Walsall returned to action on Good Friday afternoon as they played host to Carlisle United with the Saddlers looking to return to winning ways after suffering three defeats in as many games.
Walsall began the game brightly, with Joss Labadie looking to play Brendan Kiernan in just one minute into the contest, but the striker scuffed his effort and the ball trickled wide of the upright.
Carlisle United had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where they created their first chance of the afternoon, as the ball fell to Kristian Dennis inside the area, however, Walsall shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Dynel Simeu became the first player to see yellow, as the defender received a caution for a foul on Hayden White.
Just four minutes later, White was booked himself, as the yellow card was flashed his way following a foul on Tyrese Omotoye on the edge of the area. The resulting free-kick was then struck over the crossbar by Dennis.
The hosts went close in the fourteenth minute, as Emmanuel Osadebe fired goal-wards from outside the area, after some good play from Reece Devine to work the ball to him, but Rod McDonald positioned himself well and blocked the effort.
Walsall won a corner in the nineteenth minute, as Simeu turned the ball out of play, but Jon Mellish was on hand for the visitors to ensure that nothing would come of the flag-kick as he cleared the danger from the edge of the area.
The Saddlers continued to press, with George Miller setting up Jack Earing, but the midfielders effort from twenty-five yards failed to test the United shot-stopper as it sailed wide of the far post, before Kiernan saw an effort from outside the box blocked.
Back at the other end, moments later, some good play from Mellish saw Omari Patrick presented with an opportunity to open the scoring, but the strikers effort lacked power and Rushworth was able to make the save.
Walsall were quick to work the ball back upfield, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position in the twenty-seventh minute, but Labadie's effort from outside the box never looked likely to break the deadlock as the ball sailed high over the crossbar.
Unperturbed, the Saddlers continued to press, with Donervon Daniels seeing a headed effort miss the target in the thirty-second minute, after a good cross from Osadebe picked him out.
Carlisle won their first corner of the match in the thirty-fifth minute, as Miller turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the set-piece and Walsall broke with the ball, allowing Tyrese Shade a shot on goal, which was saved by United goalkeeper, Mark Howard.
There was a brief pause in proceedings in the thirty-seventh minute, allowing Earing to receive treatment from the medical team, but the midfielder was soon back on his feet, and play resumed.
The visiting side continued to seek a goal to take into the break, but Patrick's forty-second-minute effort from distance curled wide of the far post.
Walsall too looked to create a lead to take into the break, winning a corner in the forty-fourth minute, as a Shade effort was blocked behind by Morgan Feeney, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Walsall found the breakthrough, as a scramble in the box ultimately saw Earing fire home as he connected with a deflected clearance. That would be the final action of note, and the Saddlers took a very welcome, one-goal lead into the break.
HT
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WFC
|
1-0
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CUFC
|
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and the action got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position just five minutes in, but Kiernan's effort on goal sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
There was a pause in play in the fifty-second minute, allowing Morgan Feeney to receive treatment, but it was soon determined that the Carlisle captain would be unable to continue, and Joe Riley was brought on in his place.
With fifty-six minutes on the clock, United created a chance to draw level, but Jordan Gibson's effort from outside the box was dragged wide of the post. The visiting side continued to press, with Patrick also firing wide three minutes later.
With sixty-one minutes on the clock, Brendan Kiernan became the third player to be shown the yellow card, as he was booked for a foul on McDonald. The resulting free-kick was blocked by the wall, moments before Simeu saw a headed effort sail wide of the upright.
There was another pause in proceedings in the sixty-fourth minute, whilst Shade received treatment, but the Walsall man was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Carlisle opted to make a double change to their line-up, with both Kristian Dennis and Tyrese Omotoye departing, as Tobi Sho-Silva and Jack Armer joined the fray.
Walsall chose to use the first of their available substitutions in the seventy-second minute, with Brendan Kiernan making way for Devante Rodney.
United won a corner in the seventy-sixth minute as Labadie blocked a Patrick effort, with a second following as Rushworth turned the first behind, but that too would come to nothing as the ball was played short to Patrick who fired wide.
With eighty-three minutes on the clock, Walsall opted to make a second change to their line-up, with Hayden White making way for Tom Leak.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side creating much to test their opposition defences.
Two minutes from time, Walsall made their third and final change of the game, as Reece Devine made way for Stephen Ward.
Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Sho-Silva won a corner for his side, which the Walsall defences were able to clear, with two further flag-kicks following three minutes later, with the Saddlers also able to ensure nothing would come of those.
As we reached the final of the six added minutes, Carl Rushworth joined those listed in the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for time-wasting. There was little further action of note though, and the contest was brought to it's conclusion, with Walsall winning by one-goal-to-nil.
FT
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WFC
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1-0
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CUFC
|
Earing (45+2')
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REFEREE
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Martin Woods
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ATTENDANCE
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5,114 (678)
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AT
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Banks's Stadium
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