Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they took on Grimsby Town in front of the Sky Sports cameras.Grimsby got the game underway, and they began the game brightly, but there was little early action of note, before an injury to Justin Amaluzor stopped play in the fourth minute, though, he was eventually to continue.
The visiting side continued to look the brighter of the two sides, with Cian Doyle crossing the ball into the box, in the sixth minute, for former Saddler, Andy Cook, whose headed effort from close range sailed over the crossbar.
Walsall grew into the game, winning the first corner of the match in the tenth minute, as Doyle turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of it, as Courtney Clarke's cross was turned wide by Aaron Pressley.
The hosts were soon back on the attack, with Isaac Moore playing the ball to Mason Hancock, whose strike from distance sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Things settled a little after that, although Clarke was presented with a chance to open the scoring in the sixteenth minute, as Lewis Simper worked the ball through for him, but his shot on goal whistled wide of the post.
Grimsby went close at the other end four minutes later, as a Charles Vernam cross was cleared to Doyle, whose effort on goal was dragged narrowly wide. The visiting side soon had the ball back, going close again as Cook found Harvey Rodgers, who fired over from the edge of the area.
Town went close again, in the twenty-third minute, as a Rodgers cross was cushioned into the path of Vernam, by Cook, but the effort on goal sailed narrowly over the bar.
The visiting side continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring, winning a corner in the thirty-first minute, as James Connolly cleared an Amaluzor effort behind. The Saddlers defences stood firm, however, and nothing came of the flag-kick.
Things settled again after that, but Walsall won a corner at the other end, in the thirty-seventh minute, as Cameron McJannet put the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the opportunity, however, as a foul saw Grimsby awarded a free-kick.
The Saddlers went on to win a free-kick, in the forty-second minute, from which Simper crossed into the box for Pressley, but the strikers header from the centre of the box sailed narrowly wide.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, a weak effort from Clarke was easily gathered by Town 'keeper, Christy Pym. That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The visiting side continued to look the brighter of the two sides, with Cian Doyle crossing the ball into the box, in the sixth minute, for former Saddler, Andy Cook, whose headed effort from close range sailed over the crossbar.
Walsall grew into the game, winning the first corner of the match in the tenth minute, as Doyle turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of it, as Courtney Clarke's cross was turned wide by Aaron Pressley.
The hosts were soon back on the attack, with Isaac Moore playing the ball to Mason Hancock, whose strike from distance sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Things settled a little after that, although Clarke was presented with a chance to open the scoring in the sixteenth minute, as Lewis Simper worked the ball through for him, but his shot on goal whistled wide of the post.
Grimsby went close at the other end four minutes later, as a Charles Vernam cross was cleared to Doyle, whose effort on goal was dragged narrowly wide. The visiting side soon had the ball back, going close again as Cook found Harvey Rodgers, who fired over from the edge of the area.
Town went close again, in the twenty-third minute, as a Rodgers cross was cushioned into the path of Vernam, by Cook, but the effort on goal sailed narrowly over the bar.
The visiting side continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring, winning a corner in the thirty-first minute, as James Connolly cleared an Amaluzor effort behind. The Saddlers defences stood firm, however, and nothing came of the flag-kick.
Things settled again after that, but Walsall won a corner at the other end, in the thirty-seventh minute, as Cameron McJannet put the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the opportunity, however, as a foul saw Grimsby awarded a free-kick.
The Saddlers went on to win a free-kick, in the forty-second minute, from which Simper crossed into the box for Pressley, but the strikers header from the centre of the box sailed narrowly wide.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, a weak effort from Clarke was easily gathered by Town 'keeper, Christy Pym. That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME
| WALSALL | 0-0 | GRIMSBY |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the second-half off to a flying start, winning a corner one minute in, as Jayden Sweeney turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick, as a foul saw Grimsby awarded a free-kick.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, until Clarke beat Rodgers, in the fifty-third minute, to cut into the Grimsby box, but his effort on goal was well saved by Pym, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Two further Walsall corners followed shortly after, as Maldini Kacurri turned the ball behind twice, but nothing would come of either, as the Mariners defences stood firm.
The game settled again for a while, but the Saddlers did create another opening in the sixty-second minute, as Andy Dallas worked the ball to Clarke, whose effort was blocked behind by Kacurri. The resulting flag-kick coming to nothing.
With sixty-four minute on the clock, Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, with Andy Dallas making way for Reece Smith.
Jayden Sweeney became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Elicha Ahui, in the sixty-eighth minute.
Grimsby opted to make their first change of the game, twenty minutes from time, with Andy Cook making way for Iwan Morgan.
Walsall continued to see plenty of the ball as the game continued, and could have opened the scoring in the seventy-first minute, as the recently introduced Smith found space to shoot from distance, but his effort was blocked.
James Connolly became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Amaluzor in the seventy-fourth minute. The resulting free-kick failing to beat the Walsall wall.
The visitors were quick to work the ball back into the danger zone, but Rodgers' dangerous cross into the box was well saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
The Mariners continued to press, with Sweeney firing goal-wards from the edge of the area, in the seventy-seventh minute, but Ward remained alert to the danger and tipped the ball behind. The resulting corner saw McJannet's header goal-wards blocked by Pressley, with the flag-kick which resulted, coming to nothing.
Ten minutes from time, Walsall chose to make a triple substitution, with Isaac Moore, Elicha Ahui and Lewis Simper departing, as Charlie Crew, Rico Browne and Tai Sodje filled their places.
Grimsby also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Cian Doyle making way for Ryley Reynolds.
The visiting side won a corner in the eighty-seventh minute, as they looked for a late breakthrough, but they were unable to force the ball home, winning only another corner as the ball went out again off Clarke. The Saddlers defences stood firm to ensure nothing would come from the second flag-kick either.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Walsall opted to make their final change of the afternoon, with Courtney Clarke making way for Albert Adomah.
Two additional minutes were added to end the match, but despite their best efforts, neither side were able to find a late goal, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still level.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, until Clarke beat Rodgers, in the fifty-third minute, to cut into the Grimsby box, but his effort on goal was well saved by Pym, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Two further Walsall corners followed shortly after, as Maldini Kacurri turned the ball behind twice, but nothing would come of either, as the Mariners defences stood firm.
The game settled again for a while, but the Saddlers did create another opening in the sixty-second minute, as Andy Dallas worked the ball to Clarke, whose effort was blocked behind by Kacurri. The resulting flag-kick coming to nothing.
With sixty-four minute on the clock, Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, with Andy Dallas making way for Reece Smith.
Jayden Sweeney became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Elicha Ahui, in the sixty-eighth minute.
Grimsby opted to make their first change of the game, twenty minutes from time, with Andy Cook making way for Iwan Morgan.
Walsall continued to see plenty of the ball as the game continued, and could have opened the scoring in the seventy-first minute, as the recently introduced Smith found space to shoot from distance, but his effort was blocked.
James Connolly became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Amaluzor in the seventy-fourth minute. The resulting free-kick failing to beat the Walsall wall.
The visitors were quick to work the ball back into the danger zone, but Rodgers' dangerous cross into the box was well saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
The Mariners continued to press, with Sweeney firing goal-wards from the edge of the area, in the seventy-seventh minute, but Ward remained alert to the danger and tipped the ball behind. The resulting corner saw McJannet's header goal-wards blocked by Pressley, with the flag-kick which resulted, coming to nothing.
Ten minutes from time, Walsall chose to make a triple substitution, with Isaac Moore, Elicha Ahui and Lewis Simper departing, as Charlie Crew, Rico Browne and Tai Sodje filled their places.
Grimsby also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Cian Doyle making way for Ryley Reynolds.
The visiting side won a corner in the eighty-seventh minute, as they looked for a late breakthrough, but they were unable to force the ball home, winning only another corner as the ball went out again off Clarke. The Saddlers defences stood firm to ensure nothing would come from the second flag-kick either.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Walsall opted to make their final change of the afternoon, with Courtney Clarke making way for Albert Adomah.
Two additional minutes were added to end the match, but despite their best efforts, neither side were able to find a late goal, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still level.
FULL-TIME
| WALSALL | 0-0 | GRIMSBY |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | MATTHEW RUSSELL |