Walsall Under-18s were back in action on Saturday morning as they welcomed Morecambe to Ray Hall Lane for an EFL Youth Alliance – North clash.The young Saddlers have been in poor form over the last few months. Winless in seven, they've not scored in six and will reach the match on the back of a midweek defeat to Preston North End.
WALSALL
Harrison Barber, Ellis Harris, Levi Wain, Mclloyd Oben, Jakub Pawlowski, Sam Oliver, Zion Tuitt, Archie Bunn, Paul Makavore, Dylan Thomas, Jaden Kandemiri
Substitutes: Finn Teesdale, Lincoln Hunt, Louie Webb, Ryan Stoerdsma, Jack Tolley
Walsall created a couple of promising openings during the opening forty-five. The first seeing underage prospect Zion Tuitt force a corner on the counter after he was found in space by Dylan Thomas.
Later in the half Thomas was on the other end of a through ball when Jakub Pawlowski played him into plenty of space. The 19-year-old subsequently found Jaden Kandemiri on the edge of the Shrimps' area, his shot not forcing a change in score.
The break arrived with no goals scored, but there was a change in the line-up before the game got back underway as Ryan Stoerdsma came on to replace Thomas in midfield.
Walsall continued to create openings. Their first of the second half, as a well-placed long ball found Kandemiri in space out wide; he broke past his man and through on the 'keeper, who was well prepared and thwarted his shot.
Despite all the young Saddlers' attacking flair, it was the visitors who took the lead when, following a strong save from Walsall stopper Harrison Barber, an alert Morecambe attacker, pounced on the rebound and slammed the ball into the back of the net.
The Saddlers opted to make another couple of changes as the half progressed, with Jack Tolley replacing Archie Bunn before Paul Makavore made way for Finn Teesdale.
With around thirteen minutes of the game remaining, Walsall went close to levelling the scores when Sam Oliver saw a powerful header saved on the line.
But the youngsters were soon rewarded for their hard work when Finn Teesdale, wh had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, slammed the ball into the back of the Morecambe net, levelling the scores.
Another couple of Saddlers substitutions were then confirmed as Mclloyd Oben was replaced by Louie Webb before Lincoln Hunt took the place of Jaden Kandemiri, as the manager sought to keep things fresh as his team looked for another goal.
There were no further goals or openings of note as the young Saddlers halted their goalless losing streak and gave themselves a platform to build upon over the final few weeks of the campaign.
| TEESDALE (81') |