Walsall welcomed Colchester United to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they looked to make it four wins in as many home league games.Both sides enjoyed spells on the ball in the early goings, with Colchester winning a corner just two minutes into the contest, as David Okagbue turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as the hosts cleared the danger.
Colchester went on to win a free-kick in a dangerous position, in the sixth minute, as Samson Tovide was fouled by Okagbue, but Teddy Bishop was unable to beat the wall from the set-piece and Jamie Jellis cleared.
Another free-kick followed for the visiting side moments later, as Connor Barrett fouled Lyle Taylor, but nothing would come of that either as Alex Woodyard's ball in was blocked.
United continued to press, winning corners in the eighth and tenth minutes, as first Charlie Lakin then Ryan Stirk turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of either as the Saddlers continued to defend stoically.
Lyle Taylor became the first player to draw the attention of the referee, as he was cautioned for kicking the ball away, just fourteen minutes into the contest.
Walsall grew into the game as it continued, winning a corner in the seventeenth minute, as Woodyard turned the ball out of play. Jellis' ball in was played back out to him and he picked out Stirk on the edge of the area at the second attempt, but the midfielder was unable to find the target with his strike, firing wide.
There was a break in play following the corner, allowing Samson Tovide to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Tom Flanagan became the second player to receive a caution from the referee, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Nathan Lowe, in the twenty-first minute.
The hosts continued to show more attacking threat as the game wore on, with Barrett doing well to pick his way through the Colchester defences, in the twenty-fifth minute, before passing to Lowe, whose effort on goal was blocked.
As we reached the half hour mark, the Saddlers won a free-kick in a promising position, as Jamille Matt was fouled by Flanagan, but Jellis put a little too much on his ball in and it sailed harmlessly out of play for a goal-kick.
Alex Woodyard became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the thirty-second minute.
Walsall continued to enjoy plenty of time on the ball as the game continued, though the Colchester defences continued to thwart their efforts to work the ball into the box.
The hosts won a corner in the thirty-sixth minute, as Mandela Egbo turned the ball behind, but the ball into the crowded box was turned away by Flanagan.
Walsall found the breakthrough in the thirty-ninth minute, as a delightful long ball from Allen found Jellis, who did well to bring the ball down and fire home past the onrushing Colchester 'keeper.
The visiting side looked to restore parity, as we reached the forty-fifth minute, but Egbo's ball into the box was headed wide by Owura Edwards.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time Connor Barrett became the first Walsall man to see his name added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned following a foul on Edwards.
That would be the final action of note, and the referee called time on the first-half with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. Walsall started the second-half brightly, and could have doubled their advantage just two minutes after the restart, as Lakin played the ball on for Lowe inside the area, but the striker dragged his effort narrowly wide.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the forty-ninth minute, allowing Owura Edwards a moment to receive attention from the medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Anthony Scully was brought on in his place.
Colchester enjoyed much of the ball as the teams played on, but were unable to create anything of note as the Saddlers defences prevented them finding a way through on goal.
Walsall could have doubled their advantage in the fifty-fifth minute, as Jellis found himself in shooting range, but his low ball in on goal was well saved by Colchester 'keeper, Matt Macey.
The hosts continued to enjoy a bright spell, winning a corner in the fifty-seventh minute, as Woodyard turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
At the other end, as we reached the hour mark, Tovide knocked the ball down for Jack Payne, who found himself in space, but the midfielders effort from outside the area failed to test Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin as it sailed high over the crossbar.
There was another halt to proceedings in the sixty-second minute, allowing Teddy Bishop to receive attention from the Colchester medical team. It was soon determined that he too would be unable to continue, and his side were forced to make their second change of the afternoon, with Arthur Read taking his place.
Colchester won a free-kick in the sixty-seventh minute. The floated delivery from Payne eventually fell to Flanagan but the Walsall defences stood firm and after a bit of a scramble in the box, cleared the danger.
Walsall chose to make their first changes of the afternoon in the seventy-first minute, with Charlie Lakin and Jamille Matt making way for Jack Earing and Albert Adomah.
Earing was quick to get involved in the action, as Jellis worked the ball to him just two minutes after his introduction, but his effort on goal from twenty-five yards out sailed inches wide of the upright.
Walsall won a corner in the seventy-sixth minute, which Allen whipped in, forcing a save from Macey, who turned the ball over, with the resulting flag-kick being fired over.
The Saddlers doubled their advantage in the seventy-ninth minute, as Barrett beat his man and crossed the ball towards goal, with Adomah getting enough of a touch on it to flick it past Macey.
Colchester responded to the goal by making a triple substitution, in the eighty-first minute, with Samson Tovide, Lyle Taylor and Ellis Iandolo departing, as their places were filled by Rob Hunt, John-Kymani Gordon and Aaron Donnelly.
The home side broke with the ball in the eighty-sixth minute, following a spell of pressure from the visitors, with Adomah and Jellis combining to set Liam Gordon, whose effort from outside the area sailed over the crossbar.
With eighty-nine minutes on the clock, Earing ensured what was already largely known, that Walsall would take all three points, as Lowe drew a save from Macey, with Jack on hand to fire the rebound home.
Seven minutes were added to end the match, and just two minutes into those, Walsall further extended their lead, as Adomah played the ball through for Lowe, who crossed across the box for Earing who tapped home.
The Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, moments after the goal, with Ryan Stirk and Nathan Lowe making way for Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson.
There was little further action of note, and the referee brought a halt to the contest with Walsall winning by four-goals-to-nil. Not the greatest performance all told from the Saddlers, but some clinical finishing along with a solid defence saw the home side rise to the top of the League Two table.
| JELLIS (39') ADOMAH (79') EARING (89') EARING (90+2') |
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| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | FARAI HALLAM |