Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they took on table-topping Port Vale as Mat Sadler's men looked to knock their hosts off the top of the table and continue their strong spell of form.Port Vale began the game brightly, advancing goal-wards inside the opening minute, but the Walsall defences were able to clear the danger before the hosts were able to get a shot away.
Both sides saw plenty of the ball as the match continued, but it was the home side who looked the more likely of the two to grab an early goal, winning a corner in the seventh minute as Harry Williams turned a Rekeem Harper effort behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Vale continued to test the Walsall defences, but twelve minutes in, the Saddlers created their first real chance of note, as the ball was played to Charlie Lakin in the danger zone, but the midfielder failed to beat the Valiants defences before the hosts cleared.
The home team won another corner in the fourteenth minute as Taylor Allen cleared the ball behind, but nothing would come of the set-piece, as the Saddlers cleared.
The match continued as a rather scrappy affair, as the wind caused issues for both sides, but Port Vale should have opened the scoring in the twenty-second minute as Ronan Curtis played the ball through for Rico Richards, whose curling effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
The game developed into something of a midfield battle as it continued, but Walsall went close in the thirty-first minute as, after a good spell of possession, the ball fell to Ryan Stirk on the edge of the area, but Ethan Chislett was on hand for the hosts to keep the effort out, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The Saddlers won another corner kick just three minutes later, which was swung onto the crossbar by Allen.
Both sides continued to struggle with the wind as the game continued, resulting in few chances to open the scoring.
Walsall won a corner two minutes before half-time, as Harper was forced to turn the ball behind, but Valiants 'keeper, Connor Ripley was able to punch clear before the ball was again turned behind. The second flag-kick was swung in by Allen, who went close again, landing the ball on the top of the net.
Another late corner followed just a minute later, but the hosts dealt with the pressure and the sides headed off to enjoy some temporary respite from the weather, with the scores still tied at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. Just one minute after the restart, Port Vale were presented with an opportunity to open the scoring, as they were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position as Lakin fouled Curtis. Curtis stepped forth to fire the set-piece goal-wards, but his effort was blocked.
At the other end, just four minutes later, Walsall won a corner, as Sam Hart turned the ball out of play. Allen swung the ball into the area and it eventually fell to Jamille Matt, whose effort on goal was initially saved by Ripley before the ball looped into the air and into the back of the net, putting the Saddlers ahead.
Connor Barrett became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the fifty-sixth minute for obstruction.
Walsall went close again in the fifty-seventh minute, as George Hall won the ball back before passing to David Okagbue who in turn found Nathan Lowe, whose low strike goal-wards was turned behind by Ripley, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
David Okagbue became the second recipient of the yellow card, in the fifty-ninth minute, as he was added to the referee's notebook following a foul on Curtis.
With sixty-three minutes on the clock, Port Vale opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, as Brandon Cover and Ethan Chislett made way for Jayden Stockley and Ruari Paton.
There was little action of note, before the home side chose to add a third substitute, as Ryan Croasdale made way for George Byers, with twenty minutes remaining.
Port Vale could have levelled the scores in the seventy-second minute, but none of the home side were able to get a touch on Tom Sang's ball into the area, and it eventually went out for a corner, which came to nothing as Stockley headed over.
The Valiants chose to make their final two available changes of the afternoon, in the seventy-seventh minute, with Rico Richards and Rakeem Harper making way for Antwoine Hackford and Kyle John.
Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce their first substitute of the game, as Jamille Matt was replaced by Albert Adomah.
Liam Gordon became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Hackford, ten minutes from time.
The resulting free-kick almost lead to the hosts levelling as the ball eventually fell to Stockley, but the midfielders effort was cleared off the line, keeping the Saddlers slender lead intact.
Walsall saw much of the late ball, as they looked to see out the game, but one minute from time, Port Vale did create chance to shoot, winning a throw in which eventually fell to Paton, whose headed effort sailed over.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Lowe looked to add a second for the Saddlers with a header goal-wards, but he was unable to find the target, sending the ball wide.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall heading to the top of the League Two table, winning by one-goal-to-nil.
| MATT (51') | |
| AT | VALE PARK |
| REFEREE | BENJAMIN SPEEDIE |