Walsall took a midweek break from league action when they welcomed League One side Stevenage to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium as they faced-off in Southern Group B of this season's EFL Trophy.Both teams began the game brightly, showing promise, but it was Stevenage who saw the first real chance of the evening, as Jordan Houghton crossed the ball into the box for Ben Broggio, whose effort on goal was well saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Tom Wooster.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, but seven minutes in, the visiting side created another half-chance, as Michael Mellon found himself in possession inside the six yard box, but Wooster was on hand to ensure the scores remained level.
Stevenage continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the eleventh minute, as Ryan Leak turned the ball behind. Phoenix Patterson crossed the ball in from the flag-kick, for Kaelan Casey, who headed the ball towards the back post, where Mellon was on hand to tap home and open the scoring.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage just two minutes later, as Mellon looked to turn provider, crossing the ball into the box for Broggio, whose strike from the centre of the box was well saved by Wooster.
Unperturbed, the visiting team continued to press, with Wanya Marçal crossing the ball into the box for Patterson, in the sixteenth minute, though, thankfully for the hosts, he was unable to keep his headed effort on target.
With seventeen minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores, as Albert Adomah held up the ball well and found space to cross to Lewis Simper, who headed home at the near post.
Walsall were forced to make an early change, in the nineteenth minute, as an injured Roman Dixon was unable to continue. Andrew Harris the man to take his place.
The Saddlers could have taken the lead in the twenty-third minute, as Andy Dallas crossed the ball to Adomah, who looked to find the target from outside the area, but narrowly missed.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the twenty-fourth minute, allowing Harrison Burke to receive attention from the Walsall medics after receiving a knock to the back of the head, but it was soon determined that he would be able to continue, and play resumed.
Stevenage restored their earlier lead in the twenty-ninth minute, as Houghton crossed the ball into the box for Marçal, whose strike found the top corner.
Just three minutes later, the visiting side added further to their tally, as Archie Bunn turned the ball behind, gifting them a corner, from which Saxon Earley drew a save from Wooster, before Houghton headed a follow-up effort home from close range.
Things settled a little after that, with Walsall seeing a little more of the ball, but forty-two minutes in, Stevenage added a fourth to their evening's tally, as Mellon beat Wooster with a shot that found the bottom corner from outside the box.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Charlie Crew crossed the ball to Adomah, whose strike from outside the box sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, though there was a little more than that due to a pause in play, allowing Houghton to receive attention from the Stevenage medical team. He was soon back on his feet, and play resumed, though there was little further action of note before the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms. Stevenage leading by four-goals-to-one at the break.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle after that, but seven minutes in, the visiting side created another half-chance, as Michael Mellon found himself in possession inside the six yard box, but Wooster was on hand to ensure the scores remained level.
Stevenage continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the eleventh minute, as Ryan Leak turned the ball behind. Phoenix Patterson crossed the ball in from the flag-kick, for Kaelan Casey, who headed the ball towards the back post, where Mellon was on hand to tap home and open the scoring.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage just two minutes later, as Mellon looked to turn provider, crossing the ball into the box for Broggio, whose strike from the centre of the box was well saved by Wooster.
Unperturbed, the visiting team continued to press, with Wanya Marçal crossing the ball into the box for Patterson, in the sixteenth minute, though, thankfully for the hosts, he was unable to keep his headed effort on target.
With seventeen minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores, as Albert Adomah held up the ball well and found space to cross to Lewis Simper, who headed home at the near post.
Walsall were forced to make an early change, in the nineteenth minute, as an injured Roman Dixon was unable to continue. Andrew Harris the man to take his place.
The Saddlers could have taken the lead in the twenty-third minute, as Andy Dallas crossed the ball to Adomah, who looked to find the target from outside the area, but narrowly missed.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the twenty-fourth minute, allowing Harrison Burke to receive attention from the Walsall medics after receiving a knock to the back of the head, but it was soon determined that he would be able to continue, and play resumed.
Stevenage restored their earlier lead in the twenty-ninth minute, as Houghton crossed the ball into the box for Marçal, whose strike found the top corner.
Just three minutes later, the visiting side added further to their tally, as Archie Bunn turned the ball behind, gifting them a corner, from which Saxon Earley drew a save from Wooster, before Houghton headed a follow-up effort home from close range.
Things settled a little after that, with Walsall seeing a little more of the ball, but forty-two minutes in, Stevenage added a fourth to their evening's tally, as Mellon beat Wooster with a shot that found the bottom corner from outside the box.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Charlie Crew crossed the ball to Adomah, whose strike from outside the box sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, though there was a little more than that due to a pause in play, allowing Houghton to receive attention from the Stevenage medical team. He was soon back on his feet, and play resumed, though there was little further action of note before the sides headed back to their respective dressing rooms. Stevenage leading by four-goals-to-one at the break.
HALF-TIME
| WALSALL | 1-4 | STEVENAGE |
Walsall opted to make a change to their line-up as the sides returned, with goal-scorer, Lewis Simper sitting out the second-half, as Tai Sodje took his place.
Both sides enjoyed early spells on the ball as they settled into the second-half action, but neither were able to create anything of note in the early goings.
The Saddlers showed improvement from the first-half, winning corners in both the fifty-second and fifty-fourth minutes, as Luther James-Wildin turned the ball behind twice, though nothing would come of either set-piece.
However, the Saddlers bright spell was soon brought to an end, as Matt Smith crossed the ball to Mellon, who found the target from a tight angle to secure his hat-trick, and his sides fifth goal of the game.
The Walsall bench opted to make two further changes to their line-up, in the sixty-first minute, as Will Etheridge and Andy Dallas made way for Stan Straw and Ryan Sjoerdsma.
Stevenage added a sixth goal to their tally, in the sixty-third minute, as a long ball found Marçal, who slipped it through for Broggio, who fired into the bottom corner from the centre of the box.
The visiting side chose to make their first change of the evening, in the sixty-seventh minute, as Wanya Marçal made way for Chem Campbell.
Stevenage were forced to make a second change, just four minutes later, as Kaelan Casey was unable to continue, with Alfie Thornett the man to take his place, they also took the opportunity to replace Ben Broggio with Dan Kemp.
The visitors should have added to their goal tally in the seventy-fifth minute, as both Patterson and Kemp saw efforts blocked, with the resulting corners coming to nothing.
Walsall opted to make their fifth and final change of the evening in the seventy-eighth minute, with Archie Bunn making way for Isaac Moore.
Stevenage took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs themselves, with Michael Mellon and Jordan Houghton departing, as Tuğra Turhan and Louis Thompson joined the action.
The visiting side continued to seek more goals as play got back underway, with Patterson forcing a save from Wooster, in the eighty-first minute, with a strike from the left of the box.
Walsall could have pulled a goal back, in the eighty-third minute, as Adomah crossed the ball in for Sjoerdsma, but his header from the centre of the box was blocked.
At the other end, two minutes from time, Turhan hit the post with a shot from a tight angle, after some good work from James-Wildin to get the ball to him.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Adomah saw an effort sail narrowly over the crossbar.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Stevenage winning by six-goals-to-one.
Both sides enjoyed early spells on the ball as they settled into the second-half action, but neither were able to create anything of note in the early goings.
The Saddlers showed improvement from the first-half, winning corners in both the fifty-second and fifty-fourth minutes, as Luther James-Wildin turned the ball behind twice, though nothing would come of either set-piece.
However, the Saddlers bright spell was soon brought to an end, as Matt Smith crossed the ball to Mellon, who found the target from a tight angle to secure his hat-trick, and his sides fifth goal of the game.
The Walsall bench opted to make two further changes to their line-up, in the sixty-first minute, as Will Etheridge and Andy Dallas made way for Stan Straw and Ryan Sjoerdsma.
Stevenage added a sixth goal to their tally, in the sixty-third minute, as a long ball found Marçal, who slipped it through for Broggio, who fired into the bottom corner from the centre of the box.
The visiting side chose to make their first change of the evening, in the sixty-seventh minute, as Wanya Marçal made way for Chem Campbell.
Stevenage were forced to make a second change, just four minutes later, as Kaelan Casey was unable to continue, with Alfie Thornett the man to take his place, they also took the opportunity to replace Ben Broggio with Dan Kemp.
The visitors should have added to their goal tally in the seventy-fifth minute, as both Patterson and Kemp saw efforts blocked, with the resulting corners coming to nothing.
Walsall opted to make their fifth and final change of the evening in the seventy-eighth minute, with Archie Bunn making way for Isaac Moore.
Stevenage took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs themselves, with Michael Mellon and Jordan Houghton departing, as Tuğra Turhan and Louis Thompson joined the action.
The visiting side continued to seek more goals as play got back underway, with Patterson forcing a save from Wooster, in the eighty-first minute, with a strike from the left of the box.
Walsall could have pulled a goal back, in the eighty-third minute, as Adomah crossed the ball in for Sjoerdsma, but his header from the centre of the box was blocked.
At the other end, two minutes from time, Turhan hit the post with a shot from a tight angle, after some good work from James-Wildin to get the ball to him.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Adomah saw an effort sail narrowly over the crossbar.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Stevenage winning by six-goals-to-one.
FULL-TIME
| WALSALL | 1-6 | STEVENAGE |
SIMPER (17')
|
MELLON (11') MARCAL (29') HOUGHTON (32') MELLON (42') MELLON (58') BROGGIO (63') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ROBERT MASSEY-ELLIS |
