Walsall were back in action on Wednesday evening as they made their way to Blundell Park and took on Grimsby Town in Sky Bet League Two.Looking for their first win in six league games, the Saddlers had enjoyed an extended break as they hadn't been in action since their dismal 3-1 defeat to Barnet some eleven days ago.
Walsall began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in a promising position, just four minutes into the contest, as Aaron Pressley was fouled by Harvey Rodgers; Charlie Lakin crossed the ball into the box from the set-piece, but Aden Flint was unable to get a touch on it to turn it home at the back post.
Kacper Lopata became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was shown the yellow card, in the seventh minute, following a foul on Jamie Walker.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a good opening spell, going close in the ninth minute, as Jamie Jellis crossed the ball into the box for Pressley, whose headed effort was blocked.
Grimsby soon had the ball up at the other end, where they won their first corner of the game, as Jid Okeke turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Andy Cook's ball in towards the near post was delivered into the hands of Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts.
The game continued as a rather scrappy affair, with both sides seeing spells on the ball, but struggling to create anything of note.
With twenty-five minutes on the clock, Grimsby could have taken the lead as the side worked the ball into the Walsall box, where Walker took aim from the penalty spot, but his effort was blocked, with the ball then falling to Cook, but he failed to meet it cleanly and the chance went begging.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, where Brandon Comley crossed the ball in for Lakin, whose volley goal-wards was well saved by former Walsall 'keeper, Jackson Smith.
The Saddlers went on to win a corner, in the thirty-second minute, as Rodgers turned the ball behind. Courtney Clarke crossed the ball in from the flag-kick, finding the head of Priestley Farquharson, who nodded home, off the crossbar, from close range to open the scoring.
The visiting side continued to press, seeking further goals, as play got back underway, but Pressley's thirty-fourth minute strike from the edge of the area was well saved by Smith.
There was a brief halt to proceedings after that, allowing Smith to receive some attention from the Grimsby medics, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Another pause in play followed three minutes later, allowing Town's medical team to attend to Darragh Burns, but he too was soon able to return to action.
The free-kick which resulted from the foul on Burns, was played forwards by Reece Staunton and flicked on by the head of Cook, but Roberts was able to get to it to prevent a shot at goal.
Four minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Walsall were reduced to ten men, as Myles Roberts was shown the red card after coming out of his area as he looked to reach the ball ahead of Cook, with whom he collided, with the referee deeming him to be the last man.
Walsall were forced into their first change of the evening after that, with Charlie Lakin making way for replacement 'keeper, Sam Hornby.
Town went on to win a corner, six minutes into those added, as Rodgers fired an effort in, which was blocked behind by Alex Pattison. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as Walker's strike from the centre of the area was well saved by Hornby, forcing another corner, which also came to nothing.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, 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 play resumed. Grimsby began the second-half brightly, with Rodgers crossing the ball in for Kieran Green, but the Town captain failed to get a shot away before the Walsall defences cleared the danger.
Just five minutes after the restart, Walker crossed the ball into the area for Cook, who headed home from close range to draw Grimsby level with his former side.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Rodgers turned the ball out of play for a corner, which was played to Jellis, whose strike from outside the box sailed high over the crossbar.
Things settled a little after that, but as we reached the hour mark, Grimsby opted to make their first changes of the evening, with Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Géza Dávid Turi making way for Charles Vernam and George McEachran.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the sixty-second minute, allowing the Mariners medics to check on Walker, but it was soon determined he would be fine to continue, and play resumed.
Andy Cook saw his name taken by the referee, in the sixty-sixth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Flint.
Cook secured a second goal against his former team in the sixty-eighth minute, as a corner kick was played to Walker, who fired goal-wards, with the town striker getting a touch on route.
Grimsby's lead lasted just three minutes, as Cook turned the ball behind to gift Walsall a corner, which was swung into the box by Clarke and found the head of Pressley, who nodded home from close range to level the scores.
The hosts were presented with a chance to restore their lead, just two minutes later, as Hornby turned a Vernam effort behind. The ball in from the flag-kick fell to Walker, outside the box, who fired a powerful shot in on goal, but saw his effort blocked by Comley, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The Saddlers opted to make two further changes to their line-up, in the seventy-fifth minute, with Kacper Lopata and Jid Okeke making way for Harrison Burke and Vincent Harper.
Town went close again, in the seventy-ninth minute, as Walker fired goal-wards, but Farquharson was on hand to keep the ball out, and the resulting corner came to nothing as Hornby guided the ball over the bar, with nothing coming from that flag-kick.
The Mariners chose to make their third change of the night, ten minutes from time, with Darragh Burns departing, as Jaze Kabia took his place.
The hosts continued to seek a third goal after the change was completed, with McEachran crossing the ball in towards the back post, where Cook sought to get a telling touch, but Hornby was able to gather.
Unperturbed, Grimsby continued to press, winning a corner five minutes from time, as Harper turned the ball behind, though they were unable to make use of it, as Vernam's shot at goal sailed high and wide of the target.
Sam Hornby became the second Walsall 'keeper to be shown a card, as the yellow was waved in his direction, in the eighty-sixth minute, for time wasting.
Walsall were able to work the ball up to the other end, briefly, in the eighty-eighth minute, where they were awarded a free-kick as Harper was fouled by Kazia. Nothing would come of the set-piece though, as Clarke's effort sailed high and wide.
As we reached the ninety minute mark, Grimsby opted to make another change, with Jamie Walker departing, as Evan Khouri joined the fray.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the referee called time on the contest with the scores tied at two-goals-apiece. A decent display from the Saddlers on the whole, who did well to hold their opposition, down a man for the whole of the second-half.
| COOK (50') COOK (68') |
FARQUHARSON (32') PRESSLEY (71') |
| AT | BLUNDELL PARK |
| REFEREE | THOMAS PARSONS |