Walsall were hoping to build upon last weekend's one-all draw with Grimsby Town as they made the trip to the Cherry Red Records Stadium and took on fellow strugglers AFC Wimbledon.Wimbledon began the game brightly, with Kasey McAteer crossing the ball into the area for Saikou Janneh, just two minutes into the contest, but the striker's effort from the centre of the area sailed wide.
The hosts continued to press, with Ethan Chislett and Alex Woodyard combining well to play in McAteer in the seventh minute, but the winger was unable to keep his effort on target, sending the ball wide of the upright.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the ninth minute, allowing Janneh to receive treatment for a knock, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Wimbledon continued to test the Walsall defences, with Chislett playing in Woodyard in the tenth minute, with the midfielder heading goal-wards, forcing a save from Saddlers shot-stopper, Owen Evans, but the resulting corner came to nothing.
Walsall were finally able to quell the pressure as we reached the quarter hour mark, as they worked the ball up to the other end, where Andy Williams saw a shot from the right blocked.
The Saddlers sought to build some momentum, and won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the twentieth minute, as Janneh fouled Walsall captain, Donervon Daniels. Joe Riley swung the ball in from the set-piece, with Tom Knowles looking to turn it home, but his effort from just outside the box sailed wide.
Walsall were presented with another chance to open the scoring just two minutes later, as Knowles picked up the loose ball outside the area and fired goal-wards, but his effort sailed high and wide of the target.
Wimbledon had soon worked the ball back to the other end, where Armani Little crossed the ball into the area for Will Nightingale, whose headed effort was well saved by Evans.
As we reached the half-hour mark, the Saddlers created a chance back up at the other end, as Riley played the ball in for Oisin McEntee, whose right-footed effort was well blocked by the Wimbledon defences.
The visiting side continued to press, and after a little lull, Daniels looked to play in Conor Wilkinson, but the striker's thirty-fifth minute header goal-wards from close range, was well saved by Wimbledon goalkeeper, Nathan Broome, before Isaac Hutchinson saw a shot blocked moments later.
With thirty-six minutes on the clock, Hayden White became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Janneh.
Just three minutes later, Conor Wilkinson joined White in the referee's notebook, as he was shown the yellow card for a foul on Little.
Not to be left out, Isaac Hutchinson joined his teammates already playing on a caution, in the forty-third minute, as he picked up a yellow card for a foul on George Marsh.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Wimbledon got the action back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, seeing plenty of the ball, but despite seeing plenty of the ball, they were unable to create much to test their hosts defences.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Chislett to receive treatment for an injury, but he was soon able to re-join the action.
Moments after the restart, Manny Monthe played in McEntee, but the defenders effort from outside the box was well saved by the Dons 'keeper.
Andy Williams became the fourth Walsall man to be booked, as he was cautioned for a foul on Broome, in the fifty-seventh minute.
The hosts won a corner in the fifty-ninth minute, as Monthe turned the ball behind. Little swung the ball into the box from the flag-kick, and Nightingale met it, heading home into the top corner, to put his side ahead.
With sixty-eight minutes on the clock, Walsall were forced to make their first change of the night, as an injured Andy Williams made way for Matty Stevens. They also took the opportunity to make two further changes to their line-up, as Hayden White and Tom Knowles were replaced by Yann Songo'o and Taylor Allen.
Wimbledon also chose to make their first change of the evening, as Saikou Janneh was replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi.
Walsall were presented with a chance to level the scores in the seventy-first minute, but after some good play from Wilkinson, Songo'o fired over.
Three minutes later, Wimbledon had more luck in front of goal, as a Little effort was turned behind by McEntee, with the flag-kick being swung into the box for the recently introduced Al-Hamadi, who fired home from close range to double his sides advantage. Ali Al-Hamadi then found himself being cautioned, for over celebrating the goal.
The hosts thought they had secured a third goal, just one minute after the second, but Chislett was caught in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.
Walsall opted to make their final two changes of the evening in the seventy-seventh minute, with Liam Kinsella making way for the returning Joss Labadie, as Oisin McEntee was replaced by Douglas James-Taylor.
Ten minutes from time, McAteer attempted to further extend his sides lead with a strike from thirty-five yards out, but his effort looped harmlessly over the crossbar.
Things settled a little as they continued, but five minutes from time, Hutchinson saw an effort from outside the box blocked, as the Saddlers sought to get back into the game.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the eighty-seventh minute, allowing Ali Al-Hamadi to receive treatment for an injury, but it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Samuel Pearson was introduced in his place.
Eight additional minutes were added to end the match, but despite Walsall winning a very late corner, as Broome turned a Hutchinson effort over the crossbar, there was little further action of note, and the match was brought to it's conclusion with Wimbledon winning by two-goals-to-nil.
| NIGHTINGALE (59') AL-HAMADI (74') |
|
| AT | PLOUGH LANE |
| REFEREE | BENJAMIN SPEEDIE |