Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they went in search of their first win in ten league games when they took on Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium.Walsall began the game brightly, winning their first corner of the afternoon, just four minutes into the contest, as Ellis Harrison played the ball through for Charlie Lakin, whose effort on goal was deflected behind by Dean Campbell, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Barrow had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where they won a corner themselves, as Taylor Allen turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of that either, as Ben Jackson's cross found the head of Kyle Cameron, whose effort on goal was blocked.
Ben Jackson became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Lakin, just eleven minutes in.
The hosts went close to opening the scoring, moments later, as Isaac Fletcher slipped the ball through for Connor Mahoney, who worked his way though the Walsall defences and into the box, before firing over from close range.
Things settled a little as play continued, but twenty-one minutes in, Barrow won another corner, as Oisin McEntee blocked a Fletcher effort. Nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Just two minutes later, the hosts took the lead, as Jackson crossed the ball into the box for Aaron Pressley who saw his initial effort blocked by Walsall goalkeeper, Tommy Simkin, before poking the rebound home.
Barrow continued to press, seeking a second goal just three minutes after the first, as Cameron played the ball to Robbie Gotts, but the midfielders effort from outside the box sailed high and wide of the target, moments before Jackson played in Pressley, whose headed effort whistled inches wide of the target.
Walsall could have levelled the scores, in the thirty-second minute, as a great move from Connor Barrett saw him break into the box before cutting back for Liam Gordon, but the number three was unable to make a connection with the ball and the move fizzled out.
The home side were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, where they won a corner as Donervon Daniels turned the ball behind, before Pressley forced another flag-kick from a Simkin save, but nothing would come of that as Sam Foley fired wide.
Barrow created another opportunity to add to their tally, in the forty-first minute, as Allen turned the ball behind, but fortunately for the Saddlers, Pressley was unable to find the target with his headed effort from close range.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, during which time Gordon floated a cross towards the back post for Harrison, but the striker was unable to guide the ball home and the referee called time on the half with Barrow leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and play got back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just one minute after the restart, as Jamille Matt turned a Barrett cross goal-wards forcing Stanway to block, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as the Barrow shot-stopper gathered.
Things settled as play continued, before the Saddlers chose to make their first change of the afternoon, ten minutes into the second-half, with Ellis Harrison making way for Levi Amantchi.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating anything to trouble their opposition defences, although sixty-one minutes in, Walsall did win a corner as Cameron was forced to turn the ball out play, though nothing would come of the set-piece.
Walsall chose to make two further changes to their line-up in the sixty-fifth minute, with Charlie Lakin and Jamille Matt making way as George Hall and Albert Adomah joined the fray.
Barrow created their first clear chance of the second-half moments after the changes were completed, as Fletcher found himself in a one-on-one situation with Simkin, but the Walsall shot-stopper was alert to the danger and did enough to keep the low strike out.
That would prove to be the final action of note from Isaac Fletcher, as his side chose to replace him with Michael Jordan Williams, in the sixty-eighth minute.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the seventy-first minute, allowing Donervon Daniels to receive attention from the Walsall medics following a coming together with Pressley, but the Saddlers captain was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Walsall won a corner, in the seventy-sixth minute, as Foley blocked an effort from Gordon, who was also the man to get on the end of the ball in from the set-piece, but he remained unable to find the target.
The Saddlers chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the seventy-sixth minute, as Jamie Jellis and Connor Barrett made way for Danny Johnson and David Okagbue.
The hosts chose to make a change themselves just two minutes later, with Connor Mahoney departing in favour of Ben Whitfield.
Niall Canavan became only the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Amantchi, in the eighty-third minute.
Barrow chose to make their third and final change of the afternoon, five minutes from time, with Robbie Gotts making way as Emile Acquah took his place.
Five additional minutes were added to end the match, as Liam Gordon joined those playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Jackson.
With three of the five added minutes played, Barrow put the game to bed, as Elliot Newby cut the ball back for Acquah who slotted home from close range to double his sides advantage.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the referee called time on the contest, with Barrow winning by two-goals-to-nil. A dire performance from the Saddlers, who never truly seemed to get going.
| PRESSLEY (23') ACQUAH (90+3') |
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| AT | SO LEGAL STADIUM |
| REFEREE | STEPHEN MARTIN |
