Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they took on Notts County at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, with the Saddlers looking to close the gap on the Play-Off places.Notts County began the game brightly, taking just two minutes to open the scoring, as Alassana Jatta beat David Okagbue to the ball and crossed to Macaulay Langstaff, who fired a low effort into the bottom corner.
The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner in the seventh minute, as Liam Gordon turned the ball out of play. Fortunately for Walsall, nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Walsall began to grow into the game as it continued, creating their first chance of note in the fifteenth minute, as a spell of patient build-up play culminated in Joe Foulkes playing in Josh Gordon, whose low strike was deflected behind by Kyle Cameron, with the resulting corner being cleared by the County defences.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Liam Gordon playing in Taylor Allen in the seventeenth minute, but the defenders effort sailed well wide of the target.
At the other end, moments later, County created a chance to double their advantage, as John Bostock passed the ball to Jodi Jones inside the area, but the wingers effort sailed wide of the far post.
The Saddlers had soon worked the ball back to the other end, and briefly thought they had levelled the scores, as Allen played the ball over the top for Josh Gordon, who poked the ball past the County 'keeper, and into the net, but an infringement of the offside rule meant the goal would not stand.
Walsall's job became harder in the twenty-eighth minute, as County's advantage was doubled by Aaron Nemane, who beat several defenders before picking out the top corner with a left-footed strike from the centre of the area.
Things settled after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences.
Jamille Matt became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was cautioned in the fortieth minute for dissent.
Brandon Comley joined Matt in the referee's notebook just three minutes later, also being shown the yellow card for dissent.
Walsall won a corner in the forty-fourth minute, as Aden Baldwin turned the ball out of play. The ball in found Donervon Daniels, who headed back across goal for Josh Gordon, but the striker fired over from close range.
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 Notts County leading by two-goals-to-nil.
The Saddlers chose to make a triple change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Ryan Stirk, Jamille Matt and Josh Gordon all sitting out the second-half, as their places were filled by Ross Tierney, Mo Faal and Douglas James-Taylor.
Walsall began the second-half brightly, forcing a corner just one minute in, which Allen crossed into the area for Faal, who almost made an immediate mark on the game with a headed effort which, unfortunately for the hosts, struck the post.
Things settled after that, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball, although neither were able to find a way through their opposition defences to create a chance on goal.
John Bostock was shown the yellow card in the fifty-third minute, as he was cautioned after a pull-back on Liam Gordon, who had looked to make a quick break.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Baldwin to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
With fifty-nine minutes on the clock, Brandon Comley was shown his second yellow card of the game, and was given his marching orders, as he was dismissed following a foul on Dan Crowley.
The resulting free-kick almost added insult to injury for the hosts, as Crowley played the ball into the area for Langstaff, who, fortunately for the Saddlers, turned the ball narrowly wide.
As we reached the hour mark, the Saddlers found themselves in position to halve the deficit, as the ball broke for Tierney inside the area, before James-Taylor picked up possession and found space to shoot, but his effort was cleared off the line by the County defences.
Ross Tierney joined those playing on a caution, in the sixty-first minute, with his name added to the referee's notebook following a foul on Cameron.
Walsall continued to see a route back into the game as play continued, winning a corner in the sixty-fourth minute as Nemane turned an Allen effort behind, with the flag-kick being played back to the defender, who fired wide.
The Saddlers had more luck in the sixty-ninth minute, as an Allen cross was played on by James-Taylor for Liam Gordon, who in turn crossed the ball in for Faal, who coolly slotted past County 'keeper, Luca Ashby-Hammond to put his team back in the game.
The joy was short lived, however, as the visitors raced up to the other end and restored their two-goal lead, as Sam Austin fired past Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans in the seventieth minute.
There was a pause in play moments after the goal was scored, allowing Kyle Cameron to receive attention from the medics, but it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Richard Brindley took his place, with County also taking the opportunity to replace Alassana Jatta with David McGoldrick.
McGoldrick became the second County man to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Tierney, fifteen minutes from time. The resulting free-kick saw Isaac Hutchinson take aim from outside the area, but his effort failed to worry the visiting defences as it sailed high and wide.
County almost extended their lead further in the eighty-first minute, but Langstaff was unable to find the target, heading over, as he connected with a Crowley cross to the back post.
Six minutes from time, the Saddlers opted to make their fourth change of the afternoon, with David Okagbue making way for debutant, Jamie Jellis.
The hosts almost pulled a second goal back in the eighty-sixth minute, as Faal forced Ashby-Hammond to turn the ball over the bar with a looping header.
With eighty-seven minutes on the clock, Notts County chose to introduce another substitute, with Sam Austin making way for Jim O'Brien.
County went close again in the eighty-eighth minute, as Jones played in Langstaff, but the striker was unable to find the target, sending the ball wide of the upright. The visiting side continued to press, with McGoldrick seeing an effort sail wide moments later, as he fired a shot in from the edge of the area..
Seven additional minutes were added to end the match. Two minutes in to those, Isaac Hutchinson joined those already playing on a caution, as he booked following a foul on Crowley.
One minute later, the visiting side chose to make their final two changes of the afternoon, with Aaron Nemane and Macaulay Langstaff making way for Will Randall and Cedwyn Scott.
Walsall were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position in the ninety-fifth minute, but were unable to reduce the deficit, as Faal headed Hutchinson's ball in over.
Joe Foulkes was shown the yellow card in the final of the seven added minutes, as he was cautioned for a foul on Lewis Macari.
That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Notts County winning by three-goals-to-one. A disappointing afternoon from the Saddlers, who were presented with many opportunities to add to their tally, but failed to capitalise.
| FAAL (68') |
LANGSTAFF (2') NEMANE (28') AUSTIN (69') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SCOTT TALLIS |