Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Harrogate Town to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for their final home game of the season.Walsall saw much of the early ball, winning the first corner of the match just five minutes in, as Bobby Faulkner turned the ball behind, from which Charlie Lakin forced a save from Harrogate 'keeper, Mark Oxley, before a follow-up effort was blocked before falling for Priestley Farquharson, whose strike hit the post.
The Saddlers continued to see much of the ball as play continued, but Harrogate grew into the game, winning a corner eleven minutes in, as Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts turned the ball out of play. Reece Smith's ball in looked good, finding the head of Bobby Faulkner inside the area, but the header goal-wards was well stopped by Roberts.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, Thomas Hill became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Jid Okeke.
Walsall could have opened the scoring in the twenty-second minute, as Jamie Jellis worked the ball to Okeke, but the strikers low shot was turned away by Oxley.
Bobby Faulkner joined Hill playing on a caution in the twenty-second minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul.
Things settled a little after that with neither team creating much of note, although shortly before we reached the half hour mark, Shawn McCoulsky fired wide for the visitors.
Harrogate created their best chance of the game to date in the thirty-fifth minute, as Emmerson Sutton curled a superb shot in on goal, which looked to have Roberts beaten, but the effort struck the post, with the Walsall shot-stopper able to recover in time to save the rebound.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Lewis Cass crossing the ball back into the danger zone two minutes later, for Jack Evans, whose strike was blocked.
With five minutes of the half remaining, the Saddlers could have taken the lead, as Alex Pattison fired goal-wards from distance, but Oxley was alert to the danger and made the save at full stretch.
Aden Flint became the third player to be shown the yellow card, as he was cautioned following a foul on Hill, in the forty-third minute.
As we reached the final minute of the first forty-five, Harrogate opened the scoring, as Hill crossed the ball to McCoulsky, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, and found the top corner.
After one additional minute was played, the referee called time on the first-half, and the sides headed off with Harrogate leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and play resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just seconds in, as Evans turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the set-piece as Flint fired high and wide.
The hosts continued to press, with Pattison crossing the ball in for Albert Adomah, in the forty-seventh minute, with the strikers effort being blocked behind for another corner, which also came to nothing.
Walsall continued to enjoy some good spells of pressure as play continued without really threatening the Harrogate goal, and fifty-four minutes, against the run of play, the visiting side doubled their advantage; Evans crossing the ball into the area for McCoulsky, who beat the onrushing Roberts to fire home.
Town continued to press, going close again four minutes after the goal, as Hill crossed the ball into the box for Smith, whose shot on goal sailed narrowly wide of the target.
With fifty-eight minutes on the clock, both teams opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, as Lewis Cass made way for Chanse Headman for the visitors, whilst Walsall replaced Albert Adomah and Jid Okeke with Aaron Pressley and Courtney Clarke.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position in the sixty-third minute, which allowed Mason Hancock a shot at goal, but his effort from outside the area sailed over the crossbar.
Harrogate chose to make two further changes to their line-up in the sixty-fifth minute, as Emmerson Sutton and Tom Hill made way for Tobias Brenan and George Thomson. Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce further fresh legs, with Alex Pattison being replaced by Brandon Comley.
Priestley Farquharson joined those playing with caution in the seventy-sixth minute, being shown the yellow card following a foul on McCoulsky.
That would prove to be Priestley Farquharson's final involvement of note, as both he and Jamie Jellis were substituted moments later, with Connor Barrett and Aaron Loupalo-Bi taking their places.
Walsall looked to pull a goal back as we edged towards the final ten minutes, but Lakin's strike from outside the box sailed wide of the target.
Brandon Comley became the third Saddler to see yellow, as his name was added to the referee's notebook in the eighty-fourth minute following a foul on Brenan.
Four minutes from time, Harrogate chose to make their final two changes of the game, with Shawn McCoulsky and Reece Smith departing, as Emile Acquah and Stephen Duke-McKenna took their places.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Barrett crossed the ball into the box for Loupalo-Bi, whose headed effort had a little too much on it as it was sent over the bar.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Harrogate winning by two-goals-to-nil.
| McCOULSKY (45') McCOULSKY (54') |
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| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | BENJAMIN SPEEDIE |