Walsall's Jersey Mike's Trophy campaign resumed on Tuesday evening when they welcomed Fulham Under-21s to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium for their latest group game.After being thrashed 6-1 by League One Stevenage in their opening Southern Group B outing last month, Lee Grant's side had much to prove as they took on younger opposition.
Walsall got the action underway, but there was a stoppage in play just three minutes in, allowing debutant, Ryan Sjoerdsma to receive attention from the Walsall medics, following a coming together with Nazim Benchaita. It was soon determined that he would be fine to continue, and play resumed.
The hosts created the first half-chance of the evening, nine minutes in, but after driving into the box, Albert Adomah passed the ball to Sjoerdsma, when he probably should have looked to find the target himself, with the youngster unable to control.
The Saddlers continued to press, with James Furlong crossing the ball in for Will Etheridge, in the twelfth minute, but the midfielder was unable to find the target.
The home side went closer in the sixteenth minute, when Rico Browne played the ball to Courtney Clarke, who tried his luck from outside the box, only narrowly missing the target as the ball curled inches over the crossbar.
Walsall won the first corner of the game two minutes after that, as Bradley Slade turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the set-piece.
Fulham began to grow into the game, creating their first chance of the evening in the twenty-first minute, as Chibby Nwoko played the ball to Alfie White, whose strike from outside the box was blocked.
With twenty-five minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opened the scoring, as Clarke played the ball through for Tai Sodje, who slotted home from a tight angle to secure his first goal in a Walsall shirt.
Five minutes later, Sodje added a second goal to his Walsall account, as a cross from Furlong found Elicha Ahui, whose headed effort was blocked by Logan Cooke, only for the Saddlers number seven to poke the ball over the line from close range.
Sodje looked to add a third, in the thirty-seventh minute, as he latched onto a ball from Clarke, but his effort from close range trickled wide of the post.
Fulham saw more of the ball as play continued, though they were unable to create anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Things remained settled, until Furlong raced forwards with the ball, in the forty-fourth minute, before firing home from just outside the area to secure his first goal in Walsall colours, and take his side's tally for the night to three.
The hosts were soon back on the attack, with Clarke narrowly missing the target with a curling effort from just outside the area, which sailed inches over the crossbar.
Three 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 Walsall leading by three-goals-to-nil at the break.
The hosts created the first half-chance of the evening, nine minutes in, but after driving into the box, Albert Adomah passed the ball to Sjoerdsma, when he probably should have looked to find the target himself, with the youngster unable to control.
The Saddlers continued to press, with James Furlong crossing the ball in for Will Etheridge, in the twelfth minute, but the midfielder was unable to find the target.
The home side went closer in the sixteenth minute, when Rico Browne played the ball to Courtney Clarke, who tried his luck from outside the box, only narrowly missing the target as the ball curled inches over the crossbar.
Walsall won the first corner of the game two minutes after that, as Bradley Slade turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the set-piece.
Fulham began to grow into the game, creating their first chance of the evening in the twenty-first minute, as Chibby Nwoko played the ball to Alfie White, whose strike from outside the box was blocked.
With twenty-five minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opened the scoring, as Clarke played the ball through for Tai Sodje, who slotted home from a tight angle to secure his first goal in a Walsall shirt.
Five minutes later, Sodje added a second goal to his Walsall account, as a cross from Furlong found Elicha Ahui, whose headed effort was blocked by Logan Cooke, only for the Saddlers number seven to poke the ball over the line from close range.
Sodje looked to add a third, in the thirty-seventh minute, as he latched onto a ball from Clarke, but his effort from close range trickled wide of the post.
Fulham saw more of the ball as play continued, though they were unable to create anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Things remained settled, until Furlong raced forwards with the ball, in the forty-fourth minute, before firing home from just outside the area to secure his first goal in Walsall colours, and take his side's tally for the night to three.
The hosts were soon back on the attack, with Clarke narrowly missing the target with a curling effort from just outside the area, which sailed inches over the crossbar.
Three 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 Walsall leading by three-goals-to-nil at the break.
HALF-TIME
| HOME | 3-0 | AWAY |
Fulham opted to make two changes as the teams returned, with Seth Chingwaro and Markuss Gomins sitting out the second-half, as their places were filled by Jose Sani and Archie Taylor, as the visitors got the second forty-five underway.
The visiting side began the second-half brightly, with Bradley Slade crossing the ball to Dan Casey inside the area, moments after the restart, but the effort on goal sailed wide of the target.
Slade was involved again, four minutes later, as he played the ball to White, whose strike from outside the box sailed mere inches wide of the upright.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Sjoerdsma looked to play in Clarke, whose effort from outside the box drew a good save from Fulham 'keeper, Michael Allen.
Nine minutes into the half, Fulham pulled a goal back, as Casey saw an effort on goal saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Tom Wooster, before Jonah Kusi-Asare turned home the rebound from close range.
Fulham were forced to make another change to their line-up, in the fifty-seventh minute, as Chibby Nwoko was unable to continue, with Lewis Konadu-Wall taking his place.
As we reached the hour mark, Fulham found themselves in position to pull a second goal back, but after some good build-up play, Benchaita fired over the bar from outside the area.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution in the sixty-first minute, with Charlie Crew, Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah making way, as Sven Sprangler, Jaden Kandemiri and Lewis Simper joining the fray.
The Saddlers began to enjoy a brighter spell after the changes were completed, seeing more of the ball, and winning a corner in the sixty-fourth minute, as Logan Cooke turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Sjoerdsma fired wide from distance.
Seventy-one minutes into the contest, Fulham pulled a second goal back, as Slade played the ball out to Casey, who fired a superb curling effort past Wooster from outside the area.
Walsall responded to the goal by making their final two changes of the game, in the seventy-fourth minute, with Ryan Sjoerdsma and Elicha Ahui making way for Aaron Pressley and Andrew Harris.
Fulham could have levelled the scores, in the seventy-sixth minute, as the ball was played to Casey, whose effort on goal was well saved by Wooster, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Bradley Slade became the first player to see yellow, in the seventy-eighth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Kandemiri.
The visiting side continued to press, with Macaulay Zepa playing the ball to Casey, in the seventy-ninth minute, with the midfielder winning another corner for his side as Harrison Burke blocked his effort, though nothing would come of the set-piece.
Logan Cooke joined Slade in the referee's notebook, in the eighty-first minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Pressley.
Walsall began to see more of the ball again after that, with Sprangler going close with an effort from outside the box in the eighty-second minute, before Sodje fired narrowly over from the edge of the area, two minutes later.
Fulham opted to their final two changes of the evening, five minutes from time, with Jonah Kusi-Asare and Dan Casey making way for Tom Olyott and Maddox Zaidan-Jones.
Zaidan-Jones was quick to get involved in the action, firing an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area, in the eighty-eighth minute.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Fulham won a corner as Burke turned the ball behind, though a fine save from Wooster ensured nothing would come of the set-piece.
Another Fulham corner followed moments later, as Simper turned the ball behind, but the Saddlers defences stood firm once more, allowing the hosts to work the ball up to the other end, where Simper drew a fine save from Allen.
That would prove to be the final action of note, with the Saddlers able to see out the final few moments with their slender lead intact. Walsall winning by three-goals-to-two.
The visiting side began the second-half brightly, with Bradley Slade crossing the ball to Dan Casey inside the area, moments after the restart, but the effort on goal sailed wide of the target.
Slade was involved again, four minutes later, as he played the ball to White, whose strike from outside the box sailed mere inches wide of the upright.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Sjoerdsma looked to play in Clarke, whose effort from outside the box drew a good save from Fulham 'keeper, Michael Allen.
Nine minutes into the half, Fulham pulled a goal back, as Casey saw an effort on goal saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Tom Wooster, before Jonah Kusi-Asare turned home the rebound from close range.
Fulham were forced to make another change to their line-up, in the fifty-seventh minute, as Chibby Nwoko was unable to continue, with Lewis Konadu-Wall taking his place.
As we reached the hour mark, Fulham found themselves in position to pull a second goal back, but after some good build-up play, Benchaita fired over the bar from outside the area.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution in the sixty-first minute, with Charlie Crew, Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah making way, as Sven Sprangler, Jaden Kandemiri and Lewis Simper joining the fray.
The Saddlers began to enjoy a brighter spell after the changes were completed, seeing more of the ball, and winning a corner in the sixty-fourth minute, as Logan Cooke turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Sjoerdsma fired wide from distance.
Seventy-one minutes into the contest, Fulham pulled a second goal back, as Slade played the ball out to Casey, who fired a superb curling effort past Wooster from outside the area.
Walsall responded to the goal by making their final two changes of the game, in the seventy-fourth minute, with Ryan Sjoerdsma and Elicha Ahui making way for Aaron Pressley and Andrew Harris.
Fulham could have levelled the scores, in the seventy-sixth minute, as the ball was played to Casey, whose effort on goal was well saved by Wooster, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Bradley Slade became the first player to see yellow, in the seventy-eighth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Kandemiri.
The visiting side continued to press, with Macaulay Zepa playing the ball to Casey, in the seventy-ninth minute, with the midfielder winning another corner for his side as Harrison Burke blocked his effort, though nothing would come of the set-piece.
Logan Cooke joined Slade in the referee's notebook, in the eighty-first minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Pressley.
Walsall began to see more of the ball again after that, with Sprangler going close with an effort from outside the box in the eighty-second minute, before Sodje fired narrowly over from the edge of the area, two minutes later.
Fulham opted to their final two changes of the evening, five minutes from time, with Jonah Kusi-Asare and Dan Casey making way for Tom Olyott and Maddox Zaidan-Jones.
Zaidan-Jones was quick to get involved in the action, firing an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area, in the eighty-eighth minute.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Fulham won a corner as Burke turned the ball behind, though a fine save from Wooster ensured nothing would come of the set-piece.
Another Fulham corner followed moments later, as Simper turned the ball behind, but the Saddlers defences stood firm once more, allowing the hosts to work the ball up to the other end, where Simper drew a fine save from Allen.
That would prove to be the final action of note, with the Saddlers able to see out the final few moments with their slender lead intact. Walsall winning by three-goals-to-two.
FULL-TIME
| HOME | 3-2 | AWAY |
SODJE (25') SODJE (30') FURLONG (44') |
KUSI-ASARE (54') CASEY (71')
|
| AT | STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ALAN YOUNG |
