Walsall returned to League Two action on Tuesday evening as they welcomed Notts County to the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Both teams enjoyed early spells with the ball, though neither were able to create much to really trouble their opposition defences, although, eight minutes into the contest, Ryan Stirk did flash an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Walsall continued to enjoy a good spell, with Charlie Lakin forcing a save from Notts County 'keeper, Alex Bass, in the tenth minute.
County won the first corner of the evening, in the fourteenth minute, as Harry Williams turned the ball out of play. The ball in looked good, forcing a save from Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, but a foul by Alassana Jatta brought an end to the move.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, with Taylor Allen firing an effort goal-wards from distance, but he was unable to find the target.
The enjoyed a decent spell of possession as the game continued, creating another chance to open the scoring in the twenty-fifth minute, as a cross by Connor Barrett found Lowe at the far post, but the strikers headed effort was easily held by the County 'keeper.
Things settled a little after that, but the hosts won a free-kick in a dangerous position, in the thirty-first minute, which the visiting side failed to deal with, with the ball eventually falling to Liam Gordon, who fired a low effort narrowly wide of the upright.
Despite seeing much of the ball, Notts County struggled to create anything to test the Walsall defences, until, thirty-six minutes into the contest, a cross from Madou Cisse found David McGoldrick in position to shoot, but his effort on goal sailed well wide of the target.
The visiting side continued to enjoy a brighter spell of play following that chance, with McGoldrick slipping the ball through for Alassana Jatta, in the forty-third minute, but the strikers effort missing the target and being turned behind by Gordon, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall won a corner in the final moments of the first-half, but with no time added by the referee, there wasn't time to take it, and the teams headed back to their respective dressing rooms with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action got back underway. Notts County began the second-half brightly, with Bass playing Jatta through on goal just two minutes in. Fortunately for the Saddlers, Simkin was alert to the danger and did well to make a save, with Sam Austin following up twice, though both attempts were blocked by Walsall defenders. The corner which resulted from the second of these blocks, fell to McGoldrick, who fired over.
Connor Barrett became the first player to see yellow in the forty-ninth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on McGoldrick.
The visiting side continued to press, with McGoldrick curling another effort goal-wards in the fiftieth minute, calling Simkin into action again to deny him.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Simkin to receive attention from the medical team. Fortunately for the Saddlers, the shot-stopper was soon back on his feet and able to continue. However, the Notts County bench did take the opportunity to make their first change of the game, as Madou Cisse was replaced by Kellan Gordon.
Against the run of play, the Saddlers found the breakthrough in the fifty-seventh minute, as the recently introduced Kellan Gordon turned the ball out of play gifting the hosts a corner, which Allen curled over Bass and into the back of the net.
Walsall continued to enjoy a brighter spell of play, winning another corner kick as we reached the hour mark, as Matt Palmer put the ball behind. George Hall crossed the ball in from the flag-kick, for David Okagbue, but the defenders header sailed narrowly wide.
The Saddlers did double their advantage in the sixty-fourth minute, as Lowe passed the ball to Hall on the edge of the area, from where the midfielder fired a low effort under Bass and into the bottom corner.
County opted to make their second change of the evening, in the sixty-eighth minute, with Sam Austin making way for Cedwyn Scott.
The visiting side were presented with a chance to pull a goal back in the seventy-third minute, as they were awarded a penalty after Lewis Macari was fouled inside the area by Williams. McGoldrick stepped forth to take the spot-kick, and duly scored.
Walsall responded to the goal by making their first change of the evening, as Jamille Matt made way for Albert Adomah, in the seventy-fifth minute.
The Saddlers almost restored their earlier two goal advantage moments after the change was completed, as a County clearance fell to Lowe, but the strikers effort rose over the bar.
The visiting side almost restored parity in the seventy-ninth minute, as Kellan Gordon crossed the ball to Jack Hinchy, who fired goal-wards from outside the area, missing the target by inches.
Tommy Simkin became the second player to see yellow, in the seventy-ninth minute, as he was cautioned for time wasting.
Walsall chose to make their second substitution of the evening, in the eighty-fourth minute, as George Hall was replaced by Jack Earing.
Earing was quick to get involved in the game, picking up the ball on the edge of the area just one minute after his introduction, but his effort on goal sailed high over the target.
The Saddlers did put the game to bed one minute later, as a poor clearance from the visiting side allowed the hosts to work the ball back into the danger zone, with Adomah picking out Lowe with a cross into the box, allowing the Stoke City loanee to tap home from close range.
Seven additional minutes were added to end the match, and four minutes into those added, County pulled a second goal back, as Williams headed a clearance into the path of Hinchy, who fired home from just outside the area.
County set about looking for a late equaliser following the goal, winning a corner six minutes into those added, as Nick Tsaroulla curled an effort towards the top corner, forcing a save from the Walsall shot-stopper, and ultimately nothing would of the flag-kick.
At the other end, Liam Gordon went close for the Saddlers late into added time, but his effort sailed high and wide of the target. That would prove be the final action of note, as the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by three-goals-to-two.
| ALLEN (57') HALL (64') LOWE (86') |
McGOLDRICK [P] (') HINCHY (90+4') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | DAVID ROCK |