On Saturday afternoon Neil Woods' second placed Saddlers played host to league leaders Blackpool in the latest EFL Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season. A brief rundown of the action is below.
Ganley, Tonks, Cockerill-Mollett, Maddocks, Vann, Kendrick, Cairns, Cela, Peters, Shorrock, Freemantle
Thordason; Badu, Newton, Williams, Richards; Robinson, Sumner, Wainwright, Sinclair-Smith; Dunne, Rufus
Sims, Chea, Flynn, Jacobson
Walsall, who defeated Burnley by three-goals-to-nil during their most recent outing, faced off against the undefeated Tangerines who had won five of their opening six league games heading into the match.
The Saddlers got the game underway via Cameron Peters, and after a quiet opening spell where neither side created any chances in front of goal, it was the men in red and black who had the opening opportunities, as following an offside decision involving Ashley Maddocks and Joe Cairns, the latter saw a volley blocked following a strong attacking move.
Both sides had further attacks on goal, and the defences continued to display their strengths, blocking efforts and forcing the ball back up the field.
It was the Saddlers who opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time as, following a well thought out free kick routine, Freemantle found space, controlled the ball on his chest and slotted a half-volley past Thordason in the Blackpool goal, a nice goal as the home side seek to end their opponents' undefeated streak.
The Saddlers got the game underway via Cameron Peters, and after a quiet opening spell where neither side created any chances in front of goal, it was the men in red and black who had the opening opportunities, as following an offside decision involving Ashley Maddocks and Joe Cairns, the latter saw a volley blocked following a strong attacking move.
Both sides had further attacks on goal, and the defences continued to display their strengths, blocking efforts and forcing the ball back up the field.
It was the Saddlers who opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time as, following a well thought out free kick routine, Freemantle found space, controlled the ball on his chest and slotted a half-volley past Thordason in the Blackpool goal, a nice goal as the home side seek to end their opponents' undefeated streak.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE | HALF TIME
WALSALL 1 BLACKPOOL 0
Blackpool got the second half underway, and had a couple of efforts blocked as the sought to get back on level terms.
Shortly after Blackpool's Ben Badu had a deep cross cleared, Walsall's Freemantle saw a couple of efforts drift wide of goal as he sought to add to his first-half strike, the first was a volley which went wide of goal following a nicely controlled bouncing ball. The second came as he cut inside from the left wing but couldn't trouble the 'keeper with his shot.
Blackpool continued to search for an equaliser but were also forced to defend as the hosts looked to extend their lead.
With just under twenty minutes of the game remaining the home side rattled the bar as Tobias Hayles-Docherty was found by a Callum Cockerill-Mollett cross but was unable to score as his effort hit the woodwork.
Walsall would go on to double their lead with around ten minutes of the match remaining as William Shorrock slotted home following Ashley Maddocks' initial effort was saved.
There were no more goals as Walsall went on to secure victory, handing their visitors their first defeat of the campaign.
Shortly after Blackpool's Ben Badu had a deep cross cleared, Walsall's Freemantle saw a couple of efforts drift wide of goal as he sought to add to his first-half strike, the first was a volley which went wide of goal following a nicely controlled bouncing ball. The second came as he cut inside from the left wing but couldn't trouble the 'keeper with his shot.
Blackpool continued to search for an equaliser but were also forced to defend as the hosts looked to extend their lead.
With just under twenty minutes of the game remaining the home side rattled the bar as Tobias Hayles-Docherty was found by a Callum Cockerill-Mollett cross but was unable to score as his effort hit the woodwork.
Walsall would go on to double their lead with around ten minutes of the match remaining as William Shorrock slotted home following Ashley Maddocks' initial effort was saved.
There were no more goals as Walsall went on to secure victory, handing their visitors their first defeat of the campaign.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE | RESULT
WALSALL 2 BLACKPOOL 0
GOALS | Freemantle (44'), Shorrock (79')