Attention turned to cup action on Tuesday evening as Walsall welcomed Exeter City to the Poundland Bescot Stadium as they battled in Round One of this season's Carabao Cup competition.With both sides opening their league campaigns with 1-0 victory there was little to separate them heading into their televised clash.
Walsall began the game well and created the first opening of the contest as Taylor Allen found Josh Gordon in space near the edge of the Grecians' area, he was able to turn and shoot but his effort posed no threat to the visiting goalkeeper.
Exeter won the first corner of the game a few minutes later, but were unable to convert their opportunity as the scores remained level in the early stages of the tie.
Connor Barrett almost created some space out wide but was ultimately thwarted by the visiting defence as they outmanned the summer signing to retake the ball and end the attack.
Josh Gordon looked to link up with Ronan Maher as the youngster had managed to break free of his man but the ball was over hit and Maher couldn't get a strong enough touch to continue the move.
Gordon continued to pose a threat, his movement forcing the visitors into action as he looked to make the most of his openings.
Walsall's next opportunity saw defender Evan Weir break up the pitch and get on the end of Josh Gordon's cross into the back post, his header was comfortable for the 'keeper, but would serve as a promising move from the Saddlers.
Exeter grew into the game as it continued, with striker, Millenic Alli getting in behind Harry Williams causing problems for the Walsall defences, but Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin was alert to the danger and made the save.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning a corner in the twenty-third minute. Reece Cole swung the ball into the danger area from the flag-kick, finding an unmarked, Ben Purrington, whose headed effort struck the upright.
As we neared the half hour mark, the Saddlers found themselves back in control at the other end, winning a corner kick, which was initially cleared, before Allen played the ball back in towards the back post, where David Okagbue was waiting, unmarked. The defender headed the ball on for Gordon, but the strikers effort struck the upright.
Exeter were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, through Caleb Watts, whose cross into the area was cleared, but only as far as Jack McMillan, whose strike was diverted over the bar by Williams, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The visitors continued to seek a breakthrough, with Cheick Diabate playing the ball over the top for Pedro Borges, who fired wide from twenty yards out.
Five minutes before the break, Exeter opened the scoring, as Watts raced forwards before passing the ball to Alli, who fired past Simkin.
Walsall looked to respond quickly to falling a goal behind, with Charlie Lakin pulling the ball back for Ryan Stirk, whose effort from the edge of the area sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Lakin setting Gordon away, in the forty-third minute, but the forward, spotting Exeter 'keeper, Joe Whitworth, off his line, fired an effort in from some distance, which ultimately sailed wide of the target.
Adomah then went close, two minutes later, as he found space to fire an effort goal-wards, but his strike from range also missed the target, going narrowly wide.
One additional minute was 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 Exeter leading by one-goal-to-nil.
Exeter opted to make a change as the sides returned, with Caleb Watts sitting out the second forty-five, as Vincent Harper took his place.
Both sides enjoyed spells on the ball early in the second-half, without creating anything to really test their opposition defences.
Reece Cole became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul, in the fiftieth minute.
With fifty-six minutes on the clock, Exeter opted to make a second change to their line-up, with Liam Oakes making way for Jack Aitchison.
Walsall then made changes to their team, three minutes later, with Evan Weir, Connor Barrett and Charlie Lakin making way for Liam Gordon, Jack Earing and Jamille Matt.
The hosts saw much of the ball as the game continued, stringing together some good passes, before Josh Gordon headed wide from the centre of the area, in the sixty-fourth minute.
Walsall continued to show promise, winning a corner in the sixty-fifth minute, which Allen swung into the box, finding the head of an Exeter man, who cleared the danger.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the sixty-seventh minute, allowing Pierce Sweeney to receive attention from the medical teams. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, with Jack Fitzwater taking his place; Pedro Borges was also replaced, as Josh Magennis entered the fray.
Walsall set about looking to level the scores once the match was back underway, with Matt feeding Maher, whose low strike was deflected to Whitworth, who made the save.
The hosts continued to press, with Earing combining with Liam Gordon to play in namesake, Josh, whose headed effort sailed inches over the crossbar.
With seventy-three minutes on the clock, the hosts chose to make a further change to their line-up, with Ronan Maher making way for Jamie Jellis.
The Saddlers continued to test their opposition as the match continued, but were unable to find a way through their defences.
Eleven minutes from time, the home side chose to make their fifth change of the evening, with Albert Adomah making way for Oisin McEntee.
Walsall were awarded a penalty, in the eightieth minute, as Harper handled the ball inside the area. Josh Gordon stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Whitworth was able to keep the ball out, with the aid of the crossbar.
With eighty-three minutes on the clock, Exeter opted to make their fifth change of the evening, with Reece Cole making way for Tristan Crama.
The final minutes of the game were a fairly timid affair, with Walsall continuing to seek a late goal, but failing to create anything to test the Exeter defences.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Fitzwater was presented with a chance to put the game to bed, but his effort from the centre of the area was blocked.
Three minutes into those added, the Saddlers found the equaliser; Earing playing a low cross in, which was deflected into the path of Jellis, who fired home, to secure his first goal in a Walsall shirt.
Ryan Stirk became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the ninety-fourth minute, following a foul on Aitchison.
There was little further action of note, with the resulting free-kick coming to nothing, and the game was brought to an end with the scores tied, sending the match to penalties.
Walsall ultimately advanced to the second round of the competition, as Okagbue, Matt, Liam Gordon and Josh Gordon all slotted their penalty kicks home, whilst Exeter could only convert three of theirs, as Ilmari Niskanen saw his effort saved and Alli struck the post.
| JELLIS (90+3') | ALLI (40') |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JACOB MILES |