Walsall welcomed Barnet to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the two teams battled it out for three vital points in Sky Bet League Two.The game got underway, and less than two minutes in, Aaron Pressley became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Joe Kizzi.
Barnet looked to take an early lead, as Anthony Hartigan crossed the ball towards the back post for Idris Kanu, whose effort on goal was guided into the arms of Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts, by Connor Barrett.
The visiting side continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, though they struggled to break through the Walsall defences, though they did win the first corner of the game, in the sixteenth minute as Mason Hancock turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Hartigan's ball in was headed wide by Adam Senior.
The Bees continued to look the side more likely to open the scoring, creating another chance in the twenty-first minute, as Kabongo Tshimanga crossed the ball to Nnamdi Ofoborh, who fired goal-wards from outside the area, only to find Roberts waiting to gather.
Barnet won their second corner of the afternoon in the twenty-sixth minute, as Hartigan crossed the ball to Senior, whose shot from outside the box was saved by Roberts who did well to tip the ball over the bar, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Walsall finally managed to work the ball into the danger zone at the other end, as we reached the half hour mark, with Daniel Kanu firing goal-wards but failing to find the target.
The Bees were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where Mark Shelton saw an effort blocked, before Idris Kanu saw a follow-up shot blocked.
The Saddlers continued to grow a little more into the game, with Barrett crossing the ball in for Charlie Lakin, in the thirty-third minute, but his effort sailed wide of the target.
Walsall could have taken the lead, in the thirty-ninth minute, as Pressley turned the ball home, but the flag was raised and the goal disallowed.
The visitors soon had the ball back at the other end, where Idris Kanu crossed to Tshimanga, who fired a low effort goal-wards which was easily saved by Roberts.
Barnet found the breakthrough in the forty-first minute, as Kane Smith crossed the ball in towards the back post, where Senior was waiting to turn it home.
Three additional minutes were 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 Barnet leading by one-goal-to-nil.
Walsall chose to make four changes to their line-up as the teams returned, with Aaron Pressley, Alex Pattison, Alfie Chang and Charlie Lakin all sitting out the second-half, as Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Rico Richards, Brandon Comley and Courtney Clarke filled their spots.
Barnet saw much of the early ball, and could have doubled their advantage just three minutes after the restart, but Idris Kanu's ball in clipped the crossbar.
The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner moments later, as Ofoborh sent a low ball in which was initially saved by Roberts before Clarke put the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers began to see a little more of the ball as play continued, with Hancock crossing the ball into the box for Loupalo-Bi, whose initial effort on goal was denied by Barnet 'keeper, Cieran Slicker, before his follow-up shot was blocked.
Barnet were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where they heaped on the pressure and doubled their advantage, as Tshimanga failed to turn a Ryan Glover ball home as Roberts was able to get a touch on it, only for Idris Kanu to find the target with a follow-up effort instead.
Mason Hancock and Kane Smith were both shown the yellow card, in the sixty-second minute, as the pair were booked for dissent.
The visiting side won a corner in the sixty-third minute, as Aden Flint turned the ball behind, but the Saddlers won the ball back and broke quickly with a Hancock cross falling kindly for Daniel Kanu, who fired home from close range to pull a goal back for his side.
It took just four minutes for the Bees to restore their two goal cushion, as Idris Kanu broke with the ball before played it in for Tshimanga, who fired home from the centre of the box.
Courtney Clarke was shown the yellow card, in the seventy-first minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Senior. Brandon Comley joined him in the referee's notebook, as he was shown the card for dissent.
Barnet almost added a fourth, in the seventy-third minute, as a Mark Shelton effort was deflected towards the back post where Tschimanga was lurking, but Barrett got back well to clear the danger ahead of him. The resulting corner came to nothing.
The Bees chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the seventy-seventh minute, as Ryan Glover made way for Diallang Jaiyesimi.
Just one minute later, Walsall opted to make their fifth and final change of the game, with Mason Hancock departing as Albert Adomah joined the fray.
Two further Barnet substitutions followed ten minutes from time, as Kane Smith and Mark Shelton made way for Phillip Chinedu and Rhys Browne.
There was little action of note, before the visiting side decided to make their fourth change of the game, with Kabongo Tshimanga making way for Britt Assombalonga, seven minutes from time.
Priestley Farquharson became the fifth Walsall man to see yellow, in the eighty-seventh minute, with his name added to the referee's notebook for a foul on Idris Kanu.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Idris Kanu could have added to the Bees tally, but his effort was parried, and the follow-up effort from Jaiyesimi was flagged offside.
At the other end, the tale of two Kanu's continued, as Daniel picked up a cross from Richards and fired goal-wards, but Slicker was alert to the danger and made the save.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Barnet winning by three-goals-to-one. A poor performance from the Saddlers, who allowed their visitors to see far too much of the ball.
| D.KANU (64') |
SENIOR (42') I.KANU (54') TSHIMANGA (68') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | PAUL MARSDEN |