SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON PATREON
Walsall welcomed Gillingham to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday evening as they battled it out in their latest League Two outings of the season.Both sides took some time to settle into the game, with little real action of note, until six minutes into the contest, referee, Thomas Parsons showed the first yellow card of the evening to David Okagbue, following a foul on Max Clark.
The contest continued as a rather scrappy affair, with plenty of free-kicks being awarded as the fouls mounted, though neither side were able to create anything from them, although one fifteen minutes in looked to have seen Joseph Gbode played in, but Harry Williams got to the ball and cleared the danger.
Things continued in much the same vein as the game continued, but twenty-five minutes in, the Saddlers created their first real half-chance of the evening, as Evan Weir picked up the ball and raced forwards, but his effort on goal sailed high over the crossbar from distance.
Walsall continued to enjoy a brighter spell, with the ball being crossed in towards Oisin McEntee, in the twenty-ninth minute, but the midfielder was unable to get a touch on it to turn it goal-wards.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, as we reached the half hour mark, allowing Gbode to receive attention from the Gillingham medical team, but he was soon able to rejoin the action as play got back underway.
The hosts continued to enjoy a decent spell of play, winning a corner in the thirty-fourth minute, as Clark turned the ball out of play, but Jamie Jellis' ball in was cleared behind, as were each of the successive three flag-kicks, before the ball was eventually cleared out of play for a throw in; Williams throw fell to Connor Barrett, who won yet another corner, from which the danger was eventually cleared.
Harry Williams became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Gbode, in the forty-second minute.
Gillingham played the resulting free-kick short, eventually working the ball into the box for Gbode, but his effort on goal lacked power and Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin was able to make the save.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, and as the board was being shown, two yellow cards were also shown, as Gillingham manager, John Coleman and Walsall's first-team coach, Darren Byfield were cautioned by the referee.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as a rather scrappy first-half was brought to its conclusion; the sides heading off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the action resumed. Walsall began the second-half brightly, and just four minutes after the restart, opened the scoring as Barrett played the ball to Matt, whose effort on goal was deflected past Gillingham 'keeper, Glenn Morris.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Weir seeing an effort from outside the area blocked, in the fifty-second minute.
Gillingham soon had the ball at the other end, where Remeao Hutton crossed it in for Elliott Nevitt, but the strikers headed effort sailed wide of the target.
There was another pause in proceedings, in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Josh Gordon to receive attention from the Walsall medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to play any further part, and Ellis Harrison was brought on in his place.
Remeao Hutton, Jamie Jellis and Connor Barrett all saw their names taken by the referee, in the fifty-ninth minute, after an argument broke out as Gillingham were awarded a throw in.
Dominic Corness joined those already playing on a caution, in the sixty-second minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Jellis.
With sixty-eight minutes on the clock, Gillingham levelled the scores, as Sam Gale crossed the ball to Robbie McKenzie, who took a touch before firing a powerful effort past Simkin from outside the area.
Gillingham opted to make their first changes of the evening in the seventy-third minute, as Dominic Corness and Joseph Gbode made way for former Saddler, Jack Nolan and Oliver Hawkins.
Walsall won a corner in the seventy-sixth minute as Gale turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as the ball in was cleared out wide by Morris. The resulting throw eventually found Ryan Stirk, whose shot on goal was saved by the Gills 'keeper.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Liam Gordon combining with Matt to play in McEntee, but the midfielder was unable to find the target.
The visiting side had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where Hutton saw a curling shot on goal sail inches over the crossbar.
Gillingham were quick to work the ball back into the danger zone, with Armani Little forcing Okagbue to block the ball off the line.
Five minutes from time, both sides chose to make changes to their line-up, with Gillingham's, Elliott Nevitt being replaced by Jimmy-Jay Morgan, whilst Jamie Jellis made way for Danny Johnson.
Johnson almost made his mark on the game, just three minutes after his introduction, as McEntee lifted the ball over the top for him, but his effort on goal looped onto the roof of the net.
The Saddlers chose to make a further change to their line-up, in the eighty-ninth minute, with Jamille Matt making way for Levi Amantchi.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Nolan saw an effort blocked, before Johnson fired wide from some thirty-five yards out at the other end. That would prove to be the final real action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the sides each taking one point from the contest.
| MATT (49') | McKENZIE (68') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | THOMAS PARSONS |
