A much-changed Saddlers side made their way to the Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they were looking to halt a five game winless streak at the expense of opponents, Gillingham.Gillingham began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, just three minutes into the contest, as Harry Williams brought down Joseph Gbode. Armani Little fired goal-wards from the set-piece, but Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby was able to keep the ball out, with Max Clark sending his follow-up effort over the crossbar.
The hosts continued to see plenty of the ball as the game continued, though they were unable to find a way through the Walsall defences to get further shots away, until Remeao Hutton crossed the ball onto the head of Andy Smith, in the thirteenth minute, though nothing would come of that as the defender directed the ball wide of the target.
It wasn't until the nineteenth minute that Walsall created their first chance of note; Albert Adomah working the ball to Jamille Matt, who had space to shoot, with Gillingham goalkeeper, Glenn Morris doing well to keep the effort out, before Jamie Jellis picked up the loose ball before seeing his strike blocked.
Gillingham had the ball in the net, in the twenty-fourth minute, as Clark floated a free-kick into the area, where Conor Masterson was waiting to head home, but a foul by Robbie McKenzie on Matt in the build-up saw the goal disallowed.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where Evan Weir crossed to Jellis, who controlled well before darting into space to get a shot away, but his twenty yard strike sailed high and wide of the target.
Oisin McEntee became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, being shown the yellow card, in the thirty-sixth minute, following a foul on Gbode. The resulting free-kick came to nothing.
The Saddlers saw more of the ball as the game continued, and should have opened the scoring, in the forty-second minute, as Nathan Asiimwe crossed the ball into the box for Matt, whose header from close range was kept out by Morris, who did well to get a hand to it.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the teams headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores still tied.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Gillingham got the action back underway. The hosts began the second-half brightly, working the ball forwards for Jimmy-Jay Morgan, who fired a powerful effort goal-wards from distance, which sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
The hosts continued to press, with McKenzie firing a low effort in on goal, five minutes into the half, but Hornby got down well to keep it out.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fifty-first minute, allowing Ryan Stirk and McEntee to receive attention from the Walsall medical team, following a clash of heads, but both were soon deemed fit to return to action, and play resumed.
Charlie Lakin almost opened the scoring for the Saddlers, in the fifty-fourth minute, as he took the ball from the hosts and attempted to lob Morris who was off his line, but his effort from thirty plus yards out sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Another pause in play followed, as Clark and Asiimwe collided, leaving the Gillingham man requiring attention from the medics. He was soon back on his feet, with head bandaged, and play resumed once again.
Nathan Asiimwe became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Morgan, in the sixty-first minute. The resulting free-kick eventually fell to McKenzie, who crossed to Gbode, but the strikers glancing header sailed wide of the target.
Play was paused again in the sixty-fifth minute, allowing Lakin to receive attention from the medical team, but it was soon determined that he would be able to continue, and the game got back underway.
Walsall opted to make their first change of the afternoon, twenty minutes from time, as Jamille Matt was replaced by Levi Amantchi. Gillingham also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Jimmy-Jay Morgan making way for Jonathan Williams.
Gillingham won a free-kick in a dangerous position, just outside the area, in the seventy-seventh minute, as Elliott Nevitt was fouled by McEntee. Nothing would come of the set-piece though, as McKenzie failed to beat the wall with his effort goal-wards.
The Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the eighty-fourth minute, with Jamie Jellis and Charlie Lakin making way for Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson. The hosts also took the opportunity to introduce another pair of fresh legs, with Joseph Gbode departing in favour of Jacob Wakeling.
Wakeling was quick to get involved in the action, crossing the ball in for Nevitt, just two minutes after his introduction into the game, but Hornby was alert to the danger and made the save.
Nine additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Walsall chose to make a fourth change to their line-up, with Albert Adomah making way for Alfie Chang.
Walsall won a corner, three minutes into those added, which Chang swung into the box for Williams, but the defender was unable to find the target, sending the ball looping over the crossbar.
Armani Little joined those playing on a caution, in the ninety-fifth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Chang.
The Saddlers were almost gifted a goal in the sixth added minute, as the ball was played towards goal by a Gillingham defender, but Morris was able to get down and keep it out.
The visiting side continued to press, with Weir seeing an effort blocked in the ninety-seventh minute, before the follow-up was sent wide.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with the scores still tied.
| AT | PRIESTFIELD STADIUM |
| REFEREE | ANDREW HUMPHRIES |
