The young Saddlers played their penultimate game of the 2025/26 Youth Alliance campaign with a tie against Stockport County at Ray Hall Lane.After scoring three goals but still slipping to defeat against Wrexham in midweek, the Saddlers were looking to build confidence and get back to winning ways.
WALSALL
Harrison Barber; Louie Webb; Ellis Harris, Sam Oliver, Jakub Pawlowski, Archie Bunn, Zion Tuitt, Jude Worrall, Finn Teesdale, Ethan Khan, Levi Wain
Subs: Fraser Hamilton-Wright; Lincoln Hunt, McLloyd Oben, Jaden Kandemiri, Marley Roberts
It was a difficult opening forty-five for the young Saddlers as they would go on to concede two goals and be forced to change goalkeepers before the referee called for half-time.
Captained by Louie Webb, the young Saddlers looked bright during the opening twenty-minutes of play but would go on to concede two goals, the second of which coming from the spot after the referee had awarded a penalty.
Before the half came to a close, goalkeeper Harrison Barber was replaced by Fraser Hamilton-Wright as the young Saddlers' end-of-season struggles showed no signs of coming to an end.
County were quickest out of the traps in the second half as they added a third goal a few minutes before the match reached the hour mark. Not what the young Saddlers were hoping for as they looked to make their way back into the contest.
In a half peppered with substitutions, the Saddlers saw an opening get away when a Webb free-kick reached the head of Ellis Harris, who sent the ball across goal, where Finn Teesdale was just unable to make contact as the chance went begging.
County would ultimately go on to add a fourth goal as the match entered the closing stages, the referee awarding them a second penalty, which was sent into the back of the Walsall net.
The Hatters' goal-scoring didn't end there, either, as they added a fifth just as the match reached the ninety-minute mark, another difficult outing for the young Saddlers.
WALSALL SUBSTITUTIONS
OFF: Harrison Barber (39'), Jakub Pawlowski (59'), Zion Tuitt, Jude Worrall (65'), Marley Roberts (71')
ON: Fraser Hamilton-Wright (39'), Jaden Kandemiri (59'), McLloyd Oben, Marley Roberts (65'), Lincoln Hunt (71')
| AT | RAY HALL LANE |