Walsall's 2026/27 Emirates FA Cup campaign got underway on Saturday afternoon as they took on League Two rivals Newport County in the First Round at Rodney Parade.Following a minute of silence in remembrance, Newport County got the action underway. The hosts began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in the fourth minute, from which the ball was played in to Lee Jenkins close to goal, but the defenders headed effort was saved by Walsall shot-stopper, Jed Ward.
The hosts continued to press, with Harrison Biggins firing goal-wards from the edge of the area, in the sixth minute, but Ward remained alert to the danger and made the save.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Walsall took the lead, as an Aaron Pressley header fell to Andy Dallas, who turned the ball home.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Courtney Clarke seeing an effort from outside the box saved by County 'keeper, Jordan Wright, in the ninth minute.
Newport looked to level the scores in the fourteenth minute, with Kion Etete seeing an effort blocked, before a Ciarán Brennan strike was turned behind by Sven Sprangler, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
With nineteen minutes on the clock, the hosts levelled, as Ciarán Brennan crossed the ball into the box for Kion Etete, whose strike found the top corner.
The hosts won a free-kick in a dangerous area, three minutes after the goal was scored, as Simper fouled Biggins. Michael Adu-Poku's initial effort was blocked by Simper, but his rebound strike found the target, putting his side ahead.
There was a brief pause in proceedings in the twenty-fourth minute, allowing Yahya Bamba to receive some attention, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Charlie Crew became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Bamba, in the twenty-eighth minute.
Walsall manager, Lee Grant became the recipient of a yellow card, as we reached the half hour mark, as he was cautioned following an argument between the two benches.
The Saddlers could have restored parity in the thirty-sixth minute, after some fine work from Clarke saw him beat three Newport players and play the ball across the face of goal, but unfortunately, none of his teammates were able to get a touch to turn it home.
The visitors continued to press, with Sprangler playing the ball in for Ryan Leak, in the thirty-eighth minute, but the defenders header was weak and easily saved by Wright.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with little action of note.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, four minutes into which, Dallas saw a headed effort sail over the crossbar.
The hosts continued to press, with Harrison Biggins firing goal-wards from the edge of the area, in the sixth minute, but Ward remained alert to the danger and made the save.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Walsall took the lead, as an Aaron Pressley header fell to Andy Dallas, who turned the ball home.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Courtney Clarke seeing an effort from outside the box saved by County 'keeper, Jordan Wright, in the ninth minute.
Newport looked to level the scores in the fourteenth minute, with Kion Etete seeing an effort blocked, before a Ciarán Brennan strike was turned behind by Sven Sprangler, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
With nineteen minutes on the clock, the hosts levelled, as Ciarán Brennan crossed the ball into the box for Kion Etete, whose strike found the top corner.
The hosts won a free-kick in a dangerous area, three minutes after the goal was scored, as Simper fouled Biggins. Michael Adu-Poku's initial effort was blocked by Simper, but his rebound strike found the target, putting his side ahead.
There was a brief pause in proceedings in the twenty-fourth minute, allowing Yahya Bamba to receive some attention, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Charlie Crew became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Bamba, in the twenty-eighth minute.
Walsall manager, Lee Grant became the recipient of a yellow card, as we reached the half hour mark, as he was cautioned following an argument between the two benches.
The Saddlers could have restored parity in the thirty-sixth minute, after some fine work from Clarke saw him beat three Newport players and play the ball across the face of goal, but unfortunately, none of his teammates were able to get a touch to turn it home.
The visitors continued to press, with Sprangler playing the ball in for Ryan Leak, in the thirty-eighth minute, but the defenders header was weak and easily saved by Wright.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with little action of note.
Five additional minutes were added to end the first-half, four minutes into which, Dallas saw a headed effort sail over the crossbar.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Newport leading by two-goals-to-one.
HALF-TIME
| COUNTY | 2-1 | SADDLERS |
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. The game was briefly paused just two minutes after the restart, allowing one of the linesmen to receive medical assistance, but he was soon ready to continue, and play restarted.
The second-half got off to a slow start, with both sides enjoying spells of possession without creating anything of note, until Declan Skura saw a fifty-fourth minute strike from outside the area saved, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Elicha Ahui headed over.
Newport opted to make their first change of the game, in the fifty-sixth minute, as Michael Adu-Poku made way for Aaron Lewis.
Despite missing the match through late injury, Mason Hancock joined those in receipt of a yellow card, as he was cautioned for time wasting, in the fifty-ninth minute.
As we reached the hour mark, County bagged a third, as they won a free-kick, which was half-cleared, before Jenkins played it back in for Etete, whose initial strike hit the woodwork and bounced back out to him, allowing the unmarked striker to tap home.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution in the sixty-third minute, with Lewis Simper, Andy Dallas and Charlie Crew departing, as Reece Smith, Tai Sodje and Isaac Moore joined the fray.
Play was paused in the sixty-fifth minute, allowing Clarke to receive some attention from the Walsall medics, it took several minutes, but he was fortunately able to rejoin the action.
Things remained settled, until the hosts looked to add to their tally in the seventieth minute, as former Saddler, Cameron Norman crossed the ball towards the back post for Thomas Davies, but the Saddlers defences stood firm and cleared the danger.
With seventy-six minutes on the clock, the Walsall bench chose to introduce more fresh legs as they looked to back into the game, with Aaron Pressley making way for Albert Adomah.
Walsall almost pulled a goal back in the seventy-eighth minute, as Moore delivered the ball to the back post, where Sodje was waiting to head goal-wards, but Wright was well positioned and made the save.
Newport opted to make their second change of the afternoon in the seventy-ninth minute, with Cameron Norman making way for Joe Thomas.
The hosts won a free-kick, ten minutes from time, from which Dan Sassi headed goal-wards, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of Ward's upright.
The game settled again after that, with the only action of note, an eighty-seventh minute shot from Sodje which was saved by Wright, shortly before Clarke saw an effort blocked.
Reece Smith joined those on a yellow card, in the eighty-eighth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Bamba.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, County chose to make all three of their available changes, with Matt Smith, Yahya Bamba and Kion Etete making way for Cameron Evans, Shaquille Gwengwe and James Crole.
Nine additional minutes were added to end the match, as Walsall made another alteration to their side, with Courtney Clarke making way for Ryan Sjoerdsma.
Five minutes into those added, Crole spotted Ward off his line, and attempted to take advantage from inside his own half, but the effort lacked power, allowing the shot-stopper to get back in time to make the save.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the game was brought to its conclusion with Newport winning by three-goals-to-one. Walsall departing the FA Cup at the first time of asking.
The second-half got off to a slow start, with both sides enjoying spells of possession without creating anything of note, until Declan Skura saw a fifty-fourth minute strike from outside the area saved, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Elicha Ahui headed over.
Newport opted to make their first change of the game, in the fifty-sixth minute, as Michael Adu-Poku made way for Aaron Lewis.
Despite missing the match through late injury, Mason Hancock joined those in receipt of a yellow card, as he was cautioned for time wasting, in the fifty-ninth minute.
As we reached the hour mark, County bagged a third, as they won a free-kick, which was half-cleared, before Jenkins played it back in for Etete, whose initial strike hit the woodwork and bounced back out to him, allowing the unmarked striker to tap home.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution in the sixty-third minute, with Lewis Simper, Andy Dallas and Charlie Crew departing, as Reece Smith, Tai Sodje and Isaac Moore joined the fray.
Play was paused in the sixty-fifth minute, allowing Clarke to receive some attention from the Walsall medics, it took several minutes, but he was fortunately able to rejoin the action.
Things remained settled, until the hosts looked to add to their tally in the seventieth minute, as former Saddler, Cameron Norman crossed the ball towards the back post for Thomas Davies, but the Saddlers defences stood firm and cleared the danger.
With seventy-six minutes on the clock, the Walsall bench chose to introduce more fresh legs as they looked to back into the game, with Aaron Pressley making way for Albert Adomah.
Walsall almost pulled a goal back in the seventy-eighth minute, as Moore delivered the ball to the back post, where Sodje was waiting to head goal-wards, but Wright was well positioned and made the save.
Newport opted to make their second change of the afternoon in the seventy-ninth minute, with Cameron Norman making way for Joe Thomas.
The hosts won a free-kick, ten minutes from time, from which Dan Sassi headed goal-wards, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of Ward's upright.
The game settled again after that, with the only action of note, an eighty-seventh minute shot from Sodje which was saved by Wright, shortly before Clarke saw an effort blocked.
Reece Smith joined those on a yellow card, in the eighty-eighth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Bamba.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, County chose to make all three of their available changes, with Matt Smith, Yahya Bamba and Kion Etete making way for Cameron Evans, Shaquille Gwengwe and James Crole.
Nine additional minutes were added to end the match, as Walsall made another alteration to their side, with Courtney Clarke making way for Ryan Sjoerdsma.
Five minutes into those added, Crole spotted Ward off his line, and attempted to take advantage from inside his own half, but the effort lacked power, allowing the shot-stopper to get back in time to make the save.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the game was brought to its conclusion with Newport winning by three-goals-to-one. Walsall departing the FA Cup at the first time of asking.
FULL-TIME
| COUNTY | 3-1 | SADDLERS |
ETETE (19') ADU-POKU (23') ETETE (60') |
DALLAS (7')
|
| AT | RODNEY PARADE |
| REFEREE | ROBERT MASSEY-ELLIS |
