Walsall entered their final five games of the season on Easter Monday when they visited the Nigel Eady County Ground and took on Swindon Town.Swindon began the game brightly, and could have opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest, as Ryan Tafazolli headed the ball on for Billy Bodin, who brought it down inside the area and attempted a bicycle kick, but his effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Things settled a little after that, but eight minutes in, the hosts created another chance at goal, as the ball fell to Aidan Borland, who fired goal-wards from distance, but failed to find the target as his effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where they won a corner as Borland turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick, as the initial ball in was cleared as far as Aden Flint, whose shot goal-wards flew over the bar.
Town were quick to work the ball back into the Walsall half, where they won a corner as Kacper Łopata put the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the set-piece, nor the one which followed up at the other end two minutes later as Jake Batty turned the ball behind.
Walsall could have taken the lead in the eighteenth minute, as Albert Adomah crossed the ball into the box for Aaron Loupalo-Bi, but the striker was unable to convert as Swindon shot-stopper, Connor Ripley saved.
Things settled again after that, with Swindon seeing much of the ball, but struggling to break through the organised Walsall defences.
Walsall could have taken the lead in the thirty-eighth minute, as Brandon Comley attempted to find the target from twenty-five yards out, but his effort narrowly missed, as the ball brushed the top of the net as it sailed over.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and an uninspiring first-half was brought to its close with the scores unchanged.
The teams returned unchanged and the action resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just one minute after the restart, as Joel McGregor turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as the ball in failed to find a man in white.
Another Walsall corner followed two minutes later, as Batty put the ball out of play, though again, nothing would come of the set-piece, as Alfie Chang fired wide.
Things settled a little after that, though ten minutes into the second-half, Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position as Junior Hoilett fouled Charlie Lakin. Nothing would come of the set-piece though, as Mason Hancock's effort was blocked by Batty, with the resulting corner falling to Kanu, who failed to find the target from close range.
There was a brief halt to proceedings as we reached the hour mark, allowing Alfie Chang to receive some attention from the Walsall medics. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Jamie Jellis was sent on in his place.
Swindon, who had not really gotten going in the second-half, chose to make a triple substitution in the sixty-fifth minute, as Junior Hoilett, James Ball and Billy Bodin were replaced by Michael Olakigbe, Ollie Palmer and Fletcher Holman.
Jellis' forced introduction into the game paid dividends in just three minutes, as Loupalo-Bi crossed into the box for the midfielder, who bagged his first goal of the season as he cushioned the ball home to open the scoring.
The Saddlers opted to make a second change to their line-up in the sixty-ninth minute, with Aaron Loupalo-Bi making way for Aaron Pressley.
Walsall looked to add a second goal moments after the change was completed, with Jellis crossing the ball into the box for Kanu, but the striker was unable to find the target as his effort was blocked by Darren Oldaker, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
That would prove to be Darren Oldaker's final involvement of note, as he was substituted in the seventy-fourth minute, in favour of Ollie Clarke.
Walsall were forced to make their final change of the afternoon in the seventy-ninth minute, as Connor Barrett picked up a knock and was unable to continue, with Vincent Harper being brought on in his place.
Ollie Clarke became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the eightieth minute, following a foul on Adomah.
With nine minutes to play, Swindon levelled the scores; as Ripley crossed the ball into the path of Holman, who fired past Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts, into the bottom corner.
Five minutes from time, Town opted to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon, with Aidan Borland making way for Tom Nichols.
Buoyed by their goal, Swindon showed signs of improvement as play continued, winning a corner in the eighty-sixth minute as Hancock headed wide. Another flag-kick followed, as Flint cleared behind, though nothing would come of that either.
Aden Flint became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the eighty-seventh minute following a foul on Palmer. A delay followed, allowing the Swindon man to receive some attention from the medical team, though he was eventually able to return to his feet, allowing play to resume.
Nine additional minutes were added to end the match, and it took Swindon just two of them to find a breakthrough to take the lead, as the side broke with the ball, which found its way to Drinan, who tapped home from close range.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position at the other end, four minutes into those added, but nothing would come of it, as Kanu was unable to find the target as he headed Jellis' ball in over.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the referee called time on the contest, with Swindon winning by two-goals-to-one. A disappointing result for the Saddlers, who had looked the better of the two sides for much of the second-half, before letting the hosts back in.
| HOLMAN (81') DRINAN (90+2') |
JELLIS (66') |
| AT | NIGEL EADY COUNTY GROUND |
| REFEREE | ELLIOTT SWALLOW |