Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Cheltenham Town to the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Looking to build upon their midweek EFL Cup victory over Huddersfield Town, the Saddlers lost their most recent league game and were hoping to return to winning ways against the Robins.
Walsall began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in a promising position, just three minutes into the contest. Taylor Allen curled a cross into the danger area, from the set-piece, with the ball eventually finding the head of David Okagbue, but the defender was unable to find the target, heading over the crossbar.
The hosts continued to press, with Oisin McEntee and Liam Gordon combining to work the ball to Allen, in the sixth minute, who in turn crossed to Jamille Matt, but the striker knocked the ball wide.
The Saddlers soon had the ball back in the danger area, as Jamie Jellis launched a run into the box, but former Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans was alert to the danger and came off his line to clear.
Cheltenham created their first chance of note in the ninth minute, as Liam Dulson crossed the ball into the area for Arkell Jude-Boyd, but the midfielders headed effort sailed wide of the target.
Sam Stubbs became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, being shown the yellow card, following a foul on Josh Gordon, just twelve minutes in.
There was a halt to proceedings in the fifteenth minute, allowing Josh Gordon to receive attention from the medical team. Unfortunately for the number ten, that would be the end of his involvement, and Nathan Lowe was brought on in his place.
Walsall created another chance to open the scoring in the twenty-first minute, as the ball fell to Charlie Lakin on the edge of the area, but the midfielders low strike sailed wide.
Another pause in play followed in the twenty-third minute, as Oisin McEntee went down requiring treatment. The defender was able to walk from the pitch, allowing play to continue, but it was soon determined that he too would be unable to continue, and Harry Williams was introduced in his place.
The hosts won a corner in the twenty-eighth minute, which was swung into the area by Jellis and punched clear by the Cheltenham 'keeper, falling to Ryan Stirk who turned the ball back towards goal, with Evans then able to gather to end the attack.
Walsall continued to test the Cheltenham defences as the match continued, the best of which saw Liam Gordon cross the ball into the box in the thirty-seventh minute, with Ryan Haynes' attempted clearance forcing Evans into a save to spare the defenders blushes.
Liam Gordon became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent, in the thirty-eighth minute.
There was another pause in play in the fortieth minute, allowing Liam Gordon to receive attention following a knock, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, though there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores unchanged.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, but less than a minute after the second-half got underway, play was paused, allowing Liam Gordon to receive attention from the medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Walsall were forced to make their third and final change of the afternoon, with Jack Earing being brought on in his place.
Walsall opened the scoring, just three minutes into the second-half, as Allen crossed the ball in towards the back post for Connor Barrett, who headed it across the face of goal to Lowe, who fired home from close range.
The Saddlers continued to press, and could have added to their tally in the fifty-second minute, as Stirk fired goal-wards from the edge of the box, but Evans was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
Cheltenham opted to make their first changes of the afternoon in the fifty-sixth minute, with Ibrahim Bakare and Ethon Archer making way for George Miller and Jordan Thomas.
The hosts continued to look the brighter of the two sides as the game continued, almost adding to their tally in the fifty-eighth minute, as Barrett and Stirk combined to work the ball to Earing, whose powerful strike sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Things settled a little after that but, with sixty-six minutes on the clock, Walsall doubled their advantage, as Barrett beat his marker and crossed a low ball in towards the near post where Matt was waiting to poke home.
Matt almost secured his second goal of the game just two minutes later, as he found himself one-on-one with Evans, but in attempting to lift the ball over the Cheltenham 'keeper, he managed to clear the bar.
Arkell Jude-Boyd saw his name added to the referee's notebook, in the seventy-third minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Earing.
Cheltenham then chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Ryan Haynes and Ryan Bowman making way for Freddy Willcox and Tom Pett.
The visiting side won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the seventy-seventh minute, as Jamie Jellis fouled the recently introduced Willcox, in a move that would also see his name taken by the referee. Town almost pulled a goal back from the set-piece, as the ball was played on to Thomas, but Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin did well to make the save to deny him from close range.
Walsall should have added a third in the eighty-first minute, as Stirk fired goal-wards from the edge of the area, but his strike clipped the crossbar as it headed over.
The Saddlers went close again moments later, as Earing saw an effort blocked by Stubbs, with the ball falling to Lowe, who struck the post.
Town pulled a goal back in the eighty-fifth minute, as Thomas crossed a low ball in for former Saddler, George Miller, who tapped home from close range.
Charlie Lakin joined those playing on a caution, as he was cautioned for a foul on Jude-Boyd, in the eighty-sixth minute.
David Okagbue was also shown the yellow card, three minutes later, as he was cautioned following a foul on Pett.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-one. A decent display from the Saddlers, who limited their opponents chances throughout most of the game and showed plenty of attacking intent.
| LOWE (48') MATT (66') |
MILLER (85') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | PAUL MARSDEN |