Walsall Under-18s made their way to Darlaston Town's Paycare Stadium on Thursday evening as they were to take on Chasetown U18s in their rearranged FA Youth Cup - First Round clash.WALSALL
Kilroy; Poskitt, Roberts, Bennett, Cox, Straw, Preece, Thomas, Wragg, Juliff, Leydon
Substitutes: Barrett, Lawal-Olumegbon, Etheridge, Webb, Footes, Davis, Clarkson
Looking to improve upon their recent poor spell of form, the young Saddlers have been struggling to string together a positive set of results in the Youth Alliance so far this season, Walsall named a side full of potential.
The match got off to a swift start with both sides looking to earn a modicum of control and potentially take a step closer to securing a place in the Second Round.
The first real effort on goal arrived with around ten-minutes on the clock as Piers Juliff found space in the opposition half and saw a shot drift over the crossbar.
Walsall went into the lead after twelve minutes as Charlie Wragg was alert to a poor touch by the home goalkeeper and took possession of the ball before slotting it over the line.
The home side went on to push for a leveller and, after forcing several corners and seeing an effort fly just past the post, were rewarded for their efforts as Will Cooper found the back of the net with a well-taken free-kick.
Though the home side continued to create chances it was the Saddlers who thought they'd put themselves back into the lead as Jaiy Leydon chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net only for one of the officials to flag for offside.
The Scholars were once again the better of the two sides but, as they failed to make more of their openings, the Saddlers capitalised as Charlie Wragg put Walsall back into the lead with his second of the game as he got on the end of a Dylan Thomas through ball.
Chasetown remained patient and, despite being deep into first-half stoppage time, went on to level the scores once again as Cooper and Joe Buckley combined for Cooper to grab his and the Scholars' second of the game.
The second-half was as competitive as the first, with the net being rattled with just nine minutes on the clock with Charlie Wragg completing his hat-trick after receiving the ball from Juliff, who found Charlie with a perfectly powered pass.
After being pegged back on two occasions, Walsall were able to add to their lead shortly after their third goal as Jaiy Leydon showed some neat ball control before slamming the ball into the back of the net from a fairly acute angle.
Walsall made their first changes of the game shortly after Jaiy's goal as Tom Cox was replaced by Abdul-Malik Lawal-Olumegbon before Jackson Preece made way for Ethan Davies.
The home side's task was made that little bit harder midway through the second forty-five as Tom Nicklin was red-carded for a foul on Dylan Thomas.
The Saddlers' fifth goal of the game arrived with seven minutes of the game remaining as Piers Juliff continued his promising performance with a well-taken finish.
Walsall's next change saw goal-scorer Juliff replaced by Charlie Footes as the young Saddlers looked to close out the game as they looked ahead to the next round.
Despite being late in the game the Saddlers continued their push for goals and saw the home 'keeper eaten once again as Charlie Wragg grabbed his fourth of the game, the youngsters making the most of their late dominance.
| COOPER (21') COOPER (45+4') |
WRAGG (12') WRAGG (39') WRAGG (54') LEYDON (63') JULIFF (83') WRAGG (88') |
| AT | PAYCARE STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JAMES LUNN |