Walsall returned to Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to Essex and the JobServe Community Stadium, where they faced Colchester United.Walsall began the game brightly, seeing plenty of the early ball, and winning the first corner of the match in the fifth minute, as Teddy Bishop turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Colchester grew into the contest as play continued, winning a corner themselves in the ninth minute, as Harrison Burke turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of that flag-kick either, as the Saddlers defences prevented a weak strike from Bishop finding the target.
Another United corner followed in the tenth minute, but Bishop's ball in for Jaden Williams failed to find the target, as the striker nodded over.
Walsall felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the eighteenth minute, as Alex Pattison went down inside the area, however, the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
The Saddlers went close to opening the scoring in the twenty-first minute, as Charlie Lakin crossed the ball into the box, but Aaron Pressley narrowly failed to meet the ball to head home.
The visiting side continued to press, going close again moments later, as Pressley played the ball on for Pattison, who fired goal-wards forcing a fingertip save from Colchester 'keeper, Matt Macey, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The hosts had soon worked the ball up to the other end though, where a cross into the box from Jack Payne narrowly eluded Harry Anderson, who was lurking at the far post hoping to turn the ball home.
Colchester won a corner in the twenty-sixth minute, as they continued to seek an opener, but Kyreece Lisbie was unable to keep his header on target as he sought to turn Payne's delivery home.
Another United flag-kick followed moments later, as Pattison turned the ball out of play, but the Walsall defences stood firm to prevent a shot at goal.
The Saddlers then broke with the ball through Albert Adomah, who crossed to Aaron Loupalo-Bi, but the strikers shot was saved by Macey, though any goal would not have stood as the forward was caught offside.
Colchester were quick to work the ball back into the Walsall half, where Anderson crossed to Bishop, who fired a powerful effort goalwards from outside the area but failed to find the target as his shot drifted wide.
Things settled a little after that, with Colchester seeing plenty of the ball without creating anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Five minutes before the break, the hosts had a chance to open the scoring, as a Hancock pass was intercepted by Payne, who fired a powerful effort goalwards, forcing a save from Walsall shot-stopper Myles Roberts.
United then called for a penalty to be awarded, as Anderson tripped over as he sought to reach the loose ball, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
Walsall won a corner in the forty-second minute, as Jack Tucker put the ball behind. Adomah's ball in met the head of Aden Flint, whose effort was blocked as far as Burke, who also saw a shot blocked, before the ball then fell to Pattison, whose header goalwards was saved.
There was a brief pause in play as we entered two additional minutes, allowing Tom Flanagan to receive some attention from the United medics. He was unable to rejoin the action for the final few moments, but there was little further action of note either way, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores unchanged.
The teams returned after the break, with Colchester being forced to make a change to their line-up, as Tom Flanagan was unable to return to action, with Frankie Terry the man to take his place.
Walsall began the second-half brightly, with Loupalo-Bi seeing a shot blocked behind, just two minutes after the restart, though the resulting flag-kick came to nothing.
The visiting side continued to press, with Hancock racing forty yards with the ball, before dragging an effort wide from outside the box, in the fiftieth minute.
Colchester were quick to work the ball up to the other end, with Williams crossing the ball in for Lisbie, whose effort on goal was deflected behind by Rico Browne, but the resulting corner came to nothing.
United continued to press, and could have taken the lead in the fifty-fourth minute, as a slip from Burke allowed Payne to pick up the ball in a promising position and fire an effort goal-wards, but Roberts was alert to the danger and made the save.
With fifty-six minutes on the clock, Colchester opted to make their second change of the afternoon, with Jaden Williams making way for Samson Tovide.
Walsall were soon back on the attack, with Loupalo-Bi looking to find the target from a tight angle in the fifty-seventh minute, but a deflection off a defender allowed Macey to make a simple save.
The Saddlers opted to make their first substitutions of the game as we reached the hour mark, with Albert Adomah and Aaron Loupalo-Bi making way for Courtney Clarke and Jid Okeke.
Arthur Read became the first man to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the sixty-third minute, following a foul on Pattison.
The resulting free-kick saw Hancock's ball in saved by Macey, with Burke on hand to turn the rebound home from a tight angle to put the Saddlers a goal to the good.
Colchester were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where they won a corner as Burke turned the ball behind, though the flag-kick would come to nothing, as Ellis Iandolo's shot sailed high and wide of the target.
The hosts continued to press, winning another corner in the sixty-eighth minute, as Burke again turned the ball out of play. Read's ball in from the flag-kick found Anderson, who headed home from close range to level the scores.
Walsall sought to restore their brief lead moments later, with Pattison playing the ball through for Lakin, whose tame effort goal-wards was turned behind by Tucker. Nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers chose to make a third change to their line-up in the seventy-third minute, with Charlie Lakin making way for Jamie Jellis.
Things settled after that, with both teams enjoying spells with the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
With eighty minutes on the clock, Colchester chose to make their third change of the afternoon, with Arthur Read making way for Rob Hunt.
A break in play followed, as the teams were told to leave the field of play whilst a drone was flown above the pitch. The issue was resolved, and the teams returned after a pause of about five minutes.
Walsall were forced to make their fourth change of the game in the eighty-sixth minute, as Rico Browne was unable to continue and Vincent Harper was introduced in his place.
Harper was quick to get involved in the action, making a superb goal-line clearance just one minute after his introduction, to deny Tovide, who looked to have put his side ahead with a superb strike.
The hosts chose to make another substitution, in the eighty-eighth minute, as Kyreece Lisbie was replaced by Owura Edwards.
Ellis Iandolo became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Pattison in the eighty-ninth minute.
We entered time added, with the hosts looking to find a late goal through Anderson, as Hunt crossed the ball in for him, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. The Saddlers then worked the ball up to the other end, where Jellis saw an effort saved by Macey.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the sides sharing the spoils, as the lively and entertaining encounter finished one-all.
| ANDERSON (68') | BURKE (64') |
| AT | COLCHESTER COMMUNITY STADIUM |
| REFEREE | CARL BROOK |