Focus returned to League Two on Saturday afternoon as the Saddlers welcomed Barrow to the Poundland Bescot Stadium, with Mat Sadler's men looking to continue a strong run of form.The match got off to a relatively quiet start, with a few feisty tackles going in, but little action of note, until Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin was called into action, making a save to deny Dean Campbell's twenty yard effort, thirteen minutes into the contest.
Things settled again following that, though Walsall did win the first corner of the game, some twenty-one minutes in, as Robbie Gotts blocked a Taylor Allen strike, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with Allen playing the ball over the top for Jamille Matt, in the twenty-third minute, but the strikers low effort on goal was well saved by Barrow 'keeper, Paul Farman.
Unperturbed, the home side continued to press, with Liam Gordon cutting inside to find space to shoot, in the twenty-sixth minute, but his curling effort from twenty-five yards sailed narrowly wide of the target, moments after Charlie Lakin had seen a shot blocked.
The Saddlers persistence finally paid off in the twenty-eighth minute, as a Ryan Stirk cross was fired into the bottom corner by Allen from twenty yards out.
Barrow could have equalised ten minutes before the break, but after some good work to get into shooting range, Emile Acquah dragged his low effort wide.
The visitors went close again moments later, as Ged Garner crossed the ball towards the back post for Robbie Gotts, but the midfielders effort was blocked. Barrow continued to press, with Acquah looking to find the target moments later, but his low strike was well saved by Simkin.
Junior Tiensia became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Matt, in the forty-fifth minute.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but after a penalty claim from the Saddlers was rejected by the referee as Matt was felled inside the area, the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and the action got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, with Gordon doing well to get a low cross in to the near post moments after the restart, but Farman was on hand to push the effort clear, before Lakin's follow-up was turned behind by Theo Vassell, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Jamille Matt became the second player to see his name added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned following a foul on Campbell, in the fifty-third minute, meaning the striker will now miss the upcoming game against Harrogate Town.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Ryan Stirk to receive attention from the medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Jamie Jellis was brought on to take his place.
Things settled a little as the game continued, but sixty-two minutes in, the Saddlers could have doubled their advantage as a high ball from Lakin set Nathan Lowe free, with the striker finding his way into the box before firing goal-wards, but his effort failed to find the target, instead rustling the side-netting.
Barrow chose to make their first change of the afternoon in the sixty-third minute, with Ged Garner making way for Charlie Kirk.
The hosts went close again in the sixty-fifth minute, as Gordon fired goal-wards from close range, but Farman was alert to the danger and made the save, with the resulting corner also being cleared by the man between the sticks.
The visiting side chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the seventy-second minute, with Emile Acquah and Rory Feely departing in favour of Andy Dallas and Elliot Newby.
Theo Vassell joined those playing on a caution, in the seventy-third minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Lowe.
Farman was brought into action again in the seventy-seventh minute, as a delightful ball from David Okagbue set Jellis through on goal, but the goalkeeper was alert to the danger and made a fine save to keep his side in the game.
Barrow were quick to work the ball up to the other end, winning a corner in the seventy-ninth minute, as Simkin turned a Gotts header over the crossbar. The flag-kick came to nothing.
That would prove to be the final action of note for Robbie Gotts, who was replaced by Connor Mahoney, in the eighty-first minute.
Walsall also took the opportunity to make some changes to their line-up, with Jamille Matt and Jack Earing making way for Oisin McEntee and Albert Adomah.
Albert Adomah wasted no time in drawing the attention of the referee, being shown the yellow card just three minutes after his introduction into the game, for time wasting.
Play was paused moments later, allowing Ben Jackson to receive attention from the Barrow medical team, but he was soon back on his feet, able to continue.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time Andrew Dallas was shown the yellow card for a foul on Adomah, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by one-goal-to-nil. By no means a classic, but Walsall doing enough to take all three points.
| ALLEN (28') | |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ANDREW HUMPHRIES |