Walsall's Under 18s were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they played host to Tranmere Rovers in the latest EFL Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season.
Caswell; Tonks, Fisher, Cela, Vann (C), Leivesley, Mason, Maddocks, Cairns, Shorrock, O'Sullivan
SUBS | Leak, Dawe, Bates, Fields, Willis
Wharton; Davies, Drysdale, Fleming, Hayde, Kerr, Cringle, Heron, Brett, Croughan, Akpan
SUBS | Passant, Al Hamadi, Thompson, Selkeld
Graham Biggs' side were sat in fourth position ahead of kick-off having won fifteen of their twenty-five fixtures. The young Saddlers are nearing the end of their league campaign and were keen to secure all three points as they could still clinch the title over the remainder of the season.
Fourteenth placed Tranmere arrived at this weekend's match on the back of a midweek defeat to Rochdale, their opponents easing to victory by seven-goals-to-one,keeping the side towards the bottom of the table.
Today's match, which took place at Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr, Started fairly evenly with both sides having efforts on goal within the opening fifteen minutes.
Walsall steadily took control of the first forty-five, although their opponents did pose a threat of their own, but this was dented just past the half-hour mark as Kevin Cringle was sent off for aiming a stamp at young Saddler Dan O'Sullivan.
Despite their numerical advantage, the Saddlers couldn't create an opening over the next ten-to-fifteen minutes and went into the break level with their depleted opponents.
Walsall started the second-half welland would go on to open the scoring just before the hour mark as Joe Cairns crashed the ball home following a Stefan Mason cross, a great pass from the midfielder with Cairns scoring low past the 'keeper.
The Saddlers went on to double their lead after seventy-seven minutes as Will Shorrock lobbed Rovers 'keeper Patrick Wharton, the stopper powerless to prevent their hosts from extending their lead as their advantage began to tell.
There were no further goals as the Saddlers secured three more points to keep up the pressure on the league leaders, just two more games remain for the youngsters.
Fourteenth placed Tranmere arrived at this weekend's match on the back of a midweek defeat to Rochdale, their opponents easing to victory by seven-goals-to-one,keeping the side towards the bottom of the table.
Today's match, which took place at Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr, Started fairly evenly with both sides having efforts on goal within the opening fifteen minutes.
Walsall steadily took control of the first forty-five, although their opponents did pose a threat of their own, but this was dented just past the half-hour mark as Kevin Cringle was sent off for aiming a stamp at young Saddler Dan O'Sullivan.
Despite their numerical advantage, the Saddlers couldn't create an opening over the next ten-to-fifteen minutes and went into the break level with their depleted opponents.
Walsall started the second-half welland would go on to open the scoring just before the hour mark as Joe Cairns crashed the ball home following a Stefan Mason cross, a great pass from the midfielder with Cairns scoring low past the 'keeper.
The Saddlers went on to double their lead after seventy-seven minutes as Will Shorrock lobbed Rovers 'keeper Patrick Wharton, the stopper powerless to prevent their hosts from extending their lead as their advantage began to tell.
There were no further goals as the Saddlers secured three more points to keep up the pressure on the league leaders, just two more games remain for the youngsters.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST) | RESULT
WALSALL 2 TRANMERE ROVERS 0
GOALS | Cairns (58'), Shorrock (77')