Walsall made their way to Rodney Parade on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon as they took on Newport County in a televised League Two clash.Walsall began the match brightly, with Albert Adomah getting forwards and crossing the ball towards the back post, in just the second minute, but Jamie Jellis was unable to guide it home, as he headed wide.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a bright spell, seeing plenty of the ball before going close again in the eighth minute, as Nathan Asiimwe beat his marker and drove into the box, though his effort on goal from a tight angle was denied by Newport 'keeper, Nick Townsend, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Things settled into something of a midfield battle as play continued, with Walsall continuing to see plenty of the ball, without creating much to test the Newport defences.
County struggled to gain a foothold in the game, but eighteen minutes in, a cross into the box from Joe Thomas found the head of Bobby Kamwa, but he was unable to trouble Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin, with a header that sailed wide.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell, getting forwards again in the twenty-second minute, but Kamwa was again unable to find the target as he got on the end of a Kai Whitmore cross, only to see his effort on goal blocked.
Newport won a corner in the twenty-fifth minute, as David Okagbue turned the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the set-piece as the ball eventually fell to Michael Spellman who fired goal-wards from the edge of the area, with Simkin able to gather.
The home team continued to create the better chances as play continued, winning another corner five minutes from time, as Asiimwe turned the ball behind, which lead to a second as Nathan cleared the first out of play, though nothing would come of that either.
Albert Adomah became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, in the thirty-seventh minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Shane McLoughlin.
Newport were forced into an early change, in the thirty-ninth minute, as an injury forced James Clarke into an early departure, with Jaden Warner taking his place.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time the Saddlers won a corner, as Thomas turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as Taylor Allen's ball in was gathered by Townsend.
The visitors continued to press, with Allen finding himself in shooting, but his effort on goal sailed harmlessly over the crossbar, moments before the referee called time on the first-half, with the sides heading into the break with the scores unchanged.
The teams returned unchanged following the break, and play resumed. Newport began the second-half brightly, winning a corner less than a minute after the restart, as Allen put the ball out of play, though nothing would come of the flag-kick as Simkin was on hand to gather.
The hosts continued to enjoy a bright spell, with Whitmore going close, five minutes into the half, as he worked his way into the box before firing a powerful strike in on goal, but Simkin remained alert to the danger and made the save.
Walsall had soon worked the ball up to the other end, where Ryan Stirk played in Alfie Chang, but the midfielder was unable to find the target, sending his low effort inches wide from the edge of the box.
The Saddlers went close again, as we reached the hour mark, with Amantchi working himself into space on the edge of the area before curling an effort goal-wards, but Townsend was alert to the danger and held well.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the sixty-first minute, allowing Michael Spellman to receive attention from the Exiles medical team. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Josh Martin took his place, as a second change was also made with Kai Whitmore making way for Anthony Driscoll-Glennon.
Walsall opted to make three changes to their line-up, twenty-five minutes from time, with Liam Gordon, Levi Amantchi and Jamie Jellis departing, as their places were taken by Connor Barrett, Jamille Matt and George Hall.
The visiting side almost found the opening goal moments after the changes were completed, as a ball in from Asiimwe found Adomah, but the striker was unable to find the target with his header from close range, as he sent the ball wide.
There was another pause in play, in the seventieth minute, allowing Townsend to receive attention from the Newport medics, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
The Saddlers used the break in play to make their fourth change of the afternoon, with Alfie Chang making way for Oisin McEntee.
Newport were reduced to ten men, in the seventy-eighth minute, as Ciaran Brennan was shown a straight red card following a high challenge on Allen. The resulting free-kick coming to nothing, as Allen fired over.
County responded to going a man down by making another change to their line-up, in the eighty-third minute, with Kyle Hudlin making way for Courtney Baker-Richardson.
Walsall followed suit, making their fifth and final change of the game, in the eighty-fourth minute, as Albert Adomah was replaced by Ellis Harrison.
The hosts went close, four minutes from time, as Harry Williams lost the ball to Kamwa, who played Martin through on goal, but Simkin was alert to the danger and got out well to block, although the Newport man appeared to be offside, so any goal should have been ruled out anyway.
Seven additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, the Saddlers won a corner, which was played into the box by Allen, but a foul inside the box saw Newport regain possession.
There was a break in play, five minutes into those added, allowing Josh Martin to receive attention from the Exiles medical team, following a collision with Simkin. It was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and David Ajiboye was brought on in his place.
Twelve minutes after we entered extra time, Walsall thought they had found the breakthrough, as McEntee turned the ball home at the far post, but a handball saw the goal chalked off.
That would prove to be the final action of note, as the referee called time on the contest, with the scores still level. One point enough to move Walsall back into the automatic promotion places, at least momentarily.
| AT | RODNEY PARADE |
| REFEREE | SAM PURKISS |
