U's.
Walsall got the match underway, and they began brightly, winning a corner just four minutes into the contest, as Zico Asare turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, though, as the ball was eventually turned wide.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Ryan Finnigan firing a low effort in on goal in the ninth minute, but Harrogate 'keeper, James Belshaw was alert to the danger and got across to turn the ball wide, with the resulting corner being sent over by Aden Flint, after Jamille Matt's initial effort was blocked.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating any clear-cut chances on goal. Harrogate did grow into the game though, testing the Saddlers defences on a couple of occasions.
Former Walsall loanee, Bryn Morris, became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned, in the twenty-first minute, following a foul on Vincent Harper.
Harrogate won their first corner of the match in the twenty-seventh minute, as an Anthony O'Connor header was turned goal-wards by Levi Sutton and blocked by Evan Weir. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though as Sutton fired high and wide.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a corner themselves as a Charlie Lakin effort was turned behind by Belshaw. The ball eventually fell to Kanu from the flag-kick, but O'Connor cleared off the line, there was a scramble in the box and the ball was eventually bundled home by Finnigan, but the goal would not stand as the referee had blown for a handball.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, though Jid Okeke found space to shoot in the thirty-ninth minute, his effort sailed high over the crossbar though.
The Saddlers won another corner, in the forty-second minute, as O'Connor put the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the set-piece though, as the ball in fell to Flint at the back post and he headed wide.
With forty-three minutes on the clock, the visiting side finally found the breakthrough, as Matt played the ball in for Kanu, who bear O'Connor to it, raced forwards and fired home into the bottom corner to secure his seventh goal of the season.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half; there was little further action of note and the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Harrogate got the second-half underway. Both sides enjoyed decent early spells after their return, and just five minutes after the restart, the hosts could have levelled the scores as Flint was forced to turn the ball behind for a corner, but the Walsall defences stood firm to ensure nothing would come of it.
The hosts continued to ask questions of Walsall as the game continued, with Shawn McCoulsky firing a low effort in from a tight angle moments later, but Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was alert to the danger and gathered.
Just eleven minutes into the half, Harrogate chose to make a double change to their line-up, with Bryn Morris and Tom Cursons making way for Reece Smith and Stephen Duke-McKenna.
Lewis Warrington became the second player to see his name taken by the referee, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Jack Muldoon, in the fifty-eighth minute.
Things remained fairly settled as time wore on, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the sixty-fifth minute, with Lewis Warrington making way for Brandon Comley.
The game remained a scrappy affair, with little action of note from either side.
With seventy-two minutes on the clock, the Harrogate bench attempted to liven things up with some fresh legs, as Levi Sutton made way for Ben Fox.
The Saddlers almost doubled their advantage, fifteen minutes from time, as Comley won the ball on the edge of the area and fired a powerful effort in on goal, but Belshaw was alert to the danger and parried clear.
The visiting side looked to mix things up a bit after that, making a double substitution in the seventy-eighth minute, as Jamille Matt and Charlie Lakin were replaced by Albert Adomah and Courtney Clarke.
Just one minute after his introduction, Albert Adomah became the third player to see yellow, as he was booked for simulation.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position in the eighty-fourth minute, but Weir was unable to beat the wall, with the ball eventually going out for a corner off Jacob Slater. Nothing would come of that, but the side won another flag-kick moments later as Belshaw turned wide.
The flag-kick was crossed into the box by Finnigan, and found Farquharson, who headed home to all but put the game to bed, as he doubled his sides advantage.
That would prove to be Priestley Farquharson's final involvement of note, as he and Daniel Kanu were substituted in the eighty-eighth minute, with Rico Browne and Kemar Roofe taking their places.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Walsall won another corner, as Jack Evans turned the ball behind, but it would come to nothing and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil.
| KANU (43') FARQUHARSON (87') |
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| AT | EXERCISE STADIUM |
| REFEREE | AARON BANNISTER |