Walsall returned to action on Monday afternoon as they welcomed Oldham Athletic to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for their final outing of 2025.Following a minute of applause to remember the supporters who have passed away over the past twelve months, Walsall got the action underway. The Saddlers were quick off the mark, and could have opened the scoring in the second minute, as Evan Weir fired goal-wards from outside the box, but Oldham 'keeper, Matthew Hudson got down well to make the save, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Weir's ball in was headed over by Ryan Finnigan.
Things settled a little after that, and Oldham could have opened the scoring themselves, eight minutes in, as Kai Payne dispossessed Brandon Comley before firing a low strike in on goal, but Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was alert to the danger and did well to get a hand to the ball to deny him.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, Oldham won a corner, as Priestley Farquharson blocked a Tom Pett effort. Ryan Woods swung the ball into the box from the flag-kick, for Joe Garner, who headed his side into the lead from the centre of the box.
Walsall looked to respond quickly to falling a goal behind, with Connor Barrett crossing the ball into the box for Daniel Kanu, but Hudson was again on hand to keep the effort out.
The visiting side soon had the ball back at the other end, as they looked to extend their advantage, with Jamie Robson crossing the ball in for Garner, but the striker was unable to double his tally, as he headed wide.
Oldham continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, though they were unable to find a way through they were unable to make use of it, as much of the play was contained within the midfield area.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the thirty-first minute, allowing Garner and Farquharson to receive treatment from their respective clubs medical teams, following a clash of heads. Play eventually resumed, with Garner able to continue, but Walsall were forced into an early change as Priestley Farquharson was unable to rejoin the action, with Rico Browne taking his place.
Aden Flint became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Kane Drummond, in the thirty-eighth minute.
Walsall saw more of the ball as the game continued, but they were unable to make use of it, and five minutes before the break, Oldham could have doubled their advantage, Roberts was forced to make saves to deny both Garner and Payne.
The visitors continued to press, with Garner firing wide from outside the area, in the forty-third minute.
Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Jamille Matt saw an effort on goal blocked.
Joe Garner became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Flint, three minutes into added time.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, with the sides heading back to their respective dressing rooms with Oldham leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Oldham got the action back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, and could have restored parity, four minutes after the restart, as Finnigan headed goal-wards, but his effort lacked power, allowing Hudson to collect.
The Saddlers continued to press, and just one minute later, they had levelled the scores; Matt slotting the ball through into the path of Daniel Kanu, who fired home from a tight angle to secure his twelfth goal of the season.
Kai Payne joined those already on a caution, in the fifty-sixth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Courtney Clarke.
With fifty-eight minutes on the clock, the Latics chose to make their first change of the evening, with Joe Garner making way for Joe Quigley.
The visiting side felt they should have been awarded a penalty, as we reached the hour mark, with Drummond going down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
Oldham then saw their manager, Micky Mellon, have his name added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for dissent.
Walsall opted to make their second change of the evening, in the sixty-fifth minute, with Jamille Matt departing, as Aaron Pressley joined the fray.
The visitors appealed another penalty shout in the seventieth minute, as Drummond claimed to have been clipped inside the area, but the referee remained unmoved.
The Saddlers saw more of the ball as play continued, enjoying some good spells of possession, without creating much to really trouble the Oldham defences, although, in the seventy-second minute, Pressley did miss a chance to put his side ahead, as he headed a cross from Clarke goal-wards, but with too little power, allowing Hudson to make the save.
The visitors were quick to work the ball up to the other end after that, with Pett firing an effort in from outside the box, but his shot was blocked and the resulting corner came to nothing.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution in the seventy-sixth minute, with Connor Barrett, Ryan Finnigan and Daniel Kanu all making way as Jid Okeke, Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah entered the fray.
Adomah was quick to get involved in the action, as he latched onto a headed pass from Pressley, moments after joining the contest, but his strike from outside the box sailed high and wide of the target.
Lakin won a corner for his side, in the eighty-first minute, as he forced a clearance from former Saddler, Donervon Daniels, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Clarke's curling ball in was turned onto the post by Hudson.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the eighty-second minute, allowing Kane Drummond to receive attention from the Latics medical team, but it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Kian Harratt was introduced in his place.
Courtney Clarke saw his name taken by the referee in the eighty-seventh minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Robson.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Roberts was called into action to deny Harratt, who had found his way through one-on-one, but the 'keeper was not found wanting and made a crucial interception to keep his side level.
Oldham won a corner in the final minute, as Roberts turned the ball behind; Woods crossed the ball into the box from the flag-kick, for Harratt, who headed home into the bottom corner to take all three points for his side.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Oldham winning by two-goals-to-nil. A disappointing end to the evening for the Saddlers.
| KANU (50') |
GARNER (15') HARRATT (90+6') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | OLIVER MACKEY |