Walsall Under-18s were back in action on Thursday evening as they welcomed Solihull Moors Under-18s to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for a clash in the First Round of the 2026/27 FA Youth Cup.WALSALL TEAM
Fraser Hamilton-Wright, Zion Tuitt, Levi Wain, Jude Worrall, Sam Oliver, Ellis Harris, Ethan Khan, Archie Bunn, Vas Vreto, Ryan Sjoerdsma, Ayden Bills
Subs: Riley Clowes-Elson, Olly Nash, Noah Bowes, Finn Batham, Samuel Griffiths, Younusa Kanyi, Lincoln Hunt
Walsall made it to the Second Round of last season's competition, ultimately succumbing to Wigan Athletic after defeating AFC Dunstable in the First Round, whilst opponents Solihull were shocked by Boldmere St. Michaels in the Third Round of qualifying.
This season's competition looked to be heading in the right direction for the young Saddlers, as the match reached the midway point of the first-half when long-serving midfielder Jude Worrall put his side into the lead.
The game, however, reached the half-time break all-square as the visitors were able to draw level with a round three minutes of the opening forty-five still to play. Fraser Hamilton-Wright unable to retain his clean sheet.
Walsall wasted little time in getting themselves back into the lead when second-year scholar Sam Oliver put the ball into the Moors' net after just a couple of minutes of the second-half on the clock.
The Saddlers' lead was once again erased by their opponents when the travelling Moors equalised with seventeen minutes of the second half still to play, Walsall unable to deny their determined opponents in front of goal.
And the match looked to be going the way of the visitors when they put themselves in the lead for the first-time late in the half, but Walsall would go on to level deep into stoppage time when Olly Nash scored with the last kick of the game.
The match went to extra time, and it looked like the game was heading to a penalty shoot-out without any further goals, however Walsall looked to be heading through when defender Zion Tuitt scored after around minutes of extra time, only for the Moors to level minutes later.
A penalty shoot-out was needed to separate the sides, and it would ultimately be the visitors who would book their place in the next round by seven penalties to six. Walsall's successful spot-kicks coming via Olly Nash, Sam Oliver, Ryan Sjoerdsma, Sam Griffiths, Ayden Bills, and Zion Tuitt, whilst Noah Bowes, Lincoln Hunt, Ellis Harris, and Fraser Hamilton-Wright were all thwarted.
FULL-TIME - AET
| WALSALL | 4-4 | SOLIHULL |
| 6 | PENALTIES | 7 |
WORRALL (20') OLIVER (48') OLIVER (90+6') TUITT (111') |
|
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | RICHARD WALKER |
