Walsall were back in action on Saturday afternoon when they welcomed Port Vale to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for a League Two clash.Port Vale got the match underway, but it was Walsall who started the brighter of the two sides, winning a free-kick just one minute into the contest, from which a Mason Hancock found Tai Sodje inside the box, though the strikers effort on goal was blocked.
The visiting side created their first chance of the afternoon in the fourth minute, as Ben Garrity headed the ball on for Kyle Dempsey, whose effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, where Isaac Moore crossed to Hancock, whose strike from the edge of the area sailed narrowly over the bar.
The hosts continued to press, winning a corner in the eighth minute, as Lewis Montsma turned the ball wide, though nothing would come of the set-piece as Antony Evans ball in was fired over by Sven Sprangler.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as play continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
The game was paused briefly in the sixteenth minute, allowing the Walsall medics to check on an injured Antony Evans. It was soon determined he would be unable to continue, and Lewis Simper was introduced in his place.
Sven Sprangler became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Oliver Lynch, in the twenty-seventh minute.
Port Vale could have opened the scoring in the twenty-eighth minute, as Dempsey played the ball through for Ben Waine, whose strike from outside the box looked good, but Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward was alert to the danger and parried the effort away from goal.
Play was paused again, in the thirty-fourth minute, allowing Lynch to receive some attention from the Vale medics. He was soon able to continue, and play resumed.
The visiting side went on to win a free-kick in a dangerous position moments after the restart, from which the ball eventually found its way to Kyle John, whose header goal-wards was parried by Ward, before Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel fired over.
Elicha Ahui joined Sprangler in the referee's notebook, in the fortieth minute, as he was cautioned for dissent after kicking the ball away.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, just as the visitors won a corner. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, as they ran the ball out of play.
Walsall won a corner at the other end, five minutes into those added, as Lawrence-Gabriel turned the ball behind. Courtney Clarke swung the ball in from the flag-kick, and James Connolly got the deftest of touches to see the ball home, giving the Saddlers a one-goal-to-nil lead as the sides headed into the break.
The visiting side created their first chance of the afternoon in the fourth minute, as Ben Garrity headed the ball on for Kyle Dempsey, whose effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, where Isaac Moore crossed to Hancock, whose strike from the edge of the area sailed narrowly over the bar.
The hosts continued to press, winning a corner in the eighth minute, as Lewis Montsma turned the ball wide, though nothing would come of the set-piece as Antony Evans ball in was fired over by Sven Sprangler.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as play continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
The game was paused briefly in the sixteenth minute, allowing the Walsall medics to check on an injured Antony Evans. It was soon determined he would be unable to continue, and Lewis Simper was introduced in his place.
Sven Sprangler became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Oliver Lynch, in the twenty-seventh minute.
Port Vale could have opened the scoring in the twenty-eighth minute, as Dempsey played the ball through for Ben Waine, whose strike from outside the box looked good, but Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward was alert to the danger and parried the effort away from goal.
Play was paused again, in the thirty-fourth minute, allowing Lynch to receive some attention from the Vale medics. He was soon able to continue, and play resumed.
The visiting side went on to win a free-kick in a dangerous position moments after the restart, from which the ball eventually found its way to Kyle John, whose header goal-wards was parried by Ward, before Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel fired over.
Elicha Ahui joined Sprangler in the referee's notebook, in the fortieth minute, as he was cautioned for dissent after kicking the ball away.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, just as the visitors won a corner. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, as they ran the ball out of play.
Walsall won a corner at the other end, five minutes into those added, as Lawrence-Gabriel turned the ball behind. Courtney Clarke swung the ball in from the flag-kick, and James Connolly got the deftest of touches to see the ball home, giving the Saddlers a one-goal-to-nil lead as the sides headed into the break.
HALF-TIME
| SADDLERS | 1-0 | VALIANTS |
Oliver Lynch's first-half injury caught up with him, and he was amongst the players returning for the second-half, with Max Watters taking his place.
Play was paused briefly just three minutes into the second period, allowing Connolly to receive attention after being caught on the back of the head by the swinging fist of Maroši. He was soon found to be fine to continue, and play resumed.
James Connolly then joined those already playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card, apparently for not waiting the designated amount of time before re-entering the field of play.
Kyle Dempsey was then shown the yellow card in the fifty-first minute, following a foul on Moore.
The hosts looked to add to their tally, in the fifty-third minute, but Moore's strike was blocked by Connor Hall, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position, in the fifty-seventh minute; Hancock curled the ball in from the set-piece, forcing Maroši to tip the ball over. The resulting corner coming to nothing.
Port Vale opted to make a triple change in the sixty-first minute, with George Byers, Ben Waine and Kyle Dempsey making way as Onel Hernández, George Hall and Rhys Walters joined the fray.
The hosts continued to press after the changes were completed, and could have added to their tally in the sixty-fourth minute, as Simper crossed the ball in for Reece Smith, but the number eleven was unable to find the target, sending his effort high and wide.
Vale won a corner at the other end, moments later, as Ahui turned the ball behind, but they were unable to make it count.
Walsall chose to make a second change to their line-up, twenty minutes from time, with Tai Sodje making way for Andy Dallas.
The hosts won a corner moments after the change, as Lawrence-Gabriel put the ball behind, but nothing would come of it as Hancock's initial effort was blocked, before Dallas' close range follow-up effort was kept out by Maroši.
The visiting side opted to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon in the seventy-third minute, as Kyle John made way for Jasper Moon.
Ten minutes from time, the visitors looked to restore parity, but Garrity's effort from outside the box sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Ben Garrity joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-fourth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Moore.
Walsall opted to make their final changes of the afternoon, five minutes from time, with Courtney Clarke and Reece Smith making way for Albert Adomah and Charlie Crew.
With eighty-nine minutes on the clock, Walsall all but put the game to bed, as Ahui laid the ball off for Dallas, who opened his Walsall account with a beautiful strike from the edge of the box, into the top corner.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Jasper Moon joined those playing on a caution, as he was booked for a foul on Simper.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil.
Play was paused briefly just three minutes into the second period, allowing Connolly to receive attention after being caught on the back of the head by the swinging fist of Maroši. He was soon found to be fine to continue, and play resumed.
James Connolly then joined those already playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card, apparently for not waiting the designated amount of time before re-entering the field of play.
Kyle Dempsey was then shown the yellow card in the fifty-first minute, following a foul on Moore.
The hosts looked to add to their tally, in the fifty-third minute, but Moore's strike was blocked by Connor Hall, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall won a free-kick in a promising position, in the fifty-seventh minute; Hancock curled the ball in from the set-piece, forcing Maroši to tip the ball over. The resulting corner coming to nothing.
Port Vale opted to make a triple change in the sixty-first minute, with George Byers, Ben Waine and Kyle Dempsey making way as Onel Hernández, George Hall and Rhys Walters joined the fray.
The hosts continued to press after the changes were completed, and could have added to their tally in the sixty-fourth minute, as Simper crossed the ball in for Reece Smith, but the number eleven was unable to find the target, sending his effort high and wide.
Vale won a corner at the other end, moments later, as Ahui turned the ball behind, but they were unable to make it count.
Walsall chose to make a second change to their line-up, twenty minutes from time, with Tai Sodje making way for Andy Dallas.
The hosts won a corner moments after the change, as Lawrence-Gabriel put the ball behind, but nothing would come of it as Hancock's initial effort was blocked, before Dallas' close range follow-up effort was kept out by Maroši.
The visiting side opted to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon in the seventy-third minute, as Kyle John made way for Jasper Moon.
Ten minutes from time, the visitors looked to restore parity, but Garrity's effort from outside the box sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Ben Garrity joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-fourth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Moore.
Walsall opted to make their final changes of the afternoon, five minutes from time, with Courtney Clarke and Reece Smith making way for Albert Adomah and Charlie Crew.
With eighty-nine minutes on the clock, Walsall all but put the game to bed, as Ahui laid the ball off for Dallas, who opened his Walsall account with a beautiful strike from the edge of the box, into the top corner.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Jasper Moon joined those playing on a caution, as he was booked for a foul on Simper.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil.
FULL-TIME
| SADDLERS | 2-0 | VALIANTS |
CONNOLLY (45+5') DALLAS (89') |
|
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JAMES OLDHAM |
