Walsall were back in Sky Bet League Two action on Tuesday evening as they made their way to Brunton Park and took on Carlisle United.Walsall began the game brightly, seeing plenty of the ball in the early goings, and opening the scoring just seven minutes into the contest; a corner conceded by Archie Davies being swung into the area by Jamie Jellis. The initial ball in was cleared but only as far as Ryan Stirk who picked out an unmarked Taylor Allen with his cross, leaving the defender free to fire home from close range.
The Saddlers continued to see plenty of the ball as the game continued, though they were unable to create any further chances of note.
The visiting side did almost add a second goal in the eighteenth minute, as a poor pass gave the ball away to Jamille Matt, with Charlie Lakin eventually picking up the ball from another Carlisle defender as he attempted to clear a Jellis pass, but the number eight ultimately saw his effort sail over the crossbar.
Somewhat against the run of play, Carlisle won a corner in the twenty-second minute, as Allen turned the ball behind. Elliot Embleton crossed the ball into the area from the flag-kick, finding Aaron Hayden, who rose well to beat his marker to the ball, and headed past Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, to level the scores.
The hosts almost took the lead just two minutes later, as a Callum Whelan cross found Embleton in space outside the box, but his effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Things settled a little after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating anything to really trouble their opposition defences, though United could have added to their tally in the thirty-first minute, as Embleton swung the ball in towards the back post, but Hayden was unable to get his head to it and it sailed harmlessly out of play for a goal-kick.
Walsall had the chance to retake the lead in the thirty-fourth minute, as Connor Barrett pulled the ball back for Adomah, but the striker scuffed his finish, sending the ball wide of the mark.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning a free-kick in a promising position, in the thirty-seventh minute. Jellis swung the ball in towards the edge of the area, where Adomah was waiting to fire goal-wards, but his effort sailed high over the crossbar.
The final eight minutes of the first-half were a quiet affair, with little action of note from either side, and after one additional minute was played, during which time, Lakin saw a promising effort from distance denied by Breeze, the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores tied.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and play got back underway. Carlisle began the second-half brightly, almost taking the lead just five minutes after the restart, as Terell Thomas drew a fine save from Simkin, before Embleton followed up, but the Walsall shot-stopper was equal to that too and made another save to keep the scores tied.
Walsall went close at the other end just four minutes later, as Jellis played the ball through for Lakin, but Charlie was unable to find the target, sending the ball narrowly wide of the upright.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a good spell of play, winning a corner which came to nothing, shortly before Adomah cushioned the ball down for Lakin, whose powerful strike goal-wards collided with the upright.
As we reached the hour mark, Elliot Embleton became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Liam Gordon.
The resulting free-kick was taken by Jellis, who fired goal-wards, drawing a superb save from Breeze, who did well to read the ball and get down to keep it out, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
The visiting side continued to test the United defences as play continued, with Stirk playing in Lakin, in the sixty-third minute, but under pressure, the midfielder put his effort wide.
Unperturbed, Walsall continued to press, with Adomah racing goal-wards in the sixty-sixth minute, before firing an effort in from distance, but Breeze was alert to the danger and made the save, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Carlisle chose to make their first changes of the evening in the sixty-seventh minute, as Elliot Embleton and Callum Whelan made way for Jordan Jones and Josh Vela.
The hosts won a free-kick in a promising position, in the seventy-first minute, but the Saddlers defended well, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, as Walsall won the ball back and broke.
Walsall chose to make their first change of the evening, in the seventy-fourth minute, as Albert Adomah was replaced by Levi Amantchi.
The substitute was soon involved in the action, as he played the ball through for Oisin McEntee, in the seventy-sixth minute, but the defender was unable to make the chance pay, sending the ball wide of the upright from distance.
Ten minutes from time, Carlisle opted to make two further changes to their line-up, with Matthew Dennis and Callum Anthony Guy being departing in favour of Stephen Wearne and William Patching.
There was a halt to proceedings in the eighty-first minute, allowing Breeze to receive attention from the Carlisle medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Aaron Hayden became only the second player to see yellow, in the eighty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned for a foul on Allen.
Walsall had a chance to take the lead in the eighty-seventh minute, as Gordon found himself with space to shoot, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Walsall chose to make their second change of the evening, as Jamille Matt was replaced by Danny Johnson.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Archie Davies joined those listed in the referee's notebook.
The Saddlers really should have restored their earlier lead in the ninety-second minute, as Jellis, Okagbue and Amantchi combined to get the ball through to McEntee, inches from the line, but the defender headed it straight into the waiting arms of Breeze, when he should have done better.
Moments later, at the other end, Carlisle went close to taking all three points, as Harris played the ball in for Scott, but his effort was blocked by Simkin.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion, with the sides each taking a point-apiece from the encounter.
| HAYDEN (22') | ALLEN (7') |
| AT | BRUNTON PARK |
| REFEREE | PAUL MARSDEN |
