Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to Prenton Park on the Wirral, where they took on Tranmere Rovers.Tranmere Rovers got the match underway, but it was brought to a temporary stop just a minute later, as James Connolly required treatment following a knock. He was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
The home side created the first chance of the game, five minutes in, as Will Vaulks volleyed goal-wards from distance, but Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward was alert to the danger and made the save.
Walsall won the first corner of the game, in the eighth minute, as Bobby Faulkner turned a Reece Smith effort behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, but another followed just three minutes later, as Nathan Smith put the ball out of play, though that too would come to nothing as the hosts cleared the danger.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, the hosts created another chance to open the scoring, as Tom Ince crossed the ball to Jacob Slater, whose strike from outside the area drew a fine save from Ward.
Sven Sprangler became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the eighteenth minute, following a foul on Zane Okoro.
The hosts went close again in the twentieth minute, as Charlie Whitaker cut inside and fired an effort in on goal, only to see Ward keep the effort out, with Ince picking up the loose ball, only to see his shot blocked by Mason Hancock.
Tranmere continued to press, with Faulkner seeing a shot blocked in the twenty-second minute. Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end though, where they won a corner as Nathan Smith turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of it.
Rovers went close again in the twenty-fifth minute, as Tom Conlon crossed the ball to Whitaker, whose strike from outside the box drew another save from a busy Ward.
Walsall created their first real chance of the game, in the twenty-eighth minute, as Andy Dallas crossed the ball into the box for Aaron Pressley, who was slightly ahead of the ball and turned it over from close range.
Tranmere had the ball back at the other end, in the thirty-second minute, where Ironside played the ball back to Ince on the edge of the area, but Ward remained alert to the danger and made a superb save to deny him. The resulting corner coming to nothing.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the thirty-fourth minute, as Whitaker went down inside the area. Ironside stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Ward was on hand to keep the Saddlers on level terms, also saving the follow-up from Whitaker, tipping the ball onto the post before gathering.
James Connolly became the second player to see his name added to the referee's notebook during the awarding of the penalty, as he was cautioned for dissent.
Tranmere continued to press, winning a corner in the thirty-eighth minute, as Hancock put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Ince fired over.
The Saddlers soon had the ball at the other end, where Pressley crossed the ball into the box for Dallas, whose shot on goal sailed high and wide of the target.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the forty-third minute, allowing Vaulks to receive some attention from the Tranmere medics. He was soon back up though and play resumed.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The home side created the first chance of the game, five minutes in, as Will Vaulks volleyed goal-wards from distance, but Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward was alert to the danger and made the save.
Walsall won the first corner of the game, in the eighth minute, as Bobby Faulkner turned a Reece Smith effort behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, but another followed just three minutes later, as Nathan Smith put the ball out of play, though that too would come to nothing as the hosts cleared the danger.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, the hosts created another chance to open the scoring, as Tom Ince crossed the ball to Jacob Slater, whose strike from outside the area drew a fine save from Ward.
Sven Sprangler became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the eighteenth minute, following a foul on Zane Okoro.
The hosts went close again in the twentieth minute, as Charlie Whitaker cut inside and fired an effort in on goal, only to see Ward keep the effort out, with Ince picking up the loose ball, only to see his shot blocked by Mason Hancock.
Tranmere continued to press, with Faulkner seeing a shot blocked in the twenty-second minute. Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end though, where they won a corner as Nathan Smith turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of it.
Rovers went close again in the twenty-fifth minute, as Tom Conlon crossed the ball to Whitaker, whose strike from outside the box drew another save from a busy Ward.
Walsall created their first real chance of the game, in the twenty-eighth minute, as Andy Dallas crossed the ball into the box for Aaron Pressley, who was slightly ahead of the ball and turned it over from close range.
Tranmere had the ball back at the other end, in the thirty-second minute, where Ironside played the ball back to Ince on the edge of the area, but Ward remained alert to the danger and made a superb save to deny him. The resulting corner coming to nothing.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the thirty-fourth minute, as Whitaker went down inside the area. Ironside stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Ward was on hand to keep the Saddlers on level terms, also saving the follow-up from Whitaker, tipping the ball onto the post before gathering.
James Connolly became the second player to see his name added to the referee's notebook during the awarding of the penalty, as he was cautioned for dissent.
Tranmere continued to press, winning a corner in the thirty-eighth minute, as Hancock put the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Ince fired over.
The Saddlers soon had the ball at the other end, where Pressley crossed the ball into the box for Dallas, whose shot on goal sailed high and wide of the target.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the forty-third minute, allowing Vaulks to receive some attention from the Tranmere medics. He was soon back up though and play resumed.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
HALF-TIME
| TRANMERE | 0-0 | WALSALL |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just one minute in, as Joel Senior turned the ball behind. Simper swung the ball in from the flag-kick, for Connolly, whose header goal-wards sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Tranmere went close at the other end, three minutes later, as Senior crossed the ball into the area for Whitaker, who failed to find the target with an effort which whistled wide of the post.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything of note, until Tranmere won a free-kick in the fifty-sixth minute, from which Ince fired goal-wards, drawing another save from Ward.
Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the fifty-eighth minute, as Sven Sprangler made way for Tai Sodje.
The hosts won another corner moments after the change was completed, but a foul in the box saw Walsall come away with the ball.
With sixty-one minutes on the clock, Rovers opted to make their first change of the game, as Joe Ironside made way for Dylan Jones.
The Saddlers could have taken the lead moments after the Tranmere change, as Elicha Ahui crossed the ball into the box for Dallas, who forced a fine save from Rovers 'keeper, Harrison Male to keep the scores level.
The visitors continued to press, going close again in the sixty-fifth minute, as Hancock crossed the ball onto the head of Sodje, who narrowly missed the target.
The home side won a corner up at the other end, in the sixty-sixth minute, as Isaac Moore turned a Jones effort behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, or the one which followed.
The hosts almost caught Walsall out, in the seventy-first minute, but the fast break culminated in Ince firing inches wide of the upright from outside the area.
Seventy-two minutes into the contest, Rovers opted to make a second change to their line-up, with Zane Okoro departing, as Jordan Davies joined the fray.
Tranmere won a corner in the seventy-third minute, as Sodje turned the ball behind. Vaulks swung the ball in from the flag-kick, finding Faulkner, who headed home to open the scoring.
Walsall responded to the goal by making a double change to their line-up, in the seventy-first minute, with Elicha Ahui and Andy Dallas making way for Ryan Leak and Albert Adomah.
The hosts could have doubled their advantage, in the seventy-ninth minute, as Slater crossed the ball into the box for Jones, whose strike goal-wards was well saved by Ward.
Isaac Moore joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, in the eighty-second minute, following a foul on Ince.
Things settled a little after that, with little action of note before Walsall opted to make another change to their line-up, in the eighty-seventh minute, as Lewis Simper made way for Will Etheridge.
A double change followed two minutes later for the hosts, who replaced Charlie Whitaker and Tom Conlon with Lee O'Connor and Sam Finley.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, and Walsall needed just one of them to level the scores, as the recently introduced Etheridge played the ball in for Smith, whose strike from the centre of the box found the bottom corner.
The Saddlers won a late corner, four minutes into those added, as Vaulks turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it as the hosts' defence stood firm.
That would prove to be the final action of note, with Walsall's late goal proving to be enough to see the spoils shared as the game ended with the scores tied at one-goal-apiece.
Tranmere went close at the other end, three minutes later, as Senior crossed the ball into the area for Whitaker, who failed to find the target with an effort which whistled wide of the post.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything of note, until Tranmere won a free-kick in the fifty-sixth minute, from which Ince fired goal-wards, drawing another save from Ward.
Walsall chose to make their first change of the afternoon, in the fifty-eighth minute, as Sven Sprangler made way for Tai Sodje.
The hosts won another corner moments after the change was completed, but a foul in the box saw Walsall come away with the ball.
With sixty-one minutes on the clock, Rovers opted to make their first change of the game, as Joe Ironside made way for Dylan Jones.
The Saddlers could have taken the lead moments after the Tranmere change, as Elicha Ahui crossed the ball into the box for Dallas, who forced a fine save from Rovers 'keeper, Harrison Male to keep the scores level.
The visitors continued to press, going close again in the sixty-fifth minute, as Hancock crossed the ball onto the head of Sodje, who narrowly missed the target.
The home side won a corner up at the other end, in the sixty-sixth minute, as Isaac Moore turned a Jones effort behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, or the one which followed.
The hosts almost caught Walsall out, in the seventy-first minute, but the fast break culminated in Ince firing inches wide of the upright from outside the area.
Seventy-two minutes into the contest, Rovers opted to make a second change to their line-up, with Zane Okoro departing, as Jordan Davies joined the fray.
Tranmere won a corner in the seventy-third minute, as Sodje turned the ball behind. Vaulks swung the ball in from the flag-kick, finding Faulkner, who headed home to open the scoring.
Walsall responded to the goal by making a double change to their line-up, in the seventy-first minute, with Elicha Ahui and Andy Dallas making way for Ryan Leak and Albert Adomah.
The hosts could have doubled their advantage, in the seventy-ninth minute, as Slater crossed the ball into the box for Jones, whose strike goal-wards was well saved by Ward.
Isaac Moore joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, in the eighty-second minute, following a foul on Ince.
Things settled a little after that, with little action of note before Walsall opted to make another change to their line-up, in the eighty-seventh minute, as Lewis Simper made way for Will Etheridge.
A double change followed two minutes later for the hosts, who replaced Charlie Whitaker and Tom Conlon with Lee O'Connor and Sam Finley.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, and Walsall needed just one of them to level the scores, as the recently introduced Etheridge played the ball in for Smith, whose strike from the centre of the box found the bottom corner.
The Saddlers won a late corner, four minutes into those added, as Vaulks turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it as the hosts' defence stood firm.
That would prove to be the final action of note, with Walsall's late goal proving to be enough to see the spoils shared as the game ended with the scores tied at one-goal-apiece.
FULL-TIME
| TRANMERE | 1-1 | WALSALL |
| FAULKNER (73') | SMITH (90+1') |
| AT | PRENTON PARK |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN PARKINSON |
