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Managed by Miguel Llera, Walsall opened their pre-season campaign with a trip to the New Windmill Ground where they faced the Brakes in a bid to boost their match sharpness ahead of the new campaign.
WALSALL TEAM
Jackson; Simcox, Taylor, Shaw, Angafor, Cristofaro, Maher, Derry, Savari, Onabirekhanlen, Sawyers
Substitutes: Hedge; Perry, A.Trialist, B.Trialist, C.Trialist, D.Trialist
Substitutes: Hedge; Perry, A.Trialist, B.Trialist, C.Trialist, D.Trialist
LEAMINGTON TEAM
Weaver; Martin, Morley, Maye, English, Lane, Anderson, A.Trialist, B.Trialist, Parker, Turner
Substitutes: Edwards, Morrison, Meredith, Waldron, Mace, Beeston, Smith, Allen
Substitutes: Edwards, Morrison, Meredith, Waldron, Mace, Beeston, Smith, Allen
As the first-team was forced to pull out of the match following a small number of positive Covid test results, a young Walsall XI took to the field against a strong Leamington side as both sides continued their pre-season preparations.
The young Saddlers were dealt a blow early on as Kaiman Anderson put the home side into the lead, a disappointing opening for the Reds, who were looking to bounce back from their recent 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Rushall Olympic.
In truth, the match was far from an end-to-end thriller, as neither side was able to either react to or build upon the opening goal as they reached half-time with the score at one-nil. Still, plenty of opportunity for those in attendance to top up their tans.
HT
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LFC
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1 - 0
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WFC
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The home side made a trio of changes at the break with Kaiman Anderson, Joe Parker, and Josh Martin were replaced by Lance Smith, Dan Meredith, and Danny Waldron.
The first real opening of the second forty-five fell the way of Leamington as Simeon Maye forced the Walsall goalkeeper into a save with a shot from the edge of the box wide. Thankfully for the Saddlers, the resulting corner came to nothing.
Walsall's first opening of the half came via scholar Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, as he got on the end of a set-piece before sending an effort wide of the post.
Buoyed by their opening, the Saddlers created another as Joshua Simcox got on the end of a corner kick and unleashed a scissor kick which saw the ball cannon off the crossbar, keeping the Brakes' sheet clean.
Sadly for the Reds, they were soon pegged back and went on to double their lead as B.Trialist was able to get on the end of Meredith's cross to extend his potential team's lead.
Not long after extending their lead, Leamington went on to make a couple more changes as goalscorer B.Trialist and Simeon Maye were replaced by Jack Edwards and Josh Beaton.
Walsall, fired up by their opponent's second, were able to halve the deficit with twenty-minutes of normal time remaining as Ronan Maher slammed the ball home with a superb free-kick from the edge of the area.
Unfortunately for those of us of a Saddlers persuasion, the home side were able to re-establish their two-goal lead just before full-time as Waldron found the back of the net.
Another defeat for the young Saddlers, but more important match minutes for the youngsters as they continue to look ahead to their 2021/22 Youth Alliance campaign.
FT
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LFC
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3 - 1
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WFC
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Anderson (7') B.Trialist (62') Waldron (88')
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Maher (70') |
VENUE
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New Windmill Ground
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REFEREE
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TBC
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