Walsall made their way to Hayes Lane on Thursday evening as they took on Bromley in a televised Sky Bet League Two clash.Walsall got the match underway, but it was Bromley who started the brighter of the two sides, winning a corner just two minutes into the contest as Taylor Allen turned the ball out of play, however, nothing would come of the early flag-kick.
The Saddlers grew into the game, seeing more of the ball as play continued, but seven minutes in, Bromley opened the scoring. The hosts clearing a Walsall free-kick before breaking with the ball in a move which culminated in Ben Thompson finding the target from the edge of the area.
There was a pause in proceedings in the eighteenth minute, allowing Ellis Harrison to receive attention from the Walsall medical team. It was soon determined he would be unable to continued, and former Bromley man, Levi Amantchi was brought on in his place.
Walsall could have levelled the scores in the twenty-second minute, as Liam Gordon raced forwards before getting a shot away from the edge of the area, but Bromley 'keeper, Grant Smith, was able to gather.
Moments later, at the other end, Bromley did have the ball in the back of the net, as Corey Whitely fired in off the post, but he was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.
David Okagbue became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned in the twenty-eighth minute, following a foul on Thompson.
As we reached the half hour mark, Bromley won a free-kick which was played forwards for Michael Cheek, whose effort on goal was cleared off the line, though the striker was caught in an offside position so any goal would not have stood.
There was another pause in play, in the thirty-second minute, allowing Byron Webster to receive attention from the Bromley medical team. He was soon back on his feet and play continued.
Walsall sought to get back on level terms as the game continued, going close in the thirty-fifth minute, as Jamille Matt played the ball in for Jamie Jellis, but the midfielders' effort was well gathered by Smith.
The visitors continued to grow into the game, with Connor Barrett sending a low cross the way of Amantchi, in the thirty-sixth minute, but the substitute was unable to find the target, sending the ball over the crossbar.
Jamille Matt became the second player to see yellow, in the thirty-ninth minute, as he was cautioned for dissent.
The hosts were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, in the forty-first minute, as Ashley Charles was fouled by Okagbue. The ball in by Adam Mayor looked good, but Cheek was unable to find the target as he got his head to it.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, and just one minute into them, Walsall levelled the scores, as Oisin McEntee crossed the ball towards the back post, for Amantchi, who fired home on the turn.
Bromley won a corner, three minutes into those added, as the ball was turned out of play by Evan Weir, but nothing would come of the set-piece, as Walsall were able to clear.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the first-half ended with the scores tied, the sides having scored one-goal-apiece.
Bromley opted to make their first change of the evening as the teams returned, with Kamarl Grant sitting out the second-half, as Harry McKirdy took his place.
Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just two minutes after the restart, as Jude Arthurs turned a Jellis effort behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as Jellis failed to beat the first man.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning another corner just two minutes later, as Mayor turned the ball behind, but that too would come to nothing, as McEntee's powerful header goal-wards was saved by Smith.
Ten minutes after his introduction into the game, McKirdy restored Bromley's earlier lead, as he got on the end of a well-weighted ball from Cheek and looped an effort over Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby, into the back of the net.
Walsall responded well to falling a goal behind, but Allen's fifty-sixth minute effort on goal from a tight angle was well saved by an alert Smith.
The visitors continued to press, with McEntee seeing an effort saved from close range, just after the hour mark, after getting on the end of a Jellis cross.
The hosts won a corner in the sixty-fifth minute, as Allen was forced to turn the ball behind. Cameron Congreve swung the ball into the danger zone, from the flag-kick, but Matt was on hand to head clear for the Saddlers, preventing Cheek getting his head to it.
Twenty minutes from time, Walsall levelled the scores, for a second time, as Barrett crossed the ball towards the near post for Matt, who timed his run perfectly and prodded past Smith, to score on his four-hundredth career appearance.
With seventy-four minutes played, Bromley chose to make their second change of the evening, with Cameron Congreve making way for Brooklyn Ilunga.
The home side looked to retake the lead, in the seventy-seventh minute, winning a corner which was played into the box for Deji Elerewe, whose headed effort was played on to Cheek, but McEntee was on hand to keep the striker from finding the target. Cheek felt he should have seen his side awarded a penalty, but the referee was unmoved and waved play on.
Connor Barrett joined those playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card in the eighty-first minute, following a foul on Ilunga.
Walsall created a chance to take the lead for the first time, in the eighty-sixth minute, as Allen broke with the ball before delivering a cross into the box, but Smith beat Gordon to it to keep the scores tied.
Three minutes from time, Bromley chose to make two further changes to their line-up, as Michael Cheek and Ashley Charles made way for Nicke Kabamba and Louis Dennis.
Three additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the sides sharing the points. A decent performance from the Saddlers, coming from behind twice to take a point from the contest.
| THOMPSON (7') McKIRDY (55') |
AMANTCHI (45+1') MATT (70') |
| AT | HAYES LANE |
| REFEREE | RUEBYN RICARDO |
