Walsall made their way to Derbyshire and the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they took on Chesterfield in their first competitive meeting in over seven years.Looking to rebound from their dismal 6-2 defeat to Fleetwood Town, the Saddlers had plenty of pre-Fishermen momentum to call upon as they took on the Spireites.
Chesterfield began the game brightly, seeing much of the early ball, but it was Walsall who created the first opportunity on goal, as the visitors won a corner five minutes in as Connor Barrett forced Lewis Gordon to turn the ball behind. The ball in from Taylor Allen found Jamille Matt in space, but the striker headed wide.
Walsall continued to look the more likely of the two sides to open the scoring, with a ninth-minute Liam Gordon cross into the box finding the head of Matt, but the forward was unable to find the target as he nodded wide. However, had he scored, he would have been found to be offside and the goal would not have stood due. A promising start from the travelling side though.
The Saddlers won another corner, in the fourteenth minute, but nothing would come of the opportunity as Allen's ball in was cleared by the hosts.
Chesterfield created their first chance of the match in the eighteenth minute, as former Saddler, Will Grigg crossed the ball into the danger area for Armando Dobra, who cut inside and fired a low effort in on goal, but the Walsall defence stood firm and the effort was blocked.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning their first corner of the game, in the twenty-first minute, as Allen turned the ball out of play. The ball in caused problems for the Walsall defences, but they were eventually able to clear the danger.
The Spireites soon had the ball back in shooting range, with captain, Tom Naylor picking up the ball on the edge of the area and firing goal-wards, but his effort failed to test Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, as it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Cheyenne Dunkley conceded a corner to them, however, nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Allen's delivery was easily gathered by Chesterfield 'keeper, Max Thompson.
Thirty-three minutes into the contest, Walsall found the breakthrough, as a loose back pass allowed Matt a free shot on goal, which was saved by Thompson, with the rebound falling to Nathan Lowe who fired into an empty net to put his side ahead.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning a corner in the thirty-seventh minute, as Barrett forced Lewis Gordon to put the ball behind. The ball in from Allen was good, finding the head of Harry Williams, but the defender was unable to find the target, heading over.
Walsall almost added a second, moments later, as Thompson slipped as Lowe raced through on goal, but the goalkeeper managed to make the save with his feet before Ryan Stirk followed up but also saw his effort blocked.
The visiting side continued to test the hosts' defence as we raced towards the break, with Stirk spotting Thompson off his line and firing a long-range effort goal-wards from the halfway line, but the Spireites 'keeper managed to make the save at the second time of asking.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time, Chesterfield were awarded an indirect free-kick as Simkin was adjudged to have handled a back pass inside the area, and the hosts made the most of the opportunity as Naylor played in Darren Oldaker, who fired home to restore parity.
That would be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores level at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and play got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, and just one minute after the restart, had retaken the lead, as Liam Gordon played the ball through for Lowe, who slotted home into the bottom corner.
Lowe looked to turn provider just three minutes later, as he set Charlie Lakin through on goal, but the midfielders effort failed to test Thompson as it sailed high over the crossbar.
Walsall continued to seek more goals as the match continued, with Jack Earing playing in Matt in the fifty-second minute, but Thompson was alert to the danger and made a fine save to deny the strikers low effort, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Things settled a little as the game continued, with Chesterfield seeing much of the ball, without creating anything to trouble their visitors.
Chesterfield chose to make four changes to their line-up in the sixty-third minute, with Liam Mandeville, Harvey Araujo, Darren Oldaker and Will Grigg seeing their places taken by Ryan Colclough, James Berry, Jenson Metcalfe and Paddy Madden.
Walsall looked to add a third goal in the sixty-fifth minute, with Lakin finding Earing on the edge of the area, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide.
Chesterfield looked a much brighter team after the changes, and just four minutes after they were completed, they paid off, as the side levelled the scores for a second time. The recently introduced Berry playing the ball through for Dilan Markanday who fired home from close range.
Walsall made their first change of the afternoon, in the seventieth minute, as a tired looking Jack Earing was replaced by Jamie Jellis.
The hosts almost took the lead fifteen minutes from time, as two of the substitutes combined. Metcalfe playing the ball through to Colclough, whose effort from some thirty yards out sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, as they sought to restore their earlier lead, but Thompson got out well and took the ball from Matt to deny the striker a chance on goal.
The Saddlers opted to make a double change in the eighty-second minute, with Charlie Lakin and Jamille Matt making way for Brandon Comley and Albert Adomah.
There was a halt to proceedings moments after the change was completed, allowing Stirk to receive attention from the medical team, but fortunately, he was soon back on his feet and able to rejoin the action.
Walsall almost added a third in the eighty-sixth minute, as Barrett found the target, but an infringement of the offside rule meant the goal would not stand.
The Spireites chose to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon, two minutes from time, as Dilan Markanday made way for Vontae Daley-Campbell.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Adomah saw a headed effort narrowly miss the target.
Walsall felt they should have been awarded a penalty four minutes into those added, but the officials were unmoved by their appeals and play was waved on.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the sides taking one point each from the contest.
| OLDAKER (45+1') MARKANDAY (67') |
LOWE (33') LOWE (46') |
| AT | SMH GROUP STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SEBASTIAN STOCKBRIDGE |