Walsall looked to take their recent form into the New Year as they opened 2025 with a short trip to Meadow Lane and a meeting with Notts County.Walsall got their first game of 2025 underway, and were quick to work the ball into the Notts County area, but with nobody available to meet Nathan Lowe's cross into the box, the move fizzled out.
It took Notts County just three minutes to work the ball into the danger zone at the other end though, with Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin making a fine save to deny Sam Austin, with the resulting corner coming to nothing as Matty Platt's strike from outside the box was saved.
The Saddlers were soon back on the attack, with Liam Gordon breaking down the left before floating a cross into the box for Albert Adomah, but the striker was unable to make a connection with the ball to turn it home.
The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner nine minutes into the contest, as Matt Palmer turned the ball out play, but nothing would come of the set-piece.
County should have opened the scoring in the twelfth minute, as David McGoldrick played the ball through for Alassana Jatta, who raced forwards, rounded Simkin who had come out to meet him and slipped the ball through on goal, but Evan Weir got to it just before it crossed the line to keep the scores level. The resulting corner coming to nothing.
The home side got forwards again six minutes later, as Josh Martin won the ball and looked to play in Matt Palmer, but the midfielder was unable to find the target as his effort on goal was deflected behind.
The hosts continued to see much of the ball as play continued, but Walsall could have opened the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute, as Lowe and Jamie Jellis got forwards and found themselves through two-on-one with County 'keeper, Alex Bass. Jellis opted to take the shot, and his effort was deflected behind for a corner, which was cleared.
With twenty-six minutes on the clock, Notts County found the breakthrough, as Martin slipped the ball through for Jatta, who beat his man to get to it before slotting past Simkin.
Things settled a little after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
County could have doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break, as George Abbott fired an effort in on goal from outside the area, but Simkin was alert to the danger and turned the ball behind. The resulting corner was eventually played out to Dan Crowley, whose curling effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Walsall soon had the ball up at the other end, where Connor Barrett found himself with space to shoot, but his low effort on goal was saved by Bass.
Things settled again, with little further action of note, until Connor Barrett became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Crowley, in the forty-fifth minute.
One additional minute was played to end the first-half, but neither side were able to make use of them, and the sides headed back to their respective changing rooms with Notts County leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Walsall chose to make two changes to their line-up as the teams returned, with Charlie Lakin and Albert Adomah sitting out the second-half, as Oisin McEntee and Jamille Matt took their respective places.
The Saddlers began the second-half brightly, and thought they had levelled the scores just three minutes after the restart, as a Ryan Stirk cross was headed home by the recently introduced McEntee, but the officials spotted an infringement of the offside rule, and the goal was disallowed.
The visiting side continued to test their opposition defences as play continued, winning a corner in the fifty-first minute, as Lowe got on the end of a long throw from Harry Williams, with his effort being deflected behind. The flag-kick falling to Stirk, who fired over from outside the box.
Matthew Platt became the second player to see his name taken, as he was cautioned following a foul on Stirk in the fifty-third minute. The resulting free-kick was taken by Weir, from a promising position, just outside the area, but the defenders curling effort towards the bottom corner was kept out by Bass, who got down well.
There was a halt to proceedings in the fifty-sixth minute, allowing Bass to receive attention from the County medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Walsall felt they should have been awarded a penalty, as we reached the hour mark, as Matt was pushed to the ground inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall levelled the scores, as a long throw from Williams found Weir, who played the ball back across the box to be headed home by Matt.
Notts County chose to make a double change to their line-up in the seventy-fourth minute, with Josh Martin and Sam Austin making way for Conor Grant and Jodi Jones.
Things remained settled following the changes, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating much to test their opposition defences.
Ten minutes from time, Walsall could have taken the lead, as Weir intercepted a pass and played Gordon through on goal, but Bass was alert to the danger and pushed the ball clear.
Walsall had more luck just two minutes later, as Lowe got on the end of a through ball from Weir and slotted home from close range.
Moments after the goal, Walsall chose to make another change to their line-up, with Connor Barrett making way for Taylor Allen.
County set about looking to level the scores, and went close to doing so in the eighty-seventh minute, but Crowley was unable to turn McGoldrick's pass home, sending the ball narrowly wide of the upright.
At the other end, moments later, the Saddlers won a corner as Grant turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Weir's ball in was cleared.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, County won a corner as Matt turned the ball behind to deny Platt, but nothing would come of the flag-kick. The hosts continued to seek a late equaliser though, with Jacob Bedeau playing in Palmer, but the midfielder was unable to find the target, sending the ball wide.
The home team thought they had found the goal to take a point from the contest, in the ninety-sixth minute, as McGoldrick fired past Simkin, but he was adjudged to have been offside and the goal was ruled 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 beginning the year with another three points to add to their ever increasing tally.
| JATTA (26') |
MATT (65') LOWE (82') |
| AT | MEADOW LANE |
| REFEREE | FARAI HALLAM |