Walsall were back in action on Tuesday evening as they welcomed Carlisle United to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for a Sky Bet League Two clash.Carlisle United got the match underway, but it was Walsall who enjoyed the brighter start to the contest, opening the scoring just two minutes in, as Harrison Neal was dispossessed by Jamille Matt, with the ball falling kindly for Nathan Lowe who fired a low strike home with some assistance from the inside of the post.
The Saddlers continued to look bright as the game continued, with Connor Barrett finding space to shoot in the seventh minute, but his shot took a deflection en route, allowing United shot-stopper, Harry Lewis, to make an easy save.
Things settled a little after that, with Carlisle seeing more of the ball but failing to create anything to trouble the Walsall defences.
Carlisle created their first half chance of the evening, twenty minutes into the contest, as Harrison Biggins played a promising ball across the box, but none of his teammates were able to get a touch to turn it home.
Terell Thomas became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Matt, in the twenty-second minute.
The visiting side continued to grow into the game, winning a corner in the twenty-third minute, as Jamie Jellis blocked a Callum Guy effort. Nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Walsall almost added a second goal in the twenty-ninth minute, as a long ball from Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, was collected by Lowe, whose effort on goal was saved by Lewis, who got down well to deny him.
Carlisle went close themselves just four minutes later, as Cameron Harper found himself with space to cut inside and fire goal-wards, but his powerful effort sailed inches wide of the Walsall upright.
There was a brief halt to proceedings after that, allowing Ryan Stirk to receive attention from the medical team for a knock, but fortunately, he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
United continued to see much of the ball throughout the final fifteen minutes of the first-half, though the Walsall defences largely ensured that they were unable to create anything to trouble Simkin, though the shot-stopper did make an easy save in the forty-second minute.
The hosts won a corner late in the first-half, as Aaron Hayden turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Jamie Jellis joined Thomas in the referee's notebook, in the forty-fourth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Guy.
Two additional minutes were 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 Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Carlisle chose to make a change as the teams returned following the break, with Aaron Hayden sitting out the second-half, as Dominic Sadi took his place.
Just four minutes after the restart, Walsall extended their lead; a headed pass from Matt playing the ball into the path of Jellis, who raced forwards before firing across the box into the bottom corner.
Jamille Matt joined those playing on a caution, in the fifty-third minute, as he was cautioned for a foul on Guy.
Just two minutes later, Sam Lavelle also drew the attention of the referee, with a cynical challenge on Barrett seeing the Carlisle captain shown the yellow card.
The resulting free-kick was played into the penalty area by Taylor Allen, with the visiting side partially clearing the danger, before the ball was played back in for Matt, who fired past Lewis to further extend the Saddlers lead.
As we reached the hour mark, the Carlisle bench opted to make three further changes to their line-up, with Cameron Harper, Callum Guy and Josh Vela all making way, as their places were filled by Tyler Burey, Ethan Robson and Taylor Charters.
Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Jamille Matt and Charlie Lakin making way for Albert Adomah and Jack Earing.
Burey looked to get involved in the action quickly, and almost pulled a goal back for the visiting side in the sixty-fifth minute as he fired goal-wards from the edge of the area, but his effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
The visiting side were forced to make their fifth and final change of the evening in the seventy-first minute, as Sam Lavelle was forced to depart through injury, with Ben Barclay taking his place.
The Saddlers also took the opportunity to introduce more fresh legs, with Ryan Stirk and Jamie Jellis departing as their places were filled by Brandon Comley and George Hall.
Walsall went close to adding a fourth goal in the seventy-sixth minute, as Adomah played the ball through to Allen, whose low strike was well saved by the fingertips of Lewis.
With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, Walsall made their fifth and final change of the game, as Nathan Lowe was replaced by Danny Johnson.
Carlisle pulled a goal back, eight minutes from time, as the ball was played through to Jon Mellish by Barclay, with the midfielder firing home from close range.
The Saddlers almost found an instant response, with Hall playing in Johnson at the other end, but the strikers effort was deflected behind by the Carlisle goalscorer, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall went close again in the eighty-eighth minute, as Liam Gordon raced forwards with the ball before crossing into the box for Johnson, but Lewis was alert to the danger and got a hand to the ball to keep the effort out.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Gordon saw an effort from the centre of the box sail high and wide of the target. At the other end, moments later, Luke Armstong saw a strike goal-wards saved by Simkin, and that would prove to be the final action of note, as the referee called time with Walsall winning by three-goals-to-one.
Another good performance from the Saddlers, who once again allowed their opposition to see much of the ball, whilst limiting their opponents chances and taking their own well.
| LOWE (2') JELLIS (49') MATT (56') |
MELLISH (82') |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | SCOTT OLDHAM |