Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Tuesday evening as they travelled to Gresty Road and took on Crewe Alexandra.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in the second minute, as Elicha Ahui was fouled by Calum Agius. The ball eventually found its way out to Andy Dallas, whose strike from outside the area was blocked behind by Joshua Stephenson, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Crewe soon had the ball up at the other end, where Joel Tabiner crossed to Matús Holícek, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, but failed to find the target as his effort was blocked.
The hosts continued to press, going close again moments later, as Charlie McNeill beat the Walsall defences to get a shot away, but his effort sailed high over the crossbar.
The Alex created another chance to open the scoring, in the ninth minute, as McNeill headed the ball goal-wards, forcing a save from Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward, who parried into the path of Lewis Billington, who fired the rebound over the crossbar.
The Saddlers worked the ball up to the other end, after that, with Reece Smith crossing the ball in for Aaron Pressley, whose twelfth minute effort was well saved by Crewe 'keeper, Tom Booth.
Crewe won a free-kick moments later, as Ahui fouled March. Calum Agius fired the ball goal-wards from the set-piece, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The hosts felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the fifteenth minute, March went down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
Walsall soon had the ball back in the Crewe area, with Dallas attempting to find the target with a right footed effort, but Stephenson stuck a leg out to block the strike.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to test their opposition defences, until Ahui crossed the ball into the box for Simper, in the twenty-sixth minute, though his effort came to nothing.
Crewe worked the ball back upfield moments later, allowing Tabiner a shot at goal, but his effort came to nothing as it was blocked by Declan Skura, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Things settled again after that, with little attacking prowess on display from either side, although Simper did see a thirty-third minute strike sail high and wide of the target. Mason Hancock soon had possession, and looked to find the target from outside the box, but Joe White was on hand to block the effort.
Walsall were awarded a penalty in the forty-first minute, as the ball struck the arm of Stephenson. Aaron Pressley stepped forth to take the spot-kick, and duly converted, gifting his side the lead.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
Crewe soon had the ball up at the other end, where Joel Tabiner crossed to Matús Holícek, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, but failed to find the target as his effort was blocked.
The hosts continued to press, going close again moments later, as Charlie McNeill beat the Walsall defences to get a shot away, but his effort sailed high over the crossbar.
The Alex created another chance to open the scoring, in the ninth minute, as McNeill headed the ball goal-wards, forcing a save from Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward, who parried into the path of Lewis Billington, who fired the rebound over the crossbar.
The Saddlers worked the ball up to the other end, after that, with Reece Smith crossing the ball in for Aaron Pressley, whose twelfth minute effort was well saved by Crewe 'keeper, Tom Booth.
Crewe won a free-kick moments later, as Ahui fouled March. Calum Agius fired the ball goal-wards from the set-piece, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The hosts felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the fifteenth minute, March went down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
Walsall soon had the ball back in the Crewe area, with Dallas attempting to find the target with a right footed effort, but Stephenson stuck a leg out to block the strike.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to test their opposition defences, until Ahui crossed the ball into the box for Simper, in the twenty-sixth minute, though his effort came to nothing.
Crewe worked the ball back upfield moments later, allowing Tabiner a shot at goal, but his effort came to nothing as it was blocked by Declan Skura, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Things settled again after that, with little attacking prowess on display from either side, although Simper did see a thirty-third minute strike sail high and wide of the target. Mason Hancock soon had possession, and looked to find the target from outside the box, but Joe White was on hand to block the effort.
Walsall were awarded a penalty in the forty-first minute, as the ball struck the arm of Stephenson. Aaron Pressley stepped forth to take the spot-kick, and duly converted, gifting his side the lead.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
HALF-TIME
| CREWE | 0-1 | WALSALL |
Walsall chose to make a change to their line-up as the sides returned, with Declan Skura sitting out the second-half, as Harrison Burke took his place.
Crewe began the second period brightly, winning a corner just three minutes into them, as James Connolly knocked the ball out of play. The flag-kick was played deep, but the Saddlers defences stood firm.
With just five minutes of the second-half played, the Alex levelled the scores, as Tabiner played a long forward for March, who fired home into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, the hosts won another corner, as Hancock put the ball behind. Nothing would come of that set-piece, but another followed moments later, as the ball came off Ahui, from which the ball was headed out to Agius, just outside the box, but his effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar.
With fifty-seven minutes on the clock, Walsall restored their earlier lead, as the visitors were awarded a free-kick out wide following a foul by Luke Offord. The ball was crossed into the box by Smith, and headed home from close range by Pressley.
Crewe responded to the goal by making a double change to their line-up, with Charlie McNeill and Joel Tabiner making way for Jordan Gibson and Jack Lankester.
Walsall continued to enjoy a bright spell as the game continued, with Smith crossing a promising ball in for Pressley again in the sixty-second minute, but the strikers headed effort sailed inches wide of the far post.
The visiting side soon had the ball back in the danger zone, as Pressley looked to turn provider, but Simper was unable to find the target with his effort from the centre of the box, as the ball sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Crewe were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where a Holícek cross was met by March, who was unable to find the target as he fired wide.
The Saddlers opted to make a double change in the sixty-seventh minute, with Andy Dallas and Charlie Crew making way for Tai Sodje and Isaac Moore.
The home side chose to make their third substitution of the evening, in the seventy-second minute, as Lewis Billington made way for Mickey Demetriou.
Crewe grew into the game again as it continued, with Lankester crossing the ball in for Agius, whose strike sailed narrowly wide of the post, moments before Ward was forced to make a save to deny Joe White.
Lewis Simper saw his name taken fifteen minutes from time, as he was cautioned following a foul on White.
The hosts could have levelled the scores for a second time in the seventy-eighth minute, as Agius fired goal-wards, but his effort sailed wide of the post.
Ten minutes from time, Crewe decided to make their fourth substitution of the evening, as goalscorer, Josh March made way for Adrien Thibaut. Walsall followed suit, opting to replace Reece Smith with Albert Adomah for the run-in.
The hosts set about looking to restore parity as we played out the final eight minutes or so, but the Saddlers defences stood firm to see first an effort from Hutchinson blocked, before Gibson saw two strikes blocked in as many minutes, with the latter conceding a corner, which came to nothing as Ward saved a close range Agius shot.
Two minutes from time, Tai Sodje picked up a yellow card, as the number seven took one for the team as he fouled Demetriou.
Crewe continued to search for an equaliser as the night wore on, with Gibson seeing an effort blocked, before firing wide, moments later, from a free-kick.
Walsall won a corner in the ninetieth minute, as Booth kept a Simper effort from distance out. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as Adomah's ball in was headed over by Connolly.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, and two minutes into them, Crewe levelled, as Hutchinson fired an effort home into the bottom corner.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores tied at two-goals-apiece, with both sides unbeaten runs continuing.
Crewe began the second period brightly, winning a corner just three minutes into them, as James Connolly knocked the ball out of play. The flag-kick was played deep, but the Saddlers defences stood firm.
With just five minutes of the second-half played, the Alex levelled the scores, as Tabiner played a long forward for March, who fired home into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, the hosts won another corner, as Hancock put the ball behind. Nothing would come of that set-piece, but another followed moments later, as the ball came off Ahui, from which the ball was headed out to Agius, just outside the box, but his effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar.
With fifty-seven minutes on the clock, Walsall restored their earlier lead, as the visitors were awarded a free-kick out wide following a foul by Luke Offord. The ball was crossed into the box by Smith, and headed home from close range by Pressley.
Crewe responded to the goal by making a double change to their line-up, with Charlie McNeill and Joel Tabiner making way for Jordan Gibson and Jack Lankester.
Walsall continued to enjoy a bright spell as the game continued, with Smith crossing a promising ball in for Pressley again in the sixty-second minute, but the strikers headed effort sailed inches wide of the far post.
The visiting side soon had the ball back in the danger zone, as Pressley looked to turn provider, but Simper was unable to find the target with his effort from the centre of the box, as the ball sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Crewe were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where a Holícek cross was met by March, who was unable to find the target as he fired wide.
The Saddlers opted to make a double change in the sixty-seventh minute, with Andy Dallas and Charlie Crew making way for Tai Sodje and Isaac Moore.
The home side chose to make their third substitution of the evening, in the seventy-second minute, as Lewis Billington made way for Mickey Demetriou.
Crewe grew into the game again as it continued, with Lankester crossing the ball in for Agius, whose strike sailed narrowly wide of the post, moments before Ward was forced to make a save to deny Joe White.
Lewis Simper saw his name taken fifteen minutes from time, as he was cautioned following a foul on White.
The hosts could have levelled the scores for a second time in the seventy-eighth minute, as Agius fired goal-wards, but his effort sailed wide of the post.
Ten minutes from time, Crewe decided to make their fourth substitution of the evening, as goalscorer, Josh March made way for Adrien Thibaut. Walsall followed suit, opting to replace Reece Smith with Albert Adomah for the run-in.
The hosts set about looking to restore parity as we played out the final eight minutes or so, but the Saddlers defences stood firm to see first an effort from Hutchinson blocked, before Gibson saw two strikes blocked in as many minutes, with the latter conceding a corner, which came to nothing as Ward saved a close range Agius shot.
Two minutes from time, Tai Sodje picked up a yellow card, as the number seven took one for the team as he fouled Demetriou.
Crewe continued to search for an equaliser as the night wore on, with Gibson seeing an effort blocked, before firing wide, moments later, from a free-kick.
Walsall won a corner in the ninetieth minute, as Booth kept a Simper effort from distance out. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as Adomah's ball in was headed over by Connolly.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, and two minutes into them, Crewe levelled, as Hutchinson fired an effort home into the bottom corner.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores tied at two-goals-apiece, with both sides unbeaten runs continuing.
FULL-TIME
| CREWE | 2-2 | WALSALL |
MARCH (50') HUTCHINSON (90+2') |
PRESSLEY [P] (42') PRESSLEY (57') |
| AT | GRESTY ROAD |
| REFEREE | OLIVER MACKEY |