Walsall's development team returned to action on Tuesday afternoon as they made the trip to Lostock and took on Bolton Wanderers in their latest Central League outing of the season.
Often managed by first-team player/coach Mat Sadler, the Saddlers named a young starting eleven as the fringe of the first-team remains somewhat thin.
BOLTON WANDERERS TEAM
Litherland; Beardsworth, Conway, Senior, Halford, Ahmed-Sharples, Pettifer, Tweedley, Henry, Lockett, Olawumi
Substitutes: Dallimore; Toure, Kamara, Burgess, Jones
WALSALL TEAM
Kilroy; Baldwin, A.Trialist, Sawyers, Cox, Edwards, Shaw, Maher, B.Trialist, Uchenna, Simcox
Substitutes: Hedge; Lawal-Olumegbon, Chakki
The match got off to a disastrous start for the Saddlers as, with just five minutes on the clock, the home side were awarded a penalty, with Adam Senior happy to step up to the spot and send the ball past young stopper Jenson Kilroy.
Walsall's woeful start didn't end there either, as the Trotters went on to secure a second penalty just moments later as Max Conway was felled inside the area, allowing Senior to double his side's lead with just eight minutes played.
Bolton went on to grab their third goal of the game around eight minutes later as Sam Olawumi took advantage of Kilroy's scuffed clearance, with the forward comfortably stroking home.
Despite their ever-increasing deficit, the Saddlers weren't without goal-scoring opportunities of their own as Ronan Maher found space in midfield with the ever-improving prospect opting to have an effort on goal, though his shot didn't trouble 'keeper Ellis Litherland's goal.
Walsall's next attempt went the way of Riley Reynolds who saw a deflected effort gathered by Litherland, an encouraging few minutes of the Saddlers, as they looked to get themselves on the scoresheet.
Ronan Maher, who many believe will be the next big player to climb through the ranks at Walsall FC, had another effort on goal as the half continued, his edge-of-the-area shot rising over the bar following some alert play in the middle of the pitch.
Going close once again, Walsall's Will Uchenna did well to find some space inside the Wanderers box, but was unable to find the back of the net as goalkeeper Litherland was untroubled by his fairly tame effort.
Ronan Maher continued his search for the Saddlers' opening goal as the half went on as he broke from midfield before forcing Litherland into a fairly comfortable save.
Walsall were eventually rewarded for their attacking endeavours as, after battling to regain the ball high up the pitch, Lucas Edwards forced his way into the Bolton box before finding trialist Ollie Waddison who saw a shot deflect off double goalscorer Senior and into the back of the net.
HT
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BWFC
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3-1
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WFC
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Bolton started the second-half in dominant fashion as Mitchell Henry was able to grab his side's fourth goal of the game, the centre forward being allowed far too much room inside the area before finding the back of the net
The home side almost added a fifth goal just minutes later as Max Conway's low cross was cleared into the path of Finlay Lockett, who went on to force stopper Jensen Kilroy into a comfortable save.
Walsall's second-half struggles were far from eased with just five-minutes played as Josh Simcox was shown his second yellow card of the game, reducing the Saddlers to ten men, making their already tough task somewhat harder.
Meanwhile back at the other end of the pitch, the home side continued their search for their fifth goal of the game, as Matthew Tweedley broke into the area and sent a shot wide of goal from a fairly tight angle.
The home side were ultimately able to get another goal as Arran Pettifer and Max Conway crafted a short corner routine before finding Matthew Tweedley who went on to send the ball into the box where Lamine Toure found enough space to head the ball home.
As the match neared full time, Max Conway was the next Wanderers player to have an effort on goal as the got the best of a couple of Walsall defenders before sending an effort just past the post.
FT
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BWFC
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5-1
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WFC
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Senior [P] (5') Senior [P] (8') Olawumi (16') Henry (46') Toure (83')
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Senior [OG] (43') |
AT
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Lostock
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