Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made the long trip to Devon and St James Park, where they took on Exeter City.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a corner just three minutes into the contest, as Jake Doyle-Hayes got back to block a cross into the box, though nothing would come of the early flag-kick as Exeter cleared the danger.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a corner themselves in the fourth minute, as Elicha Ahui turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of their set-piece either, however, as Reece Cole's low delivery was cleared by the Saddlers defences.
The visiting side won their second corner of the game, just six minute in, as Charlie Cummins turned the ball behind. Antony Evans looked to find the target from the flag-kick, but his effort had a little too much height on it and clipped the crossbar on its way out.
Things settled a little after that, but the hosts could have opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute as Cole played the ball to former Saddler, Josh Gordon, whose shot at goal was blocked, before Sonny Cox picked up the loose ball and drew a fine save from Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Exeter felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the fourteenth minute, as Gordon went down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
City continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the eighteenth minute, as Isaac Moore put the ball out of play. Cole swung a promising ball in for Gwion Edwards, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, but Ward was able to make the save.
The hosts continued to see much of the ball as play continued, going close again in the twenty-third minute, as Doyle-Hayes headed the ball to Cox, but the striker was unable to find the target, as he fired over.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with Walsall seeing a little more possession than they had in a while, and the visitors won a corner kick as we reached the half hour mark, as Cummins turned the ball out of play, although they were unable to make it count.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy an improved spell, with the ball falling to Mason Hancock, in the thirty-third minute, but the defender was unable to find the target with his effort from outside the area, as he fired high and wide.
Exeter worked the ball back up to the other end after that, with Cole played the ball into the area for Cox, in the thirty-sixth minute, though nothing would come of the move, as Ward denied the striker was his legs.
There was a brief pause in proceedings, in the thirty-eighth minute, whilst Ryan Leak took a moment to recover from an injury, but he was soon able to re-join the action.
The remainder of the first-half was a relatively quiet affair, and after two additional minutes were played, the referee lead the players off for the break with the scores still tied.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a corner themselves in the fourth minute, as Elicha Ahui turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of their set-piece either, however, as Reece Cole's low delivery was cleared by the Saddlers defences.
The visiting side won their second corner of the game, just six minute in, as Charlie Cummins turned the ball behind. Antony Evans looked to find the target from the flag-kick, but his effort had a little too much height on it and clipped the crossbar on its way out.
Things settled a little after that, but the hosts could have opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute as Cole played the ball to former Saddler, Josh Gordon, whose shot at goal was blocked, before Sonny Cox picked up the loose ball and drew a fine save from Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
Exeter felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the fourteenth minute, as Gordon went down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
City continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the eighteenth minute, as Isaac Moore put the ball out of play. Cole swung a promising ball in for Gwion Edwards, who fired goal-wards from outside the box, but Ward was able to make the save.
The hosts continued to see much of the ball as play continued, going close again in the twenty-third minute, as Doyle-Hayes headed the ball to Cox, but the striker was unable to find the target, as he fired over.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with Walsall seeing a little more possession than they had in a while, and the visitors won a corner kick as we reached the half hour mark, as Cummins turned the ball out of play, although they were unable to make it count.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy an improved spell, with the ball falling to Mason Hancock, in the thirty-third minute, but the defender was unable to find the target with his effort from outside the area, as he fired high and wide.
Exeter worked the ball back up to the other end after that, with Cole played the ball into the area for Cox, in the thirty-sixth minute, though nothing would come of the move, as Ward denied the striker was his legs.
There was a brief pause in proceedings, in the thirty-eighth minute, whilst Ryan Leak took a moment to recover from an injury, but he was soon able to re-join the action.
The remainder of the first-half was a relatively quiet affair, and after two additional minutes were played, the referee lead the players off for the break with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME
| EXETER CITY | 0-0 | WALSALL |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the second-half got underway. Walsall began the second period brightly, winning a corner just two minutes after the restart, as former Saddler, Jack Fitzwater put the ball out of play, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Leak doing well to get a shot away in the forty-ninth minute, but Cummins was on hand to block the effort for the hosts, deflecting the ball over the bar, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
There was a brief pause in play, five minutes into the half, allowing Luca Woodhouse to receive some attention, but he was soon back on his feet and play continued.
Exeter created their first chance of the second-half, in the fifty-fourth minute, as the ball was crossed into the box by Edwards, for Cummins, whose headed effort was comfortably saved by Ward.
City continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Cummins crossing the ball in for Ed James in the fifty-seventh minute, with the defender seeing his effort blocked, before Fitzwater picked up the loose ball and fired goal-wards, seeing his strike turned behind by Aaron Pressley, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing.
With sixty-two minutes on the clock, Exeter opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, with Gwion Edwards and Josh Gordon making way for Ethan Sutherland and Danny Rose.
Three minutes later, Walsall introduced some fresh legs of their own, as Antony Evans was replaced by Lewis Simper.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with neither side able to create anything to trouble their opposition defences.
In the seventy-first minute, City chose to make a third change to their line-up, with Sonny Cox departing, in favour of Ajay Matthews.
Walsall saw plenty of the ball as play continued, and could have taken the lead in the seventy-fifth minute, as the side won a corner which was played into the box by Pressley, for Courtney Clarke, who was unable to find the target as his effort sailed over the crossbar.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Rose crossed the ball into the area for Cole, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright from a tight angle.
Elicha Ahui became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Cummins, in the seventy-seventh minute.
The resulting free-kick saw Ethan Sutherland cross the ball into the box for James, whose header from close range sailed wide of the upright.
Ten minutes from time, City opted to make their final changes of the game, as Jake Doyle-Hayes and Luca Woodhouse made way for Taylor Perry and Jack Taylor.
Walsall also took the opportunity to change things up a little, with Courtney Clarke and Charlie Crew departing, as their places were filled by Andy Dallas and Sven Sprangler.
Perry was quick to get involved in the action for the hosts, crossing the ball into the box, just two minutes after his introduction, for Matthews, whose shot from close range had a little too much height on it.
The Saddlers soon had the ball back at the other end, where Moore crossed to Reece Smith, who attempted to find the target from outside the box, but City 'keeper, Jack Bycroft was alert to the danger and made the save to deny him.
Three minutes later, the visitors drew another save from Bycroft, as Smith crossed the ball into the box for Ahui, whose header from close range was collected.
Exeter won a corner moments later, as Moore turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it, as the cross was deep and the Saddlers cleared.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, the Saddlers chose to make their final change of the afternoon, as Elicha Ahui made way for Harrison Burke.
That would prove to be the final action of note as neither side was able to break the deadlock, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still tied.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Leak doing well to get a shot away in the forty-ninth minute, but Cummins was on hand to block the effort for the hosts, deflecting the ball over the bar, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
There was a brief pause in play, five minutes into the half, allowing Luca Woodhouse to receive some attention, but he was soon back on his feet and play continued.
Exeter created their first chance of the second-half, in the fifty-fourth minute, as the ball was crossed into the box by Edwards, for Cummins, whose headed effort was comfortably saved by Ward.
City continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Cummins crossing the ball in for Ed James in the fifty-seventh minute, with the defender seeing his effort blocked, before Fitzwater picked up the loose ball and fired goal-wards, seeing his strike turned behind by Aaron Pressley, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing.
With sixty-two minutes on the clock, Exeter opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, with Gwion Edwards and Josh Gordon making way for Ethan Sutherland and Danny Rose.
Three minutes later, Walsall introduced some fresh legs of their own, as Antony Evans was replaced by Lewis Simper.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with neither side able to create anything to trouble their opposition defences.
In the seventy-first minute, City chose to make a third change to their line-up, with Sonny Cox departing, in favour of Ajay Matthews.
Walsall saw plenty of the ball as play continued, and could have taken the lead in the seventy-fifth minute, as the side won a corner which was played into the box by Pressley, for Courtney Clarke, who was unable to find the target as his effort sailed over the crossbar.
The hosts were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Rose crossed the ball into the area for Cole, whose effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright from a tight angle.
Elicha Ahui became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Cummins, in the seventy-seventh minute.
The resulting free-kick saw Ethan Sutherland cross the ball into the box for James, whose header from close range sailed wide of the upright.
Ten minutes from time, City opted to make their final changes of the game, as Jake Doyle-Hayes and Luca Woodhouse made way for Taylor Perry and Jack Taylor.
Walsall also took the opportunity to change things up a little, with Courtney Clarke and Charlie Crew departing, as their places were filled by Andy Dallas and Sven Sprangler.
Perry was quick to get involved in the action for the hosts, crossing the ball into the box, just two minutes after his introduction, for Matthews, whose shot from close range had a little too much height on it.
The Saddlers soon had the ball back at the other end, where Moore crossed to Reece Smith, who attempted to find the target from outside the box, but City 'keeper, Jack Bycroft was alert to the danger and made the save to deny him.
Three minutes later, the visitors drew another save from Bycroft, as Smith crossed the ball into the box for Ahui, whose header from close range was collected.
Exeter won a corner moments later, as Moore turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it, as the cross was deep and the Saddlers cleared.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, the Saddlers chose to make their final change of the afternoon, as Elicha Ahui made way for Harrison Burke.
That would prove to be the final action of note as neither side was able to break the deadlock, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still tied.
FULL-TIME
| EXETER CITY | 0-0 | WALSALL |
| AT | ST JAMES PARK |
| REFEREE | HARRISON BLAIR |