On Tuesday evening, Walsall Football Club travelled North to take on Morecambe in the first round of this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy competition. You can read our latest match report below.
It was Dean Smith's Walsall that got the game underway, and both sides looked to get the upper-hand and exchanged possession in the early stages.
It was the hosts who won the first corner of the match, but the Shrimps couldn't make use of it as the new look Saddlers defence stood firm to clear the danger.
After eight minutes Walsall's James Baxendale saw an effort tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Roche, the resulting corner was played in dangerously and saw a Lalkovic effort blocked by the home side.
As the half continued the Saddlers looked to establish their passing game, and sought space in midfield. Morecambe enjoyed some time on the ball, but were largely forced back with Walsall pushing forward.
With just under fifteen minutes on the clock, Walsall's Kieron Morris dragged a shot wide of goal following a good passing move between Sam Mantom and Matt Preston in midfield.
Jamie Devitt sent the ball wide of goal after 18 minutes of play, not the greatest effort as the Saddlers defence forced his hand.
As the half reached it's mid-way point, Walsall's Craig MacGillivray was alert to grasp a McGowan cross, either side yet to really test their opposing stopper.
The game continued in fairly scrappy, but combative fashion as Barkhuizen's deep cross finds Fleming but he couldn't force the ball home as the Saddlers defended well.
Soon after, following a good spell of possession, Saddlers left-back Andy Taylor sent in a cross from the wing, which was met by Kieron Morris but he could only volley wide of goal as the scores remained level.
After half-an-hour of play Walsall's Tom Bradshaw saw his first effort on goal saved as 'keeper Roche did well to block the long-range shot.
The two sides traded corners as the game opened up, Craig MacGillivray doing well to save at his near post as Devitt sought an opener for his side, the resulting flag-kick came to nothing as Ryan headed over the bar.
With under ten minutes of the half remaining Tom Bradshaw headed over the bar from a Baxendale cross, yet more nice play from the Saddlers.
Soon after, Milan Lalkovic drove a shot towards goal but saw his effort blocked and cleared as the hosts began to fall back.
Kieron Morris also had an effort on goal, this one was grasped by the 'keeper as the men in blue started to turn the screw.
Milan Lalkovic won the Saddlers a corner as the home 'keeper was forced into action. The flag-kick was poor and cleared.
With around a minute of the half remaining, Walsall captain Adam Chambers sent the ball well wide of goal in a one-on-one situation following nice play from his team-mates.
It was the hosts who won the first corner of the match, but the Shrimps couldn't make use of it as the new look Saddlers defence stood firm to clear the danger.
After eight minutes Walsall's James Baxendale saw an effort tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Roche, the resulting corner was played in dangerously and saw a Lalkovic effort blocked by the home side.
As the half continued the Saddlers looked to establish their passing game, and sought space in midfield. Morecambe enjoyed some time on the ball, but were largely forced back with Walsall pushing forward.
With just under fifteen minutes on the clock, Walsall's Kieron Morris dragged a shot wide of goal following a good passing move between Sam Mantom and Matt Preston in midfield.
Jamie Devitt sent the ball wide of goal after 18 minutes of play, not the greatest effort as the Saddlers defence forced his hand.
As the half reached it's mid-way point, Walsall's Craig MacGillivray was alert to grasp a McGowan cross, either side yet to really test their opposing stopper.
The game continued in fairly scrappy, but combative fashion as Barkhuizen's deep cross finds Fleming but he couldn't force the ball home as the Saddlers defended well.
Soon after, following a good spell of possession, Saddlers left-back Andy Taylor sent in a cross from the wing, which was met by Kieron Morris but he could only volley wide of goal as the scores remained level.
After half-an-hour of play Walsall's Tom Bradshaw saw his first effort on goal saved as 'keeper Roche did well to block the long-range shot.
The two sides traded corners as the game opened up, Craig MacGillivray doing well to save at his near post as Devitt sought an opener for his side, the resulting flag-kick came to nothing as Ryan headed over the bar.
With under ten minutes of the half remaining Tom Bradshaw headed over the bar from a Baxendale cross, yet more nice play from the Saddlers.
Soon after, Milan Lalkovic drove a shot towards goal but saw his effort blocked and cleared as the hosts began to fall back.
Kieron Morris also had an effort on goal, this one was grasped by the 'keeper as the men in blue started to turn the screw.
Milan Lalkovic won the Saddlers a corner as the home 'keeper was forced into action. The flag-kick was poor and cleared.
With around a minute of the half remaining, Walsall captain Adam Chambers sent the ball well wide of goal in a one-on-one situation following nice play from his team-mates.
JOHNSTONE'S PAINT TROPHY - HALF TIME
MORECAMBE 0-0 WALSALL
The hosts got the second half underway and both sides remained unchanged, but it was the Saddlers that enjoyed the better start as they looked to pass the ball around and create openings.
The hosts' opening effort of the game came via Mullin who drove at goal and saw his high, curling effort drop onto the top of Craig MacGillivray's net.
With eight minutes of the half on the clock, both Sam Mantom and Tom Bradshaw had efforts blocked as the home side looked to protect their clean sheet following sloppy play in midfield.
The Saddlers had another good opening through good play from Lalkovic, who found Mantom, Sam's header fell to Bradshaw, but he couldn't send it home as the 'keeper saved.
The Shrimps opened the scoring a few minutes before the hour mark as Jamie Devitt chested the ball down and sent the ball crashing home off the bar. Too much room afforded by the Saddlers.
James Baxendale attempted a chip over the 'keeper but the 'keeper was equal to it as the home side had their tails up. Baxendale's fellow midfielder Sam Mantom also sent the ball in on goal but was thwarted as the 'keeper stood firm.
Baxendale had another shot blocked, and Bradshaw was inches away from a Taylor cross as Walsall sought an equaliser.
As the clock ticked on and Walsall won a corner, Dean Smith decided to roll the dice as Anthony Forde, Romaine Sawyers and Jordan Cook replaced Kieron Morris, James Baxendale and Milan Lalkovic.
Substitute Anthony Forde took the corner, and saw his cross helped on by Bradshaw and edged wide of goal, unlucky for the Saddlers.
Morecambe soon made their first change of the game as Jack Ryan was replaced by Shaun Miller.
Anthony Forde tested the 'keeper's reflexes as he fired a shot on goal, the resulting corner eventually fell for Matt Preston who could only fire at the 'keeper.
As the Saddlers looked to get back into the game,the hosts made another change with Kenyon being replaced by Bailey.
Following a poor Walsall throw the hosts countered and immediately doubled their lead as Barkhuizen broke free and fired home, sloppy from the Saddlers as they looked to be heading out of the competition.
Soon after the goal Barkhuizen sent an effort crashing off the bar as Devitt dragged the rebound wide of goal.
Mullin also had an effort on goal, this was easily grasped by MacGillivray as he was alert to the danger.
At the other end of the field, Walsall's Jordan Cook saw a header go wide of goal following a neat Forde cross.
Tom Bradshaw had a weak left-footed effort saved by the 'keeper, as Walsall failed to make their mark on proceedings.
As Sam Mantom picked up the opening booking of the game, the Saddlers broke from the free kick and worked the ball into the opposition half, Bradshaw headed the ball over the bar from a whipped Kinsella cross.
Goalscorer Barkhuizen was also entered into the referee's book as he kicked the ball away in a silly display of anger.
Barkhuizen continued to be involved as a diving header went wide of goal, the Saddlers having to settle for counter attacks from time-to-time.
Both sides had efforts go wide of goal as the clock ticked down. Morecambe looked to pass the ball around in midfield with the Saddlers having to chase the ball.
As five minutes of added time was displayed, Barkhuizen was replaced by Bondswell for the hosts, the goal scorer had suffered a blow to the face from an Adam Chambers shot.
The Saddlers saw an Anthony Forde free kick rattle the bar late on but were powerless as Morecambe progressed to round 2.
The hosts' opening effort of the game came via Mullin who drove at goal and saw his high, curling effort drop onto the top of Craig MacGillivray's net.
With eight minutes of the half on the clock, both Sam Mantom and Tom Bradshaw had efforts blocked as the home side looked to protect their clean sheet following sloppy play in midfield.
The Saddlers had another good opening through good play from Lalkovic, who found Mantom, Sam's header fell to Bradshaw, but he couldn't send it home as the 'keeper saved.
The Shrimps opened the scoring a few minutes before the hour mark as Jamie Devitt chested the ball down and sent the ball crashing home off the bar. Too much room afforded by the Saddlers.
James Baxendale attempted a chip over the 'keeper but the 'keeper was equal to it as the home side had their tails up. Baxendale's fellow midfielder Sam Mantom also sent the ball in on goal but was thwarted as the 'keeper stood firm.
Baxendale had another shot blocked, and Bradshaw was inches away from a Taylor cross as Walsall sought an equaliser.
As the clock ticked on and Walsall won a corner, Dean Smith decided to roll the dice as Anthony Forde, Romaine Sawyers and Jordan Cook replaced Kieron Morris, James Baxendale and Milan Lalkovic.
Substitute Anthony Forde took the corner, and saw his cross helped on by Bradshaw and edged wide of goal, unlucky for the Saddlers.
Morecambe soon made their first change of the game as Jack Ryan was replaced by Shaun Miller.
Anthony Forde tested the 'keeper's reflexes as he fired a shot on goal, the resulting corner eventually fell for Matt Preston who could only fire at the 'keeper.
As the Saddlers looked to get back into the game,the hosts made another change with Kenyon being replaced by Bailey.
Following a poor Walsall throw the hosts countered and immediately doubled their lead as Barkhuizen broke free and fired home, sloppy from the Saddlers as they looked to be heading out of the competition.
Soon after the goal Barkhuizen sent an effort crashing off the bar as Devitt dragged the rebound wide of goal.
Mullin also had an effort on goal, this was easily grasped by MacGillivray as he was alert to the danger.
At the other end of the field, Walsall's Jordan Cook saw a header go wide of goal following a neat Forde cross.
Tom Bradshaw had a weak left-footed effort saved by the 'keeper, as Walsall failed to make their mark on proceedings.
As Sam Mantom picked up the opening booking of the game, the Saddlers broke from the free kick and worked the ball into the opposition half, Bradshaw headed the ball over the bar from a whipped Kinsella cross.
Goalscorer Barkhuizen was also entered into the referee's book as he kicked the ball away in a silly display of anger.
Barkhuizen continued to be involved as a diving header went wide of goal, the Saddlers having to settle for counter attacks from time-to-time.
Both sides had efforts go wide of goal as the clock ticked down. Morecambe looked to pass the ball around in midfield with the Saddlers having to chase the ball.
As five minutes of added time was displayed, Barkhuizen was replaced by Bondswell for the hosts, the goal scorer had suffered a blow to the face from an Adam Chambers shot.
The Saddlers saw an Anthony Forde free kick rattle the bar late on but were powerless as Morecambe progressed to round 2.
JOHNSTONE'S PAINT TROPHY - RESULT
MORECAMBE 2-0 WALSALL
GOALS | Devitt (57'), Barkhuizen (72')
ATTENDANCE | 1,332 (322 Walsall)
REFEREE | Mr. Sebastian Stockbridge (Tyne & Wear)