Walsall were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Colchester United to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, where the Saddlers were looking to continue their reign at the top of the table.Following an impeccably observed moment of silence, the match got underway. Colchester began the game brightly, winning a corner just three minutes in, as Ryan Finnigan turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it.
The visiting side continued to press, going close in the ninth minute, as Ellis Iandolo picked up a loose ball at the back post and fired goal-wards from a tight angle, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
After a relatively quiet opening spell, Walsall created their first chance of note, eighteen minutes into the contest, as Courtney Clarke picked up the ball and fired goal-wards from range, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Teddy Bishop became the first player to see yellow, in the nineteenth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Daniel Kanu.
With twenty-one minutes on the clock, Colchester found the breakthrough, as Harry Anderson crossed the ball in from a free-kick, for Samson Tovide who turned home from close range.
Ellis Iandolo joined Bishop in the referee's notebook, in the twenty-fourth minute, as he was booked for dissent.
The Saddlers won a corner in the twenty-fifth minute, as they looked to draw level, but they were unable to make the opportunity count.
Colchester could have doubled their advantage, in the twenty-ninth minute, as Iandolo crossed the ball in for Kane Vincent-Young, but his headed effort from the centre of the box was well held by Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts.
United continued to see much of the ball as play continued, but Walsall were awarded a corner in the thirty-third minute, as Colchester 'keeper, Matt Macey took too long to take a goal kick, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Macey gathered the ball in.
Walsall continued to enjoy a brighter spell, tinning a free-kick, in the thirty-eighth minute, following a foul by Kyreece Lisbie. The ball in was good and eventually fell to Aden Flint, whose overhead kick caused some issue for Macey, however he was able to get enough of a touch to keep the ball out.
Colchester doubled their lead in the forty-second minute, as Arthur Read combined with Tovide to set up Lisbie, who found the target from close range.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, as Walsall found themselves temporarily reduced to ten men, whilst Evan Weir received treatment after taking an elbow to the face.
There was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Colchester leading by two-goals-to-nil at the break.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and play got back underway. Walsall began the second half brightly, winning a corner four minutes in, as Tom Flanagan turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the opportunity as the ball eventually fell to Finnigan, whose strike from outside the area sailed wide.
Another Walsall corner followed two minutes later, as Lisbie turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of that either, as Finnigan's tame effort was picked up by the Colchester defence.
Walsall chose to make their first changes of the afternoon, in the fifty-fifth minute, with Aaron Pressley and Vincent Harper made way for Jamille Matt and Jid Okeke. Colchester also took the opportunity to make a change to their line-up, with Kyreece Lisbie departing as John-Kymani Gordon joined the fray.
Evan Weir joined those playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Vincent-Young, in the sixty-first minute.
There was a pause in play, in the sixty-fifth minute, allowing both Macey and Matt to receive attention from their respective clubs medical teams, but both were soon back on their feet and able to continue.
The Saddlers bench chose to make two further changes to their line-up, twenty minutes from time, as Connor Barrett and Rico Browne were replaced by Albert Adomah and Priestley Farquharson.
Moments later, the visitors chose to make another change to their side too, with Samson Tovide making way for Micah Mbick.
The Saddlers set about looking to pull a goal back as play continued, with the ball eventually falling for Okeke, in the seventy-third minute, but Macey was able to palm his effort away, before the hosts won a free-kick in a promising position, moments later, which was played into the box for Adomah, who was unable to find the target.
With seventy-six minutes on the clock, the Saddlers chose to make their fifth and final change of the game, with Daniel Kanu making way for the recently signed Kemar Roofe.
That change came as play was paused allowing the Colchester medical team to attend to Teddy Bishop. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Rob Hunt was brought on to take his place.
The home side continued to seek a goal that would get them back into the game once play resumed, going close in the seventy-ninth minute, as the ball was headed on by Matt for Finnigan, whose header goal-wards deflected into the hands of Macey.
Matt Macey joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-third minute, as he was booked for time wasting.
Walsall continued to press, but struggled to create further clear cut chances at goal. Though eighty-seven minutes in, Charlie Lakin saw an effort denied by Macey.
The Saddlers won a free-kick on the edge of the area, moments later, but nothing would come of that either, as the United defences stood firm.
Walsall manager, Mat Sadler was shown the yellow card, in the ninetieth minute.
Eight additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Ryan Flannigan joined those playing on a caution, as he was booked for dissent.
There was little further action of note, and the game was eventually brought to its conclusion with Colchester winning by two-goals-to-nil. A disappointing performance from the Saddlers, who failed to take any of their many chances, playing against a well organised defence.
| IANDOLO (21') LISBIE (42') |
|
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JAMES DURKIN |