Attention turned to cup action on Saturday afternoon as Walsall welcomed Bolton Wanderers to the Poundland Bescot Stadium as they two sides battled it out in the First Round of the 2024/25 Emirates FA Cup.Walsall began the game brightly, creating their first chance of the afternoon just one minute into the contest, as Liam Gordon cut the ball back for Jamie Jellis, whose strike from the centre of the box sailed inches wide of the target.
Bolton grew into the game and created a chance of their own, five minutes after the opening whistle sounded, as Szabolcs Schön worked the ball to Klaidi Lolos, who in turn crossed to Randell Williams, whose effort on goal was blocked by Gordon.
The Saddlers were awarded a free-kick at the other end, a short time later, which was cleared behind by Lolos, for a corner, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Scott Arfield headed clear.
A corner followed at the other end moments later, as David Okagbue denied Dion Charles a shot at goal, but Harry Williams was on hand to clear the danger for the Saddlers.
The visiting side went close to opening the scoring in the thirteenth minute, as Charles was played through on goal, but Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin was alert to the danger and got a hand to the ball to keep it out. The resulting corner came to nothing as Jack Earing cleared.
Another Wanderers corner followed in the eighteenth minute, as Arfield saw an effort blocked. The ball was played short by Schön to Josh Sheehan, whose cross was met by George Johnston, but the captain's looping header connected with the crossbar, leaving the scores unchanged.
Bolton continued to press, with Sheehan sending an effort of his own in on goal, in the twenty-third minute, but he could only find the side netting.
Walsall went close at the other end five minutes later, as a long throw from Williams found Jellis, whose effort on goal was deflected narrowly wide of the upright.
As we reached the half hour mark, Walsall were forced to make their first substitution of the afternoon, as injury forced Ryan Stirk from the game, with Charlie Lakin taking his place.
Things settled a little as the game continued, though Bolton felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the thirty-seventh minute, as Arfield went down inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
The visiting side were awarded a free-kick moments later, but they were unable to make it count, as Sheehan's ball in was collected by Simkin.
Walsall looked set to open the scoring in the thirty-ninth minute, as a Jellis cross was headed on by Connor Barrett for Albert Adomah, whose effort on goal was headed off the line by Johnston, with Nathan Lowe then heading the rebound over the bar.
The hosts continued to enjoy a bright spell late in the first-half, with Taylor Allen floating the ball in for Jellis, in the forty-third minute, but Bolton shot-stopper, Luke Southwood was on hand to gather.
The Saddlers went close again, in the forty-fourth minute, as Lowe played the ball through for Jellis, whose low strike from twenty yards out sailed narrowly wide of the post.
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 the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Bolton got the action back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, seeing an effort go close in the fiftieth minute, as Okagbue combined with Adomah to play the ball in for Lowe, but the striker was unable to get a touch on it to turn it home.
Harry Williams became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Arfield, in the fifty-third minute.
The resulting free-kick provided Bolton with just the opportunity they needed to open the scoring, as Sheehan stepped forth to fire the set-piece goal-wards and found the target from twenty-five yards.
Szabolcs Schön became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Barrett in the fifty-ninth minute.
Simkin played the ball long from the resulting free-kick, with Gordon picking it up at the other end, rounding his man and firing a powerful home to level the scores.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning another free-kick in a dangerous position moments later, as Adomah was fouled, but they were unable to make the most of it as Josh Dacres-Cogley cleared at the near post.
Bolton opted to make their first changes of the afternoon in the sixty-eighth minute, with Scott Arfield and Klaidi Lolos making way for John McAtee and Aaron Collins.
Walsall continued to seek a second goal as the game continued, and went close in the seventy-fourth minute, as Jellis fired towards the far post, but his effort struck the post.
Fifteen minutes from time, Bolton chose to make a further change to their line-up, with Dion Charles being replaced by Victor Adeboyejo.
Play was stopped briefly moments after the change was completed, allowing Harry Williams to receive treatment from the medical team, after a collision with the wall surrounding the pitch. Fortunately, he was soon back on his feet but that would signal the end of his involvement, and Donervon Daniels was brought on in his place. The Saddlers also took the opportunity to replace Jack Earing with George Hall, for the remaining minutes.
Another pause in proceedings followed moments after the match restarted, as Southwood went down requiring attention from the Bolton medical team, fortunately for the visiting side, it was soon determined that he would be fine to continue and play resumed once more.
Walsall were soon testing the Bolton 'keeper again, with Allen firing a low effort goal-wards in the eighty-second minute, which the shot-stopper did well to turn away from goal, before the ball was turned out of play for a corner following which, Barrett drew another good save from the man between the sticks from some thirty yards out.
The hosts opted to introduce more fresh legs, four minutes from time, as they sought to find a late winner, with Albert Adomah making for Jamille Matt.
Bolton soon had the ball back in the Walsall area, as Collins played in McAtee, but Simkin was alert to the danger and gathered with ease. The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner moments later as a cross was cleared behind, but nothing would come of it as Adeboyejo's strike was blocked.
Nine additional minutes were added to end the match, and just one minute into those, Walsall took the lead, as Lowe brought down a long ball from Simkin before slotting it through to the feet of Jellis, who coolly slotted past Southwood.
Both Jay Matete and Jamille Matt saw their names taken by the referee, eight minutes into the nine added on, as they were cautioned having gotten into an argument.
That would prove to be the final action of note though, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-one, advancing into the Second Round.
| L. GORDON (59') JELLIS (90+1') |
SHEEHAN (55') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | RUEBYN RICARDO |