Walsall's 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two campaign began with a trip to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium where they took on Gillingham as Lee Grant looked to build upon the recent Carabao Cup victory over Bristol City.Gillingham got the match underway, and they began the game brightly, winning a corner just three minutes in, as Reece Smith turned the ball wide.
The ball in was good, but Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward was on hand to keep it out, with a second flag-kick following, though that too would come to nothing as the Saddlers defence stood firm to clear the initial ball in, before Armani Little crossed it back in for Will Goodwin, whose effort from close range was well saved by the visiting 'keeper.
The home side continued to press, causing Walsall some concern in the ninth minute, as Goodwin crossed the ball in for Kadeem Harris, whose effort from a tight angle was blocked.
Elicha Ahui became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent just twelve minutes into the contest.
The home side continued to press, causing Walsall some concern in the ninth minute, as Goodwin crossed the ball in for Kadeem Harris, whose effort from a tight angle was blocked.
Elicha Ahui became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent just twelve minutes into the contest.
The Gills continued to enjoy a good spell, seeing plenty of the ball and winning corners in both the seventeenth and nineteenth minutes, though nothing would come of either.
Walsall finally began to grow into the match a little after that, winning a flag-kick themselves in the twenty-first minute, as Zane Albarus turned the ball behind.
Walsall finally began to grow into the match a little after that, winning a flag-kick themselves in the twenty-first minute, as Zane Albarus turned the ball behind.
Nothing would come of that though as Smith's cross into the box was met by Aaron Pressley, whose effort on goal was easily claimed by Gillingham 'keeper, Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning another corner in the twenty-fifth minute, as Little put the ball out of play. Lewis Simper crossed a long ball in towards the back post from the flag-kick, where James Connolly was waiting, but the defenders headed effort was gathered by Maynard-Brewer.
The hosts soon had the ball back at the other end, where Nick Freeman crossed the ball into the area for Omar Beckles, who headed the ball goal-wards, only to see Ward save.
There was a brief halt to proceedings as we reached the half hour mark, as Armani Little went down injured. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Robbie McKenzie was brought on in his place.
The game restarted briefly, but thirty-three minutes in, it was paused again, allowing Liam Gordon to receive attention from the Gillingham medics. It was soon determined that he too would be unable to continue, and Logan Dobbs took his place.
The game eventually got back underway, and Walsall won a corner in the forty-first minute, as Freeman turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of it though, as Connolly fired high and wide.
Andy Smith became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Reece Smith, in the forty-third minute.
Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, four minutes into which Gillingham won a corner as Ward was tasked with saving an effort from Ronan Hale. The ball in from the flag-kick falling to Will Goodwin, whose effort from distance struck the crossbar.
The Gills struck the crossbar again moments later, as James Brophy fired a powerful effort in from outside the box.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning another corner in the twenty-fifth minute, as Little put the ball out of play. Lewis Simper crossed a long ball in towards the back post from the flag-kick, where James Connolly was waiting, but the defenders headed effort was gathered by Maynard-Brewer.
The hosts soon had the ball back at the other end, where Nick Freeman crossed the ball into the area for Omar Beckles, who headed the ball goal-wards, only to see Ward save.
There was a brief halt to proceedings as we reached the half hour mark, as Armani Little went down injured. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Robbie McKenzie was brought on in his place.
The game restarted briefly, but thirty-three minutes in, it was paused again, allowing Liam Gordon to receive attention from the Gillingham medics. It was soon determined that he too would be unable to continue, and Logan Dobbs took his place.
The game eventually got back underway, and Walsall won a corner in the forty-first minute, as Freeman turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of it though, as Connolly fired high and wide.
Andy Smith became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Reece Smith, in the forty-third minute.
Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, four minutes into which Gillingham won a corner as Ward was tasked with saving an effort from Ronan Hale. The ball in from the flag-kick falling to Will Goodwin, whose effort from distance struck the crossbar.
The Gills struck the crossbar again moments later, as James Brophy fired a powerful effort in from outside the box.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the first-half was brought to a close with the scores still tied.
Walsall opted to make a change as the teams returned, with Elicha Ahui sitting out the second-half, as Roman Dixon took his place.
Kadeem Harris became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned just two minutes after the restart for a foul on debutant, Dixon.
The Saddlers looked much brighter as the second-half action got going, with Smith crossing the ball in from the free-kick awarded following the Harris foul, for Connolly, whose effort from the centre of the box sailed narrowly wide.
The visitors continued to press, with Andy Dallas crossing the ball back into the box for Pressley, moments later, but the strikers effort on goal was blocked, shortly before Mason Hancock played the ball in for Reece Smith, whose strike goal-wards sailed high and wide of the target.
Walsall soon created another chance, as they continued to look the brighter of the two sides, with Dallas playing the ball in for Simper, whose shot was blocked.
Charlie Crew joined those playing on a caution, in the fifty-fifth minute, with his name added to the referee's notebook following a foul on Brophy.
Gillingham grew into the game after that, with the side winning a free-kick in a decent position, which was headed on by Andy Smith for Goodwin, whose strike from the centre of the box missed the target. The side soon had the ball back though, with Smith again playing the ball in, this time for Hale, whose effort on goal was saved by Ward.
Robbie McKenzie joined the growing list of names in the referee's notebook, in the fifty-eighth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Dallas.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Lewis Simper and Charlie Crew making way for Courtney Clarke and Isaac Moore.
Things settled just a little after the changes were completed, but Gillingham should perhaps have taken the lead in the sixty-sixth minute, as Brophy headed the ball on for Hale, who saw an effort on goal saved by Ward, before McKenzie won the ball back and crossed to Harris, whose effort on goal was blocked. Harris then collected the ball again and fired goal-wards from the centre of the box, forcing another save from the Walsall shot-stopper.
With sixty-seven minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make their fourth change of the game, with Andy Dallas making way for Tai Sodje.
Gillingham hit the crossbar for a third time in the sixty-eighth minute, as Goodwin's powerful effort struck the woodwork from a free-kick.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the seventy-first minute, allowing both Goodwin and Hancock to receive attention from their respective teams medics.
It was soon determined that Will Goodwin would be unable to continue, and both he and Kadeem Harris were taken off, with Seb Palmer-Houlden and Gareth McCleary filling their spots.
Mason Hancock was also unable to play any further part in the afternoons proceedings, and Harrison Burke was introduced in his place.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell once play resumed, going close through Hale, whose effort on goal sailed only narrowly wide of the upright, shortly before Palmer-Houlden headed wide.
The hosts won a corner in the eightieth minute, as Burke put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Freeman's effort was blocked.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, and nine minutes from time, they took the lead, as Clarke crossed towards the far post, where Pressley was waiting to head goal-wards. Maynard-Brewer was alert to the danger and got his body in the way of the effort, but he was unable to get back in time to prevent Moore turning home the rebound.
The Saddlers then set about looking for a quick second goal, with Pressley crossing the ball into the box in the eighty-third minute, for Clarke, whose headed effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
The visitors were soon back on the attack, with Moore crossing the ball back into the box, for Reece Smith, who was unable to find the target, as he fired narrowly wide.
Moments later, the Saddlers were presented with another chance to double their lead, as Connolly crossed to Clarke, but Maynard-Brewer was well positioned and made the save. The resulting corner, and the one which followed, came to nothing, but at the third time of asking, Walsall were able to convert a flag-kick, as Clarke saw an effort blocked, before Connolly poked home from close range.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Brophy saw an effort from outside the box sail wide, before McKenzie headed the ball back in for Hale, whose strike from the centre of the box was blocked.
Ronan Hale joined those in playing on a caution, three minutes into those added, as he was booked for a foul on Pressley.
Walsall won a corner in the sixth of the added minutes, as a cross from Moore was turned goal-wards by Clarke, forcing a block from McKenzie. Clarke crossed the ball into the box from the flag-kick, and Pressley was on hand to head home Walsall's third goal of the afternoon.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as Walsall got their League Two campaign to a flying start, beating Gillingham by three-goals-to-nil, with a superb second-half performance.
Kadeem Harris became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned just two minutes after the restart for a foul on debutant, Dixon.
The Saddlers looked much brighter as the second-half action got going, with Smith crossing the ball in from the free-kick awarded following the Harris foul, for Connolly, whose effort from the centre of the box sailed narrowly wide.
The visitors continued to press, with Andy Dallas crossing the ball back into the box for Pressley, moments later, but the strikers effort on goal was blocked, shortly before Mason Hancock played the ball in for Reece Smith, whose strike goal-wards sailed high and wide of the target.
Walsall soon created another chance, as they continued to look the brighter of the two sides, with Dallas playing the ball in for Simper, whose shot was blocked.
Charlie Crew joined those playing on a caution, in the fifty-fifth minute, with his name added to the referee's notebook following a foul on Brophy.
Gillingham grew into the game after that, with the side winning a free-kick in a decent position, which was headed on by Andy Smith for Goodwin, whose strike from the centre of the box missed the target. The side soon had the ball back though, with Smith again playing the ball in, this time for Hale, whose effort on goal was saved by Ward.
Robbie McKenzie joined the growing list of names in the referee's notebook, in the fifty-eighth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Dallas.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Lewis Simper and Charlie Crew making way for Courtney Clarke and Isaac Moore.
Things settled just a little after the changes were completed, but Gillingham should perhaps have taken the lead in the sixty-sixth minute, as Brophy headed the ball on for Hale, who saw an effort on goal saved by Ward, before McKenzie won the ball back and crossed to Harris, whose effort on goal was blocked. Harris then collected the ball again and fired goal-wards from the centre of the box, forcing another save from the Walsall shot-stopper.
With sixty-seven minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make their fourth change of the game, with Andy Dallas making way for Tai Sodje.
Gillingham hit the crossbar for a third time in the sixty-eighth minute, as Goodwin's powerful effort struck the woodwork from a free-kick.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the seventy-first minute, allowing both Goodwin and Hancock to receive attention from their respective teams medics.
It was soon determined that Will Goodwin would be unable to continue, and both he and Kadeem Harris were taken off, with Seb Palmer-Houlden and Gareth McCleary filling their spots.
Mason Hancock was also unable to play any further part in the afternoons proceedings, and Harrison Burke was introduced in his place.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell once play resumed, going close through Hale, whose effort on goal sailed only narrowly wide of the upright, shortly before Palmer-Houlden headed wide.
The hosts won a corner in the eightieth minute, as Burke put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Freeman's effort was blocked.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, and nine minutes from time, they took the lead, as Clarke crossed towards the far post, where Pressley was waiting to head goal-wards. Maynard-Brewer was alert to the danger and got his body in the way of the effort, but he was unable to get back in time to prevent Moore turning home the rebound.
The Saddlers then set about looking for a quick second goal, with Pressley crossing the ball into the box in the eighty-third minute, for Clarke, whose headed effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
The visitors were soon back on the attack, with Moore crossing the ball back into the box, for Reece Smith, who was unable to find the target, as he fired narrowly wide.
Moments later, the Saddlers were presented with another chance to double their lead, as Connolly crossed to Clarke, but Maynard-Brewer was well positioned and made the save. The resulting corner, and the one which followed, came to nothing, but at the third time of asking, Walsall were able to convert a flag-kick, as Clarke saw an effort blocked, before Connolly poked home from close range.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Brophy saw an effort from outside the box sail wide, before McKenzie headed the ball back in for Hale, whose strike from the centre of the box was blocked.
Ronan Hale joined those in playing on a caution, three minutes into those added, as he was booked for a foul on Pressley.
Walsall won a corner in the sixth of the added minutes, as a cross from Moore was turned goal-wards by Clarke, forcing a block from McKenzie. Clarke crossed the ball into the box from the flag-kick, and Pressley was on hand to head home Walsall's third goal of the afternoon.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as Walsall got their League Two campaign to a flying start, beating Gillingham by three-goals-to-nil, with a superb second-half performance.
|
MOORE CONNOLLY PRESSLEY |
| AT | PRIESTFIELD STADIUM |
| REFEREE | EMILY HEASLIP |