Walsall were back in action on Tuesday evening as they visited the Lamex Stadium and took on League One title-chasers Stevenage in a Vertu Trophy, Round of 32 clash.Stevenage began the game brightly, going close just one minute into the contest, as Phoenix Patterson crossed the ball into the box for Chem Campbell, but the forwards header goal-wards sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Things settled a little after that, although Stevenage continued to see much of the ball as play continued, though they were unable to create much to trouble Walsall's defences, until the tenth minute, when they won a corner as Stan Straw turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Patterson's cross into the box was headed goal-wards by Carl Piergianni, but his effort was blocked just short of the line.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, with Albert Adomah and Kemar Roofe combining to get the ball into the box for Rico Richards, but the midfielder was unable to get enough of a touch to turn the ball home.
Stevenage continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, and probably should have opened the scoring in the twenty-sixth minute, as Louis Thompson fired an effort in on goal from the edge of the area, but he was unable to find the target as his strike clipped the crossbar on its way out of play.
The hosts continued to seek an opener, and could have found it as we reached the half hour mark, when Patterson crossed the ball to Jasper Pattenden, but the defenders shot from distance sailed over the crossbar.
The home side went on to win a free-kick in a promising position, in the thirty-third minute. Patterson crossed the ball in from the set-piece, for Beryly Lubala, but the strikers headed effort sailed wide of the target.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the thirty-eighth minute, allowing the Walsall medics to attend to Vincent Harper after he blocked the ball with his face, but he was soon back on his feet, ready to continue.
Courtney Clarke looked to put the Saddlers ahead with an audacious strike from some thirty-five yards out, in the forty-second minute, as he spotted Stevenage 'keeper, Taye Ashby-Hammond off his line, but his shot had a little too much height on it and the ball sailed harmlessly out of play.
There was another brief pause to proceedings in the forty-fourth minute, allowing Harper to receive further treatment. Play soon continued, but with the Saddlers temporarily reduced to ten men.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time it was determined that Vincent Harper would be unable to rejoin the action, and Jid Okeke was brought on in his place.
Stevenage created one final chance to take the lead before the break, with Lubala looking for the target with an effort from outside the area, in the fourth of the added minutes, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the crossbar an out of play.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the teams headed back to their respective dressing rooms with the scores still tied.
Both managers chose to make changes as their teams returned, with Chem Campbell sitting out the second-half for Stevenage, as Jovan Malcolm took his place, whilst Courtney Clarke took to the bench for the Saddlers, as Jamie Jellis joined the fray.
The hosts started the second-half on the front foot, and could have opened the scoring just five minutes in, as Lubala played the ball through for Patterson, but the strike goal-wards had too much height, and the ball sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Stevenage continued to press, with Lewis Freestone crossing the ball to Lubala, in the fifty-fourth minute, but the strikers effort from outside the box was never going to trouble Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby, as it sailed high and wide of the target.
With fifty-seven minutes on the clock, Stevenage finally found the breakthrough, as Patterson crossed the ball in from a flag-kick, conceded by Straw, for Piergianni, who headed home from close range, with Hornby unable to get a touch on the ball to keep it out.
Walsall looked to respond quickly to falling a goal behind, with Roofe firing an effort in on goal from outside the box, in the fifty-ninth minute, but Ashby-Hammond was alert to the danger and made the save to keep his side ahead.
That would prove to be Kemar Roofe's final contribution of the evening, as he and Lewis Warrington were substituted, in the sixty-second minute, with their places filled by Jake Hollman and Brandon Comley.
Just one minute after the changes were completed, the Saddlers levelled the scores, as Hollman capitalised on a defensive error, getting in behind the Stevenage defence before cutting the ball back for Richards, who fired home from the centre of the box.
Stevenage chose to make a second change to their line-up, in the seventy-first minute, with Beryly Lubala making way for Jake Young.
Walsall took the lead in the seventy-second minute, as the ball was played across goal, with Ashby-Hammond and one of his outfield players both caught in two minds, with both ultimately leaving the ball to trickle through for Richards to turn home into an empty net.
The Saddlers chose to make their fifth and final change of the evening, two minutes after taking the lead, with Connor Barrett making way for Ronan Maher.
Lewis Freestone became the first player to receive a caution, as he was booked following a collision with Jellis, in the seventy-sixth minute.
Stevenage opted to introduce more fresh legs, in the seventy-seventh minute, as Louis Thompson made way for Gassan Ahadme.
The visiting side looked to add to their tally, ten minutes from time, but Adomah was unable to beat Ashby-Hammond.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, as they looked to restore parity, winning a corner in the eighty-third minute as Hollman turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the opportunity, as following a scramble in the box, the Saddlers were able to clear.
Things settled after that, with Stevenage continuing to see much of the ball, without creating anything to worry the Walsall defence.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, the hosts went close through Young, who did well to control the ball and find space to shoot, but his low effort trickled wide of the mark.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-one to advance to the round of sixteen.
| PIERGIANNI (57') |
RICHARDS (63') RICHARDS (72') |
| AT | LAMEX STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ALEX CHILOWICZ |