On Thursday the Saddlers continued their preparations for the 2017/18 campaign as they took on a Chasetown at the Scholars Ground. We were in attendance, and you can read our match report below.
The Saddlers, who named a young side for what was the teams' second match in two days, had the opening effort of the match as Sam Tonks sent a tame effort towards goal, the shot offering no threat for stopper Dale Reaney.
Milan Butterfield was the next Saddler to have a shot on goal as he dispossessed Jordan Flattley and sent a low effort towards goal. Reaney was once again alert to save as the visitors were awarded a flag kick.
Young striker Cameron Peters, who recently penned his first professional contract, had the ball in the net from the resulting corner but was denied a goal as the referee awarded Chasetown a free-kick for an offside.
The Scholars' first notable effort of the game came after eleven minutes of play as Clayton Johnson rattled the bar with a powerful effort, a scary moment for Liam Roberts as the bar shook following the thunderous effort.
The Saddlers continued to press their opponents and engineered another effort on goal as Tobias Hayles-Docherty sliced an effort over the bar following Will Shorrock's partially cleared cross.
Liam Roberts was kept alert by his opponents as Jimmy O'Neill headed the ball down from a corner. A comfortable save from the stopper.
Walsall opened the scoring mid-way through the first-half as Hayles-Docherty slammed the ball home following Tonks' short corner, a deserved goal for the Saddlers.
Walsall looked to double their lead soon after they grabbed the opener as Mitchel Candlin broke from his marker and found Perers in space, the striker, who had to take an extra touch to control the ball, was unable to score as Chasetown 'keeper Reaney remained calm and saved with his legs.
With around thirty-five minutes on the clock, Young Saddlers defender Sam Tonks kept his side in the lead as he produced a miraculous block to deny Chasetown attacker Chris Baker who should have scored after finding space in front of goal. Baker's follow-up effort struck the post as Roberts' sheet remained clean.
There were no more chances of note as the game reached the break with the Saddlers in the lead.
Milan Butterfield was the next Saddler to have a shot on goal as he dispossessed Jordan Flattley and sent a low effort towards goal. Reaney was once again alert to save as the visitors were awarded a flag kick.
Young striker Cameron Peters, who recently penned his first professional contract, had the ball in the net from the resulting corner but was denied a goal as the referee awarded Chasetown a free-kick for an offside.
The Scholars' first notable effort of the game came after eleven minutes of play as Clayton Johnson rattled the bar with a powerful effort, a scary moment for Liam Roberts as the bar shook following the thunderous effort.
The Saddlers continued to press their opponents and engineered another effort on goal as Tobias Hayles-Docherty sliced an effort over the bar following Will Shorrock's partially cleared cross.
Liam Roberts was kept alert by his opponents as Jimmy O'Neill headed the ball down from a corner. A comfortable save from the stopper.
Walsall opened the scoring mid-way through the first-half as Hayles-Docherty slammed the ball home following Tonks' short corner, a deserved goal for the Saddlers.
Walsall looked to double their lead soon after they grabbed the opener as Mitchel Candlin broke from his marker and found Perers in space, the striker, who had to take an extra touch to control the ball, was unable to score as Chasetown 'keeper Reaney remained calm and saved with his legs.
With around thirty-five minutes on the clock, Young Saddlers defender Sam Tonks kept his side in the lead as he produced a miraculous block to deny Chasetown attacker Chris Baker who should have scored after finding space in front of goal. Baker's follow-up effort struck the post as Roberts' sheet remained clean.
There were no more chances of note as the game reached the break with the Saddlers in the lead.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY | HT
CHASETOWN 0 WALSALL 1
Chasetown made five changes before the second-half got underway as Chad Degville-Cross, Clayton Johnson, Nkosi Mzungwana, Tatenda Bako and Frankie Baigent were replaced by Pierce Kiembi, Muzzy Nduna, Jake Lovatt, Will Wheildon and Scott Devlin.
Liam Roberts was called into action seven minutes into the second-half as substitute Wheildon's free kick was met by the head of O'Neill,an easy save for the 'keeper as he remained unbeaten.
Sadly Roberts would not go unbeaten for long as Chasetown levelled the scores after fifty-seven minutes of play as Jordan Flattley's clever pass found Baker in space, he gathered his composure to slot the ball home.
Roberts was called into action soon after as Lovatt broke through the Saddlers' backline to force a save, a comfortable save but one that had to be made.
Walsall went back into the lead mid-way through the second-half as Cody Fisher met Shorrocks' corner to head home, the effort possibly coming off the back of a defender as the hosts scrambled in an attempt to prevent the goal.
The Saddlers swiftly extended their lead as Mitchel Candlin broke into the box and fired the ball low past the helpless 'keeper, a deserved goal for the visitors.
The Scholars made another set of changes as Dale Reaney, Jordan Flattley, and Chris Baker were replaced by Josh Allen, Connor Ryan and Osiris Robertson.
Chasetown's substitutions had little effect as the Saddlers soon further extended their lead as Candlin sent a sweet volley into the back of the net, far too much space for the young prospect.
Mitchel soon completed his hat-trick as he pounced on a defensive error to round the 'keeper and slot the ball home.
Walsall almost grabbed a sixth as the clock ticked down as Milan Butterfield forced substitute 'keeper Allen into a save late on.
There were no further goals or incidents as the Saddlers continued to build towards the opening day clash with Bury with a comfortable victory over the Scholars.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY | FT
CHASETOWN 1 WALSALL 5
GOALS | Baker (57') - Hayles-Docherty (22'), Fisher (67'), Candlin (71', 77', 79')
REFEREE | Steve Martin
GOALS | Baker (57') - Hayles-Docherty (22'), Fisher (67'), Candlin (71', 77', 79')
REFEREE | Steve Martin