Walsall returned to action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Shrewsbury Town to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.Looking to build upon his side's recent spell of form, Head Coach Mat Sadler made a handful of changes as the Saddlers took on the Shrews in WS1.
Shrewsbury began the game on the front foot, winning a corner just one minute in, as Aden Flint blocked a John Marquis strike, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as the Saddlers defences stood firm.
Walsall saw more of the ball as play continued, and opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest, as Evan Weir played the ball to Daniel Kanu, who fired home off the underside of the crossbar.
The Saddlers could have doubled their advantage just three minutes later, as Flint cushioned the ball down for Kanu, inside the box, but the strikers effort was easily saved by Shrewsbury shot-stopper, Will Brook.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the eighth minute, allowing Walsall goalkeeper, Myles Roberts, to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
The Shrews looked to level the scores in the fourteenth minute, but Roberts was able to intercept Ismeal Kabia's dangerous cross at the second time of asking.
The visiting side saw more of the ball as the game continued, but Walsall could have extended their lead eighteen minutes in, as Ryan Finnigan crossed the ball in for Connor Barrett, but his shot on goal sailed over the crossbar.
Things settled after that, but the visitors could have levelled in the twenty-fifth minute, as Vincent Harper turned a Sam Clucas cross behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Luca Hoole saw a headed effort blocked, before Anthony Scully turned a follow-up effort wide.
Another settled spell followed, during which, Walsall saw much of the ball, but failed to create anything to really test the Shrewsbury defences.
Taylor Perry became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the thirty-fifth minute, following a foul on Priestley Farquharson.
Salop looked to draw level shortly before the break, with George Lloyd beating his man and crossing towards the back post, where Clucas was waiting, but Barrett was on hand for the Saddlers and got to the ball first, to clear.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, the Shrews could have levelled the scores through Lloyd, who fired goal-wards from distance, but Roberts was alert to the danger and made the save.
The visitors created another chance moments later, as Scully beat his man and crossed to Lloyd, whose shot on goal was blocked, with the ball falling to Kabia, who scuffed his shot, which was then put out for a corner, by Harper. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Roberts gathered.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just one minute after the restart, as Boyle turned the ball out of play, however, nothing would come of it.
Things settled for a while, but the visitors could have drawn level in the fifty-second minute, as Scully fired goal-wards from outside the area. Roberts was alert to the danger though, and parried clear.
The Shrews continued to press, as they sought to get back into the game, winning a free-kick in the fifty-fifth minute, from which Hoole tested Roberts, who was again not found wanting.
Ismeal Kabia joined Perry in the referee's notebook, in the fifty-eighth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Courtney Clarke.
Shrewsbury won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the sixty-fourth minute, from which they levelled the scores, as Walsall failed to fully clear their lines, allowing Tom Anderson to fire home from the edge of the box, with the help of a deflection which caught Roberts out.
Walsall chose to make a double change, in the sixty-ninth minute, with Jamille Matt and Priestley Farquharson making way for Albert Adomah and Jamie Jellis.
There was a brief pause in play, in the seventy-first minute, allowing Harper to receive attention from the Saddlers medical team, he was soon back up and able to continue though.
The Saddlers could have restored their earlier lead as play restarted, with Clarke racing goal-wards before sending a shot in from a tight angle, his effort failed to find the target though, as it connected with the top of the crossbar on its way out of play.
Walsall continued to enjoy a good spell of play, though they were unable to find a way through the Salop defences, although Jellis did see an effort on goal blocked, in the eighty-first minute, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Both sides chose to make changes in the eighty-third minute, with Daniel Kanu making way for Rico Richards for the Saddlers, as Shrewsbury's Taylor Perry departed in favour of Tommy McDermott.
The hosts continued to seek a late winner as play got back underway, with Brandon Comley seeing an effort from outside the box sail high and wide in the eighty-fourth minute.
Jamie Jellis became the first Saddler to receive a caution, in the eighty-sixth minute, as he was booked for a foul on Scully. The resulting free-kick came to nothing, as McDermott fired wide.
Walsall probably should have scored, two minutes from time, as Clarke played a low ball into the box for Jellis, but a deflection took the ball wide of the post, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Tom Anderson picked up a yellow card, as he was cautioned for a foul on Richards in the final of the added minutes. Nothing would come of the resulting free-kick, as Brook saved, and the game was brought to its conclusion moments later, with the scores still tied at one-goal-apiece.
| KANU (3') | ANDERSON (65') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ISAAC SEARLE |