Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the Copperjax Community Stadium and took on Bromley in their final game of the season.Walsall began the game brightly, winning the first corner of the contest just three minutes in, as Corey Whitely turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as Mason Hancock's ball in found Kacper Łopatam who fired wide from the centre of the box.
Bromley saw more of the ball after that, though they were unable to make us of their spells in possession, as the Walsall defences prevented them getting a clear shot away.
As we reached the fifteen minute mark the Saddlers created another chance, as Alex Pattison headed the ball on for Aaron Pressley, who hooked the ball across goal, with Daniel Kanu unable to latch onto it to turn it home.
The visiting side then won a corner, which Hancock crossed into the box for Pressley, whose headed effort fell narrowly wide of the post.
Things settled a little as play continued, though Walsall could have taken the lead in the twenty-sixth minute, as Albert Adomah floated the ball into the box for Pressley, but the strikers tame header was easily saved by Bromley 'keeper, Grant Smith.
Bromley were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Mitch Pinnock crossed to Ben Thompson, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, though he failed to trouble Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts with an effort which sailed high and wide.
As we reached the half hour mark, Kacper Łopata became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Thompson. The resulting free-kick saw Ashley Charles fire goal-wards from outside the box, but his effort sailed high and wide of the target.
Mason Hancock joined Łopata in the referee's notebook, in the thirty-third minute, as he was shown the yellow card for a fouling Jude Arthurs. The resulting free-kick saw the ball crossed into the box by Pinnock, for Omar Sowunmi, whose header goal-wards sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Aden Flint became the third Walsall player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Nicke Kabamba, in the thirty-fifth minute.
Bromley continued to press, winning a corner in the thirty-seventh minute, as Flint turned the ball behind. Charles swung the ball in from the flag-kick, finding Thompson outside the box, who fired home into the top corner to give his side a lead.
The Saddlers looked to respond quickly to falling a goal behind, as Courtney Clarke crossed the ball into the box for Pressley, whose header goal-wards was well saved by Smith.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the thirty-ninth minute, allowing Harrison Burke to receive attention from the Walsall medics, but he was eventually able to re-join the action.
However, it became apparent in the forty-fourth minute, that Harrison Burke would be unable to continue, with Walsall forced to make their first change, as Jid Okeke took his place.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Bromley won a corner, as the ball went out of play off Adomah. Pinnock's in-swinging ball looked good, but was too close to Roberts, who emphatically punched clear.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Bromley leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break and the action got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just two minutes into it, as Byron Webster turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Clarke crossing a promising ball into the box, in the fifty-third minute, but Kanu was unable to find the target as he latched onto it, as his effort was blocked.
Walsall continued to seek to restore parity, with Hancock seeing a strike from outside the box blocked in the fifty-eighth minute, moments before Clarke forced a save from Smith, with an effort from outside the area.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Thompson crossed the ball into the box for Arthurs, whose effort on goal was saved by Roberts, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
As we reached the hour mark, Bromley doubled their advantage, as Kamamba broke with the ball and crossed to Pinnock, who fired past Roberts from outside the box.
Walsall responded to the goal with two substitutions, as Albert Adomah and Aaron Pressley made way for Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Jamie Jellis.
The Saddlers then pulled a goal back, as Pattison crossed the ball to Okeke, who turned home from close range. They could have restored parity just two minutes later, as the recently introduced Jellis fired goal-wards from outside the area, but his effort was blocked by Arthurs, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
At the other end just two minutes later, the hosts won a corner as Flint turned the ball wide. Pinnock swung the ball into the box from the flag-kick, and Sowunmi headed home to restore his sides two goal cushion.
The Saddlers went close again in the sixty-eighth minute, as Kanu headed the ball on for Loupalo-Bi, but his effort from outside the box sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Bromley sought to add to their tally, with Charles seeing an effort blocked in the seventy-fifth minute, before a Kabamba strike was also blocked, with the resulting corner falling for Thompson, who fired wide.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in eighty-third minute, allowing Marcus Ifill to receive attention from the Bromley medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Ben Krauhaus was brought on in his place.
Another stoppage followed in the eighty-seventh minute, as Whitely appeared to have been injured in a collision with Jellis, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Jamie Jellis joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-eighth minute, as he was booked following a foul on Thompson.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Walsall chose to make two final changes to their line-up, with Mason Hancock and Charlie Lakin making way for Vincent Harper and Will Etheridge, who was making his senior debut just days after being named Apprentice of the Season.
Two additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Pattison crossed the ball to Etheridge, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, forcing Smith to make a save.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Bromley winning by three-goals-to-one, ending a disappointing season for the Saddlers.
| THOMPSON (31') PINNOCK (60') SOWUMNI (67') |
OKEKE (62') |
| AT | COPPERJAX STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SCOTT JACKSON |