Walsall hoped to continue their spell at the top of the League Two table as they took on fellow title-chasers Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium on Tuesday evening.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a corner just two minutes into the contest, as Jack Senior was forced to turn the ball out of play to prevent a shot on goal from Jamie Jellis, but Nothing would come of the flag-kick.
George Broadbent became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Jamille Matt, just five minutes into the game.
Doncaster won their first corner of the evening, in the seventh minute, as Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby, turned a powerful strike by Jordan Gibson behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous position, fourteen minutes into the contest, but Taylor Allen failed to test Doncaster 'keeper, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, as his effort sailed wide of the near post.
Walsall continued to press, with Evan Weir crossing the ball into the box for Nathan Asiimwe, as we reached the quarter hour mark, but the midfielders headed effort sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
Rovers were quick to work the ball up to the other end, and opened the scoring with sixteen minutes on the clock, as Owen Bailey passed to Luke Molyneux who controlled well and fired home from the edge of the box.
The Saddlers were behind for just two minutes, as the side won back possession on the half-way line allowing Oisin McEntee to drive forwards before crossing the ball towards the far post for Allen who was waiting to nod home from close range.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle as play continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
As we reached the half-hour mark, Jamie Sterry joined Broadbent in the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned following a foul on Liam Gordon.
Things settled again, but ten minutes before the break, Walsall were able to create another chance at a goal, as some nice footwork from Asiimwe created space to put a cross in for Levi Amantchi, but the strikers glancing header sailed wide.
The visiting side continued to press, with Jellis crossing the ball into the box for Amantchi, in the thirty-ninth minute, but the forward's headed effort lacked power and was easily gathered by Sharman-Lowe.
Evan Weir joined those playing on a caution, in the thirty-ninth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Molyneux.
Doncaster won a corner, in the forty-third minute, as David Okagbue turned the ball out of play; Molyneux swung the ball into the box, but Hornby was on hand to gather.
That would prove to be the final action of note for the first-half, and after one additional minute was played, the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the scores tied at one-goal-apiece.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and the action resumed. Both sides took a little time to settle back into the contest, seeing spells on the ball without creating anything to really test their opposition defences.
Walsall won a corner, in the fifty-seventh minute, as Bailey diverted an effort from Allen behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Amantchi's ball in was put wide by Weir.
Liam Gordon joined those playing on a caution, in the sixty-second minute, as he was shown the yellow card after preventing the taking of a free-kick.
The hosts looked to restore their earlier lead, in the sixty-third minute, as Robert Street played in Molyneux, but his effort sailed high and wide of the target.
Jamie Jellis was shown the yellow card, in the sixty-seventh minute, as he was cautioned for dissent, as Teddy Sharman-Lowe was booked for time-wasting.
Doncaster opted to make a double change to their line-up, in the seventy-second minute, as Robert Street and Joe Sbarra made way for Billy Sharp and Harry Clifton.
Things settled back into something of a midfield battle, but fifteen minutes from time, Asiimwe looked to set up Amantchi, with a cross into the box, but the strikers headed effort failed to test the man between the sticks as it sailed over the crossbar.
That would prove to be Levi Amantchi's final involvement of note, as ten minutes from time, the Walsall bench chose to make their first substitution of the game, introducing Albert Adomah in his place.
Doncaster created a chance on goal in the eighty-second minute, as their substitutes combined, Clifton crossing the ball into the box for Sharp, but the latter was unable to find the target, sending the ball high and wide of the target.
The hosts had more luck, two minutes later, as Gibson crossed the ball to Sharp, who flicked home from close range to put his side ahead.
Walsall responded to the goal by making two further changes to their line-up, with Ryan Stirk and Nathan Asiimwe making way for Danny Johnson and Connor Barrett.
Oisin McEntee joined those already playing on a caution, as he was shown the yellow card for dissent, in the eighty-ninth minute.
The Saddlers came from behind for a second time, with the recently introduced Johnson getting the better of Sharman-Lowe with a headed effort, as he followed up on a save that denied Matt, as the board was raised to indicate that four additional minutes would be played.
The hosts looked to add a third goal to their tally as time raced on, with Gibson playing in Clifton, two minutes into those added, though the effort on goal was blocked, with another Clifton effort being denied by Hornby moments later.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the game was brought to its conclusion with the sides taking a point-apiece from the contest, as Walsall twice came from behind to level the scores.
| MOLYNEUX (16') SHARP (84') |
ALLEN (18') JOHNSON (90') |
| AT | ECO-POWER STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JAMES OLDHAM |
