Following Tuesday's npower League One defeat to Stevenage, guest Jamie Burgess shares his Match Report;
Walsall headed to The Lamex Stadium to take on play-off semi-finalists Stevenage FC and try to extend their unbeaten run to 6 Games.
The first ten minutes are key in any game and Walsall seemed to get sucked into Stevenage’s long ball policy and was struggling to get the ball on the floor where a youthful saddler’s side would look comfortable.
As the game progressed into later stages of the first half Stevenage were bombarding Walsall with long balls and it was only a matter of time before they capitalized with a Robbie Shroot goal on the 24th Minute, Heads dropped for a moment but as always the young lads in the middle of the park started to pass the ball around and tried to create chances and build some momentum.
HT: Stevenage 1 Walsall 0
The second half began pretty much the same way as against Portsmouth the young Walsall team started playing there game passing the ball left to right making the Stevenage midfield look uneasy.
An unusual early change from manager Dean Smith equalled in Ashley Hemmings being replaced by Will Grigg.
Walsall appeared to go to a 4-4-2 formation they kept pushing attacking the wings. Walsall’s pressure paid off and decisions started going their way for the first time in this game. The Saddlers earned a corner which was cleared only to fall to Jamie Paterson’s feet that drifted in a perfectly weighted cross to meet the head of ever-improving George Bowerman … Goal!!!! Trumpetttttt Celebration
Stevenage 1 – 1 Walsall (Shroot 24’ – Bowerman 59’)
GAME ON…
Walsall kept pushing and creating chances and trying to break down a very strong Stevenage defence our young midfield were working overtime to compete with the bullying of the Stevenage players who seemed much stronger and physical against us and they were getting away with everything...
The dampers hit as Stevenage’s Greg Tansey hit a wonder strike from 30 yards out which leaves an unlucky David Grof picking the ball out of his own net…
Stevenage 2 Walsall 1
The game then turned end to end with no real chances for 5 – 10 minutes, Saddlers manager Dean Smith made two more changes introducing youngster Aaron Williams & Fans favourite Richard Taundry to the mix.
Williams’s first touch of the ball ended up with him attempting a nod on to George Bowerman but once again a physical Stevenage defence shut up shop and Walsall were once again left thinking what to do next.
Time was ticking on and Walsall were still battling in the middle of the park trying to create chances Florent Cuvelier & Nicky Featherstone linking up passing play creating chances to get forward and attack Stevenage’s goal.
5 minutes of normal time to go and Walsall were still working hard for a equaliser battling and battling when Stevenage broke away on an attack of their own only to find the net through winger Lucas Akins, a dubious decision mind when the ball had clearly crossed the line for a throw in never the less the goal was given and Walsall found themselves 3-1 down and still didn’t give up still trying to get something out of the game with less than 3minutes left..
In my opinion there were a lot of poor decisions from the referee and his assistants and with a better official it could have been a different game..
Never mind saddlers chins up and on to the next for our young, passionate side.
FT: Stevenage 3 (Shroot 24’ Tansey 72’ Akins 86’) Walsall 1 (Bowerman 59’)
ATT: 2,634
REF: J. Adcock
By: Jamie Burgess
The first ten minutes are key in any game and Walsall seemed to get sucked into Stevenage’s long ball policy and was struggling to get the ball on the floor where a youthful saddler’s side would look comfortable.
As the game progressed into later stages of the first half Stevenage were bombarding Walsall with long balls and it was only a matter of time before they capitalized with a Robbie Shroot goal on the 24th Minute, Heads dropped for a moment but as always the young lads in the middle of the park started to pass the ball around and tried to create chances and build some momentum.
HT: Stevenage 1 Walsall 0
The second half began pretty much the same way as against Portsmouth the young Walsall team started playing there game passing the ball left to right making the Stevenage midfield look uneasy.
An unusual early change from manager Dean Smith equalled in Ashley Hemmings being replaced by Will Grigg.
Walsall appeared to go to a 4-4-2 formation they kept pushing attacking the wings. Walsall’s pressure paid off and decisions started going their way for the first time in this game. The Saddlers earned a corner which was cleared only to fall to Jamie Paterson’s feet that drifted in a perfectly weighted cross to meet the head of ever-improving George Bowerman … Goal!!!! Trumpetttttt Celebration
Stevenage 1 – 1 Walsall (Shroot 24’ – Bowerman 59’)
GAME ON…
Walsall kept pushing and creating chances and trying to break down a very strong Stevenage defence our young midfield were working overtime to compete with the bullying of the Stevenage players who seemed much stronger and physical against us and they were getting away with everything...
The dampers hit as Stevenage’s Greg Tansey hit a wonder strike from 30 yards out which leaves an unlucky David Grof picking the ball out of his own net…
Stevenage 2 Walsall 1
The game then turned end to end with no real chances for 5 – 10 minutes, Saddlers manager Dean Smith made two more changes introducing youngster Aaron Williams & Fans favourite Richard Taundry to the mix.
Williams’s first touch of the ball ended up with him attempting a nod on to George Bowerman but once again a physical Stevenage defence shut up shop and Walsall were once again left thinking what to do next.
Time was ticking on and Walsall were still battling in the middle of the park trying to create chances Florent Cuvelier & Nicky Featherstone linking up passing play creating chances to get forward and attack Stevenage’s goal.
5 minutes of normal time to go and Walsall were still working hard for a equaliser battling and battling when Stevenage broke away on an attack of their own only to find the net through winger Lucas Akins, a dubious decision mind when the ball had clearly crossed the line for a throw in never the less the goal was given and Walsall found themselves 3-1 down and still didn’t give up still trying to get something out of the game with less than 3minutes left..
In my opinion there were a lot of poor decisions from the referee and his assistants and with a better official it could have been a different game..
Never mind saddlers chins up and on to the next for our young, passionate side.
FT: Stevenage 3 (Shroot 24’ Tansey 72’ Akins 86’) Walsall 1 (Bowerman 59’)
ATT: 2,634
REF: J. Adcock
By: Jamie Burgess