Walsall welcome Newport County to the Poundland Bescot Stadium as they look to make it six wins on the bounce and end 2024 on a high.Following a minute of applause to remember those who have passed away during the past year, the match got underway. Although play was paused again only two minutes later, allowing Cameron Antwi to receive attention from the medical team.
Newport won a corner moments before the injury concern, as a low cross from Kai Whitmore was blocked behind by Taylor Allen. Once play resumed, the flag-kick was taken, but came to nothing, and Antwi returned to the field of play.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a good spell of play, with Michael Spellman racing forwards in the sixth minute, before crossing a low ball across the face of goal, but none of his teammates were able to make a connection with it to turn it home.
County continued to test the Walsall defences, with Saddlers shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin forced to palm another Spellman cross away from goal in the seventh minute.
Things settled a little as play continued, though Newport continued to see much of the ball.
Anthony Driscoll-Glennon became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned, in the twentieth minute, following a foul on Connor Barrett.
Walsall won a corner in the twenty-first minute, as Shane McLoughlin turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Things settled again, with Newport continuing to see much more of the ball than their hosts, but failing to create anything further of note, until a promising cross was delivered into the box by Bobby Kamwa, but none of his teammates were able to meet it and the move fizzled out.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, thirty-four minute into the contest, allowing Jamie Jellis to receive attention from the medical team, but it was soon determined he would be able to continue and play resumed.
The Saddlers finally began to grow into the contest, going close in the thirty-seventh minute, as Charlie Lakin crossed the ball onto the head of Jamille Matt, but the striker was unable to beat County 'keeper, Nick Townsend.
The hosts continued to press, with Stirk playing the ball through for Nathan Lowe, on the edge of the area, moments later, but the man between the sticks was alert to the danger and was again able to make the save.
Harry Williams became the second player to see his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned for a foul on Kamwa, in the forty-second minute.
Walsall created probably their best chance of the game, in the forty-fourth minute, as a corner was whipped in by Allen towards the near post, where an unmarked Lowe got a head to it, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Simkin was again tested by Spellman, but the shot-stopper was not found wanting as he made the save to keep the scores level. That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and play resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, with David Okagbue crossing the ball in towards the far post, just two minutes after the restart, for Matt, but the strikers downward header crept narrowly wide of the upright.
The hosts continued to press, with Liam Gordon delivering another promising ball into the box, eight minutes into the half, but Matt was unable to connect with it to turn it home.
Newport won a corner in the fifty-sixth minute, as a Whitmore cross was turned behind by Okagbue, but nothing would come of the opportunity.
Walsall chose to make a triple substitution as we reached the hour mark, with Jamille Matt, Charlie Lakin and Jamie Jellis making way as their places were filled by Albert Adomah, Jack Earing and Oisin McEntee.
County were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position in the sixty-third minute, after Whitmore was fouled by Okagbue. Evans stepped forth to take the set-piece, but Simkin was able to claim.
David Okagbue joined those playing on a caution, in the sixty-sixth minute, as he was shown the yellow card for a foul on Spellman.
Things settled a little as the game continued, with both sides enjoying spells with the ball, without creating much going forwards, until Walsall went close in the seventy-first minute, but Lowe's effort from close range sailed wide.
Just two minutes later, the Saddlers found the breakthrough, winning a corner which was eventually played out to Earing, who played in a high cross towards the back post, where Allen was waiting to head the ball down for Lowe, who poked home.
The Newport bench responded to the goal by making a triple substitution, with Michael Spellman, Cameron Antwi and Luke Jephcott making way for Oliver Greaves, Jamie Miley and Hamzad Kargbo, in the seventy-sixth minute.
Liam Gordon saw his name taken by the referee, in the eighty-first minute, as he was cautioned for time-wasting.
Walsall saw much more of the ball as play continued, going close again moments after the booking, as Stirk fired a powerful effort in on goal from the edge of the area, but Townsend was well positioned and made a fine save to deny him.
The visiting side chose to make their final two changes of the afternoon, four minutes from time, with Bobby Kamwa and Kai Whitmore made way for Kyle Jameson and Kyle Hudlin.
The hosts were forced to make a fourth change to their line-up in the eighty-ninth minute, as an injury forced Jack Earing from the game, with Donervon Daniels taking his place.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time the hosts won a free-kick in a promising position, which Allen curled into the box for Daniels, but the recently introduced man was unable to get the touch needed to turn it home.
As we reached the fifth of the added minutes, Walsall doubled their advantage, as Allen played a lovely ball over the top for Lowe, who took one touch then fired a thunderous strike home from eighteen yards out.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the referee brought an end to the contest with Walsall winning by two-goals-to-nil. The Saddlers ending 2024 atop the League Two table.
| LOWE (73') LOWE (90+5') |
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| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | CARL BROOK |