Following Saturday afternoon's draw away to Tranmere Rovers, guest reporter Paul Harper shares his Match Report;It was a game of two halves at Prenton Park as Tranmere and the Saddlers played out a 1-1 draw. Milan Lalkovic's first half strike was cancelled out by a Cole Stockton equaliser for Rovers in the second half.
The visitors started the better and had a couple of half chances in the opening quarter of an hour. Romaine Sawyers had a shot from the right edge of the penalty area which flew wide, and after Sawyers had another effort blocked by Rovers centre-back Ash Taylor, Craig Westcarr fired wide of the target.
Walsall took the lead on 19 minutes. Lalkovic received the ball on the halfway line and ran forward unchallenged before unleashing a curling effort from 25 yards past Owain fon Williams into the bottom corner in the net.
Tranmere had their first chance of the game midway through the first half. Andy Robinson was brought down just outside the penalty area and he stepped up to smash a low free-kick which was deflected wide off a Walsall defender.
Fon Williams was called into action to prevent further Walsall goals as Westcarr and Ashley Hemmings both fired efforts his way which he did well to keep out as the visitors went in at the break a goal to the good.
H/T: Tranmere Rovers 0 Walsall 1
The home side came out after the interval much brighter and Ryan Lowe called Richard O'Donnell into action for the first time on 49 minutes when he cut inside from the right and drilled a low shot which was parried by the goalkeeper.
Robinson dragged a shot wide from 20 yards before Matthew Kennedy put over a dangerous cross from the right which the Saddlers defence did well to deal with.
Andy Taylor, returning to Prenton Park after a spell with the Birkenhead club a few years ago, hit the side netting on 73 minutes as Walsall maintained a threat going forward.
Lalkovic was played in behind the Tranmere defence but dragged a shot wide from a tight angle, while Kennedy hit a shot straight at O'Donnell before the scores were levelled on 78 minutes.
Jake Kirby and Liam Ridehalgh linked up well on the Tranmere left, and the latter cut the ball back to Cole Stockton who turned and fired a low shot under O'Donnell's grasp.
The momentum was with the hosts but they couldn't force a winner, but over the course of the 90 minutes, a draw was a fair result.
F/T: Tranmere Rovers 1 (Stockton 78') Walsall 1(Lalkovic 18')
ATT: 4,871
REF: Andy Haines, Tyne & Wear.
By: Paul Harper
You hear Paul along with Matthew Jones on the 'Totally Tranmere' Podcast, you can also read more from Paul on his blog 'Paul Harper - Sports Writer' where he covers a variety of sports from Cycling to Squash and much in-between.