After avoiding defeat during the month of October, Matthew Taylor's side looked to begin the penultimate month of the season with a win as they made the trip to the Walks and faced National League strugglers King's Lynn in the First Round of the world's oldest domestic cup competition.
Walsall began the game brightly, with Tyrese Shade seeing an early cross into the box turned behind by Kyle Callan-McFadden, before Jack Earing whipped the ball into the box for Rollin Menayese, whose headed effort was blocked by the King's Lynn Town defences.
The Saddlers continued to apply pressure, winning corners in the fourth and sixth minute which came to nothing, before Town 'keeper, Paul Jones was called into action to deny George Miller seven minutes in.
Walsall continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, and their early pressure paid dividends in the fifteenth minute, as Joss Labadie won a free-kick for his side in a dangerous position, which Hayden White crossed towards the back post where Brendan Kiernan was waiting to turn the ball home.
With eighteen minutes on the clock, Ross Barrows became the first player to see his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned for a foul on White.
The visiting side continued to dominate as play continued, with Labadie trying his luck from range in the twenty-first minute, but his effort sailed with of Jones' upright without troubling the Town shot-stopper.
King's Lynn were presented with their first real opportunity to strike at goal in the twenty-seventh minute, as a foul by Labadie on Junior Morias saw the side awarded a free-kick just outside the area. Ethan Coleman stepped forth, but failed to test Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth as he sent the set-piece sailing high over the crossbar.
The hosts began to see a little more of the ball as the match continued, though they struggled to create anything to test the Walsall defences.
In the thirty-sixth, Walsall were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous spot, just outside the King's Lynn box, but Emmanuel Osadebe's effort from the set-piece sailed wide of the mark.
Two minutes later, Brendan Kiernan became the second player to see yellow, as he received a booking after obstructing a goal-kick.
Another booking followed just a minute later, as Luis Fernandez joined those on a caution after fouling Shade. The resulting free-kick saw the fouled player test the King's Lynn 'keeper, who was not found wanting.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, but neither side created anything further of note, and the teams headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
The Saddlers continued to apply pressure, winning corners in the fourth and sixth minute which came to nothing, before Town 'keeper, Paul Jones was called into action to deny George Miller seven minutes in.
Walsall continued to see much of the ball as the game continued, and their early pressure paid dividends in the fifteenth minute, as Joss Labadie won a free-kick for his side in a dangerous position, which Hayden White crossed towards the back post where Brendan Kiernan was waiting to turn the ball home.
With eighteen minutes on the clock, Ross Barrows became the first player to see his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned for a foul on White.
The visiting side continued to dominate as play continued, with Labadie trying his luck from range in the twenty-first minute, but his effort sailed with of Jones' upright without troubling the Town shot-stopper.
King's Lynn were presented with their first real opportunity to strike at goal in the twenty-seventh minute, as a foul by Labadie on Junior Morias saw the side awarded a free-kick just outside the area. Ethan Coleman stepped forth, but failed to test Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth as he sent the set-piece sailing high over the crossbar.
The hosts began to see a little more of the ball as the match continued, though they struggled to create anything to test the Walsall defences.
In the thirty-sixth, Walsall were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous spot, just outside the King's Lynn box, but Emmanuel Osadebe's effort from the set-piece sailed wide of the mark.
Two minutes later, Brendan Kiernan became the second player to see yellow, as he received a booking after obstructing a goal-kick.
Another booking followed just a minute later, as Luis Fernandez joined those on a caution after fouling Shade. The resulting free-kick saw the fouled player test the King's Lynn 'keeper, who was not found wanting.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, but neither side created anything further of note, and the teams headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
HT
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KLTFC
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0-1
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WFC
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King's Lynn opted to make a change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Ross Barrows sitting out the second-half, as Gold Omotayo took his place. The home side began the half brightly, winning a free-kick in a promising spot just two minutes in, as Jayden Davis was brought down by Kiernan, but the substitute was unable to head Jones' cross home.
The Saddlers had soon worked the ball up to the other end, with Shade looking to play in Osadebe, whose effort on goal was blocked by Dan Bowry, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing, as Earing's ball into the box was turned wide.
With fifty-nine minutes on the clock, the home team were forced to make a second change to their line-up, with an injured Luis Fernandez making way for Pierce Bird.
As we reached the hour mark, the hosts were presented with another opportunity to level the scores, with Daniel Clunnan firing a curling effort in on goal. With Rushworth unable to get to the ball, it fell to White to keep his side ahead, which he duly did with a header clear.
In the sixty-third minute, the hosts made their third change of the afternoon as Malachi Linton made way for Joshua Barrett. The substitute looked to make an immediate impact, firing goal-wards moments after his introduction into the game, but Rushworth was well placed to deny him.
Two minutes after the Town change, Walsall chose to make their first of the afternoon; Brendan Kiernan the man to make way as Kieran Phillips made his way onto the pitch.
King's Lynn continued to threaten, with a barrage of shots being blocked by the Walsall defences, the best of which saw Morias denied by Stephen Ward.
The home team continued to see more of the ball as the match wore on, but they were unable to really further test the Walsall defences, with their best chance to do falling to Morias in the seventy-sixth minute, but the striker failed to worry Rushworth as he headed wide.
A fourth substitution for the home team followed in the seventy-ninth minute, as Junior Davis made way for Brett McGavin as the side continued to seek a route back onto level terms.
Walsall followed suit four minutes later, replacing Emamnuel Osadebe with the fresh legs of Sam Perry for the closing minutes of the contest.
The Saddlers won a corner, five minutes from time, which eventually fell to Manny Monthe whose effort on goal was blocked by Jones to keep his side in the game.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and Walsall held on to win the game by one-goal-to-nil.
The Saddlers had soon worked the ball up to the other end, with Shade looking to play in Osadebe, whose effort on goal was blocked by Dan Bowry, with the resulting flag-kick coming to nothing, as Earing's ball into the box was turned wide.
With fifty-nine minutes on the clock, the home team were forced to make a second change to their line-up, with an injured Luis Fernandez making way for Pierce Bird.
As we reached the hour mark, the hosts were presented with another opportunity to level the scores, with Daniel Clunnan firing a curling effort in on goal. With Rushworth unable to get to the ball, it fell to White to keep his side ahead, which he duly did with a header clear.
In the sixty-third minute, the hosts made their third change of the afternoon as Malachi Linton made way for Joshua Barrett. The substitute looked to make an immediate impact, firing goal-wards moments after his introduction into the game, but Rushworth was well placed to deny him.
Two minutes after the Town change, Walsall chose to make their first of the afternoon; Brendan Kiernan the man to make way as Kieran Phillips made his way onto the pitch.
King's Lynn continued to threaten, with a barrage of shots being blocked by the Walsall defences, the best of which saw Morias denied by Stephen Ward.
The home team continued to see more of the ball as the match wore on, but they were unable to really further test the Walsall defences, with their best chance to do falling to Morias in the seventy-sixth minute, but the striker failed to worry Rushworth as he headed wide.
A fourth substitution for the home team followed in the seventy-ninth minute, as Junior Davis made way for Brett McGavin as the side continued to seek a route back onto level terms.
Walsall followed suit four minutes later, replacing Emamnuel Osadebe with the fresh legs of Sam Perry for the closing minutes of the contest.
The Saddlers won a corner, five minutes from time, which eventually fell to Manny Monthe whose effort on goal was blocked by Jones to keep his side in the game.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and Walsall held on to win the game by one-goal-to-nil.
FT
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KLTFC
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0-1
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WFC
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Kiernan (15')
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REFEREE
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Robert Lewis
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ATT / At
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- The Walks
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