Walsall returned to League Two action on Wednesday evening as they visited Boundary Park and took on Oldham Athletic under the lights.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a corner just one minute into the contest, as former Saddler, Manny Monthé turned the ball out of play, however, nothing would come of the early flag-kick.
Oldham soon had the ball in the Walsall box, where Mike Fondop-Talum was presented with a chance to open the scoring, just three minutes in, but his touch was heavy and the opportunity went begging.
Things settled a little as play continued, but nine minutes in, the hosts were presented with another chance on goal, as a free-kick was awarded in a promising position, after a foul by Rico Browne. Nothing would come of the opportunity though, as Fondop turned the ball wide.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball up to the other end from the goal-kick, with Browne passing to Charlie Lakin, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, but a deflection allowed Oldham 'keeper, Matthew Hudson to gather.
The hosts probably should have opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute, as Joe Quigley fired a curling effort in from outside the area, but the ball clipped the post before heading out of play, with Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts appearing beaten.
Lewis Warrington became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was shown the yellow card in the twenty-second minute, following a foul on Luke Hannant.
Warrington found himself in position to shoot, moments later, as the ball was headed on for him by Lakin, but his effort on goal failed to find the target as it sailed over the crossbar.
The hosts won a corner in the twenty-sixth minute, as Daniel Cox turned the ball behind. Roberts was on hand to keep the scores level with a huge punch clear, which ultimately led to the Saddlers finding the target at the other end, as Daniel Kanu capitalised on a mistake by Hannant, rounded Hudson and slotted home to open the scoring.
Tom Pett joined Warrington in the referee's notebook, in the thirty-sixth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Vincent Harper.
Oldham were presented with a chance to level the scores, in the forty-first minute, winning a corner as Jamie Jellis turned the ball out of play, but Jamie Robson headed Ryan Woods inswinging cross wide.
Daniel Cox became the third player to be shown the yellow card, in the forty-third minute, as he was booked following a foul on Fondop-Talum. The resulting free-kick seeing the fouled man head the ball into Roberts hands.
One additional minute was 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 Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action resumed. Walsall began the second-half on the front foot, winning a corner in the fifty-second minute, as the ball went out off Will Sutton, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Oldham were able to clear.
Walsall continued to see plenty of the ball as play continued, without creating anything of note.
Oldham chose to make their first change of the evening, in the fifty-seventh minute, as Luke Hannant was replaced by Kane Drummond.
The hosts won a free-kick in a dangerous position, in the sixty-first minute, as Quigley was fouled. Ryan Woods played the ball into the box from the set-piece, for Robson, whose effort was turned behind for a corner, which came to nothing as the Saddlers were able to clear.
Walsall opted to make their first changes of the game, in the sixty-third minute, as Jamie Jellis and Lewis Warrington made way for Ryan Finnigan and Brandon Comley.
The Latics could have levelled the scores moments after the Walsall changes were completed, as the ball was flicked on by Quigley, for former Saddler, Donervon Daniels, but Roberts trailing leg kept the ball out.
That would prove to be Joe Quigley's final involvement of note, as he and Dynel Simeu were replaced by Michael Mellon and Jake Caprice, in the sixty-eighth minute.
The hosts won a free-kick in a promising position, seventy-two minutes in, as Mellon drew a foul from Aden Flint, but nothing would come of the set-piece, as Roberts made the save to deny Woods.
Fifteen minutes from time, the Walsall bench chose to make two further changes to their side, with Daniel Cox and Jamille Matt making way for Priestley Farquharson and Albert Adomah.
Mike Fondop-Talum joined those playing on a caution in the seventy-seventh minute, as he was shown the yellow card for a foul on Flint.
Walsall manager, Mat Sadler, opted to make his fifth and final change of the evening in the eighty-fourth minute, with Charlie Lakin being replaced by Courtney Clarke.
The hosts also took the opportunity to make their final changes of the game, with Will Sutton and Tom Pett departing, as Kai Payne and Jack Stevens joined the fray.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Walsall won a corner, as Monthé blocked a Kanu strike, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Jamie Robson was shown the yellow card, five minutes into added time, as he was cautioned for a foul on Finnigan.
Walsall created one final chance to double their tally, in the final minute, as Kanu broke with the ball and looked to play in Adomah, but the strikers shot sailed wide of the target.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by one-goal-to-nil.
| KANU (27') | |
| AT | BOUNDARY PARK |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN PARKINSON |