Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed fellow promotion hopefuls Bromley to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.Walsall began the game brightly, going close just four minutes in, as a Charlie Lakin ball into the box was parried by Bromley goalkeeper, Grant Smith, with Ryan Finnigan firing a rebound effort back in, but Smith remained alert to the danger and turned the ball behind, with the restulting corner coming to nothing.
Bromley soon had the ball at the other end, where Michael Cheek looked to play in Will Hondermarck, but the midfielders shot from outside the box was blocked.
The visitors continued to enjoy a decent spell of play, winning a corner in the eleventh minute, as Jamille Matt put the ball out of play, but they were unable to make anything of the opportunity.
Ashley Charles became the first player to see yellow, in the twelfth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Vincent Harper.
With eighteen minutes on the clock, Bromley took the lead; a poor pass from Lewis Warrington causing problems for Priestley Farquharson, allowing Mitch Pinnock to capitalise, as he picked up the ball and crossed to Ben Krauhaus, who turned home, into the bottom corner.
Bromley could have doubled their advantage, six minutes later, as Cheek fired goal-wards from the edge of the area, but Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was alert to the danger and made the save, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall almost levelled the scores, in the thirty-third minute, as Harper crossed the ball in towards the back post, where Jid Okeke was waiting to turn home, but his deflected effort never crossed the line, as Charles kept it out.
There was a brief pause in proceedings, in the thirty-fifth minute, allowing Roberts to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
The visiting side went close again, five minutes before the break, as Corey Whitely picked up the ball and looked to play in Krauhaus, who fired goal-wards, only to see Roberts get down to deny him.
Three 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 Bromley leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break. A poor first-half performance from the Saddlers, who barely got going.
Walsall chose to make three changes as the sides returned, with Charlie Lakin, Vincent Harper and Lewis Warrington sitting out the second-half, with their places filled by Courtney Clarke, Connor Barrett and Brandon Comley, as manager, Mat Sadler looked to change his sides fortunes.
The Saddlers enjoyed a brighter spell in the opening few minutes of the second-half, though they were unable to create anything that would really trouble the Bromley defences, a fifty-third minute corner the most notable moment.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Smith to receive attention from the Bromley medics, but he was soon up and able to continue.
The hosts were soon back in search of an equaliser, as Farquharson crossed the ball into the box for Finnigan, but the midfielders effort was blocked.
Bromley had soon worked the ball up to the other end, however, and could have doubled their advantage, but Pinnock saw an effort blocked, moments before Hondermarck's strike from outside the area was turned behind by Clarke. The resulting corner coming to nothing, as Roberts denied Idris Odutayo, before Cheek turned home the follow-up, only to see his goal disallowed for an offside infringement.
Marcus Ifill became the second player to see yellow, in the sixty-third minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Okeke.
The resulting free-kick was floated in towards the back post by Evan Weir, for Aden Flint, who headed the ball down for Daniel Kanu who fired home to level the scores.
Omar Sowunmi and Jamille Matt both saw the yellow card brandished in their direction in the sixty-fourth minute, as the pair were booked after getting into an argument.
The home side could have taken the lead, sixty-eight minutes in, as Weir crossed the ball in for Okeke, but his shot from a tight angle was turned wide by Smith, with the side unable to make use of the resulting corner.
Walsall continued to enjoy a good spell, going close again in the seventy-fourth minute, as a free-kick was played into the box by Weir for Flint, but the defenders effort sailed narrowly wide.
Bromley chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the seventy-eighth minute, with Ben Krauhaus making way for Ben Thompson.
Ten minutes from time, Walsall took the lead; winning a corner as Charles turned the ball behind. Weir crossed the ball in for Farquharson, who headed back across goal for Finnigan, who rose highest to head home.
The hosts chose to make another change to their line-up, two minutes later, with Jamille Matt making way for Albert Adomah. The visiting side also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Corey Whitely and Will Hondermarck departing, as Nicke Kabamba and Jude Arthurs joined the fray.
Things settled a little after that, with much of the action centred in the midfield area.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Kabamba saw an effort on goal blocked.
The Saddlers chose to make their final change of the afternoon, four minutes into those added, as Daniel Kanu made way for Rico Browne.
Bromley won a corner late on, but nothing would come of it, as Roberts collected.
There was a late pause in play, allowing Flint to receive attention from the Saddlers medical team. The game eventually restarted, and Walsall took advantage of the added added time, extending their lead, as Adomah played in Clarke, who fired home from the centre of the box.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by three-goals-to-one. A much improved second-half performance from the Saddlers, who took their chances well and limited their visitors opportunities.
| KANU (64') FINNIGAN (80') CALRKE (90+10') |
KRAUHAUS (18') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | NICHAEL BARLOW |