John Ward's Walsall Development team were back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they played host to Doncaster Rovers in their latest Central League (North West) fixture of the season.
Walsall XI: Ganley; Kinsella, Fisher, Kendrick, Cockerill-Mollett, Cuvelier, R.Flanagan, Shorrock, Hayles-Docherty, Kouhyar, Shaibu
Substitutes: Dawe, Butterfield, Sangha, Peters, Candlin
Doncaster Rovers XI: Jones; James, Horton. Kongolo, Foulkes, Garratt, Fletcher, Prior, Ben Khemis, Williams, May
Substitutes: Morris, Baldock-Smith, Boocock, Townrow, Scattergood
Ward's Walsall arrived at this afternoon's game third in the table having won three of their seven games. Their most recent outing took place on 20th February and saw them draw nil-nil with Bradford City.
Doncaster were eighth in the table after failing to win six of their seven league outings and were keen to get some more points under their belt s the games continue to run out.
Walsall had the opening chance of the game as on-loan Brentford forward Justin Shaibu got on the end of a Liam Kinsella cross, sadly for the Saddlers he was unable to convert as he headed the ball straight as Rovers 'keeper Louis Jones.
Despite the Saddlers strong start, it was the visitors who registered the first goal of the game as Issam Ben Khemis unleashed a rocket of an effort from over twenty-five yards out, giving young Saddlers 'keeper Brandon Ganley no chance as the ball found the top corner.
Rovers continued to push up the field and almost doubled their lead via Alfie May as he smacked the ball off the crossbar. Midfielder Cody Prior was unable to make use of his follow-up opportunity as he sent the ball wide of goal.
On-time Saddlers target Andy Williams also struck the post for the visitors but there were no further goals as the match reached the break with just one goal in the books.
Doncaster were eighth in the table after failing to win six of their seven league outings and were keen to get some more points under their belt s the games continue to run out.
Walsall had the opening chance of the game as on-loan Brentford forward Justin Shaibu got on the end of a Liam Kinsella cross, sadly for the Saddlers he was unable to convert as he headed the ball straight as Rovers 'keeper Louis Jones.
Despite the Saddlers strong start, it was the visitors who registered the first goal of the game as Issam Ben Khemis unleashed a rocket of an effort from over twenty-five yards out, giving young Saddlers 'keeper Brandon Ganley no chance as the ball found the top corner.
Rovers continued to push up the field and almost doubled their lead via Alfie May as he smacked the ball off the crossbar. Midfielder Cody Prior was unable to make use of his follow-up opportunity as he sent the ball wide of goal.
On-time Saddlers target Andy Williams also struck the post for the visitors but there were no further goals as the match reached the break with just one goal in the books.
Walsall
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0 - 1
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Doncaster
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Walsall twice went close to opening their account for the afternoon shortly after the hour mark as William Shorrock found space in the box and hit the post from a tight angle. Then winger Tobias Hayles-Docherty rattled the crossbar as Donny's sheet remained clean.
Maz Kouhyar was the next Saddler to try his luck as he fired in an effort from outside the area. Stopper Louis Jones was equal to the effort as he gathered the ball with relative ease.
Second-half substitute Milan Butterfield also found space for an effort as time ticked away. The Bermudian midfielder, who, along with Jordon Sangha, has been enjoying an extended loan spell with Rushall Olympic, headed the ball wide from a Kouhyar corner.
Milan went close to levelling the scores in the latter stages of the game as he was once again alert to Kouhyar a flag-kick. This time his headed effort was gathered by Jones in the Doncaster goal as the home side were again prevented from opening their account.
There were no further goalsas John Ward's side were beaten by Ben Khemis' first-half thunderbolt. A superb goal, worthy of winning any game.
Walsall
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0 - 1
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Doncaster
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Ben Khemis (11')
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