Walsall opened their 2024/25 pre-season campaign with an away trip to non-league Alvechurch and the Lye Meadow Stadium.Naming just one trialist, Head Coach Mat Sadler fielded a familiar line-up for the first forty-five minutes with only on-loan Stoke City goalkeeper Tommy Simkin making his Saddlers debut.
The Saddlers enjoyed the majority of the attacking play in the first-half with A.Trialist creating plenty of danger in the Alvechurch half, Josh Gordon seeing a header drift wide of the post following a well-worked cross.
A.Trialist was also involved in the next opening as he found Ronan Maher in space with Maher seeing an effort hit the bar before an alert Ryan Stirk was thwarted by the 'Church 'keeper who gathered the ball on the line.
The Saddlers thought they'd opened the scoring with around eighteen minutes on the clock as Jamille Matt climbed highest to head home from a Jack Earing cross, however, he was adjudged to have fouled his man during the build-up as the scores remained tied.
The home side's first opening arrived shortly after Walsall's disallowed goal as a Callum Sullivan cross was deflected onto the crossbar by Harry Williams before being cleared by the Saddlers defence.
Alvechurch saw another effort thwarted later in the half as Tommy Simkin produced a fine save to push away Archie Crowther's free header, the attacker afforded far too much space in the Saddlers' box.
Walsall almost opened the scoring in the final ten minutes of the first-half as Donervon Daniels and Liam Gordon combined to find Stirk in space, he went on to force Charlie Woods into a fine save before Matt sent an effort over the bar.
The first goal of the game arrived just minutes from the break as Harry Williams stabbed the ball home following a goal-mouth scramble that came after A.Trialists initial corner was cleared to Stirk who fired the ball back in resulting in the meleé.
It was all-change for the second-half with Sadler sending out a fresh XI, with summer signings Connor Barrett and Charlie Lakin joining January arrival Evan Weir in the side.
Walsall doubled their lead just a few minutes into the second forty-five as Taylor Allen's free-kick was headed down by Jack Earing at the back post before Charlie Lakin unleashed a powerful effort that left the 'keeper with no chance.
The Saddlers almost added another goal around five-minutes later as, following a well-worked passage of play, former Birmingham City and Burton Albion midfielder Lakin saw an effort edge just past the post and behind for a goal kick.
Alvechurch weren't without opportunities of their own and Connor Stanley almost halved the deficit a few minutes later as he rode a couple of challenges before firing an effort over George Barrett's crossbar.
The Saddlers' next opening almost produced another proud moment for the Trialist family as B saw an effort go over the bar following another Allen/ Earing free-kick routine, the prospective signing being unable to add to the lead.
Jamiel Jellis was the next Saddler to have an effort as he saw a low effort flash past the post, B.Trialist the man to put Jellis through, though he was unable to capitalise.
Walsall's first chance of the half saw Dylan Thomas come on for Charlie Wrag as a former scholar replaced a current one.
B.Trialist's search for a goal continued later in the half as he broke inside his man before forcing the Alverchurch goalkeeper into a save with a powerful but ultimately futile effort as his tally remained at zero.
Dylan Thomas almost opened his account for the summer during the final ten minutes of the game as he reacted first to Jame Jellis' looping, deflected effort to force the home 'keeper into another fine save.
Walsall's desire to add to their lead was ultimately rewarded as, following some neat play down the right wing, Jellis once again got a sight of goal and saw a shot deflect past an anguished Woods in the Alvechurch goal.
There were no further goals or chances of note as Walsall opened their pre-season campaign with a comfortable win.
| WILLIAMS (43') LAKIN (48') JELLIS (86') |
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| AT | LYE MEADOW STADIUM |