Walsall welcomed near rivals Port Vale to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they looked to take another step in their bid to secure promotion back to League One.Going into the game on the back of four successive draws, the Saddlers were hoping to return to winning ways and extend their lead at the top of the table.
Walsall got the action underway, and less than twenty seconds later, had the ball in the back of the net as Liam Gordon crossed the ball into the box for Jamille Matt, who headed home, but the goal was ruled out for an alleged foul.
Just four minutes later, Port Vale opened the scoring, as Lorent Tolaj fired the ball into the bottom corner from the centre of the box.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, where they were awarded a penalty, as Jayden Stockley handled the ball inside the area. Taylor Allen stepped forth to take the spot-kick and duly converted to level the scores just seven minutes into the contest.
Eleven minutes in, Walsall took the lead, as a long throw found Oisin McEntee, whose overhead kick found Levi Amantchi who controlled well before poking home from close range.
The hosts continued to press, as Amantchi found himself with just Vale 'keeper, Ben Amos to beat, but the shot-stopper got a hand to the ball to deny him a second goal in as many minutes.
Things settled a little as play continued, but seventeen minutes in, Tolaj went close again for Port Vale, as the visitors looked to draw level, but his effort on goal, from close range, sailed wide of the target.
The visitors went on to win their first corner of the game four minutes later, but the Saddlers were eventually able to clear the danger, with a long ball from Ryan Stirk finding Allen, who drew another save from Amos from the edge of the area.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the twenty-seventh minute, allowing Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby, to receive attention from the medical team. Fortunately, he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.
Lorent Tolaj became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was cautioned in the thirtieth minute, following a foul on Hornby.
Liam Gordon joined Tolaj in the referee's notebook, in the thirty-second minute, as he was booked following a foul on Kyle John.
There was another pause in play, in the thirty-fourth minute, allowing Kyle John to receive attention from the Port Vale medical team, and it was soon determined that he would be unable to continue, and Sam Hart was brought on in his place.
The visiting side were awarded a free-kick in a promising position, in the thirty-seventh minute, but nothing would come of the set-piece as the ball was eventually sent over the crossbar.
With forty-two minutes on the clock, Port Vale levelled the scores, as Tolaj crossed the ball into the box for Ben Garrity, who fired a powerful effort beyond Hornby.
Nathan Asiimwe joined those playing on a caution, in the forty-fourth minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Hart.
Port Vale were awarded a penalty, in the forty-fifth minute, as Tolaj was fouled inside the area by McEntee. Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, as Tolaj stepped forth to take the spot-kick, and duly converted, as Hornby went the wrong way.
There was a brief pause in proceedings, in the fiftieth minute, as the sprinklers began their half-time watering early, but the issue was soon rectified and play got back underway.
There was little further action of note, and the first-half was brought to an end, with Port Vale leading by three-goals-to-two at the break.
Walsall chose to make a double change to their line-up as the teams returned, with Evan Weir and Nathan Asiimwe sitting out the second-half as their places were filled by George Hall and Connor Barrett, as Port Vale got the action back underway.
The Saddlers began the half brightly, with Gordon firing over the crossbar, moments after Matt had seen a headed effort blocked, just three minutes after the restart.
The hosts went on to win a corner, moments later, but Allen's ball in sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Vale were awarded a free-kick in a promising position, in the fifty-second minute, as David Okagbue fouled Tolaj, but Stockley was caught offside and the set-piece came to nothing.
Sam Hart joined those playing on a caution, in the fifty-fifth minute, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on George Hall, with the resulting free-kick coming to nothing as Jamie Jellis' ball in sailed wide.
The visiting side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, in the fifty-ninth minute, as Allen was adjudged to have fouled Jesse Debrah, but nothing would come of the opportunity as Tolaj fired over the crossbar.
Port Vale were awarded another free-kick, in the sixty-third minute, as Rhys Walters was fouled by Matt, but nothing would come of the set-piece as the Saddlers were quick to clear the danger.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side able to create much to trouble their opposition defences.
Port Vale opted to make their second change of the afternoon, in the seventy-second minute, with Jayden Stockley making way for Ronan Curtis.
Walsall were presented with a chance to level the scores, moments after the change was completed, as Matt crossed the ball in for George Hall, but the midfielder was unable to find the target, sending the ball high and wide.
The hosts chose to make two further changes to their line-up, in the seventy-fourth minute, with Jamie Jellis and Jamille Matt departing, as Albert Adomah and Ethan Wheatley joined the fray.
The Saddlers won a corner moments later, as Mitchell Clark turned the ball out of play. The ball eventually fell to Stirk, whose effort on goal was blocked behind for a second flag-kick, which was followed by a third as Connor Hall put the ball out of play once more, but nothing would come of that either as the visitors finally cleared the danger.
David Okagbue saw his name added to the referee's notebook, in the seventy-seventh minute, as he was cautioned following a foul on Clark.
A long throw from Clark eventually fell to Garrity, who fired goal-wards from the edge of the box, forcing Hornby to clear behind for a corner, in the seventy-ninth minute, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
The game settled again as we entered the final ten minutes, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball without creating much of note.
With eighty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon, with Levi Amantchi making way for Danny Johnson.
Port Vale also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Rhys Walters and Lorent Tolaj departing as their places were filled by George Byers and Antwoine Hackford.
Oisin McEntee joined those playing on a caution, in the eighty-eighth minute, as he was shown the yellow card for a handball.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time the Saddlers were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Allen's ball in was cleared.
The hosts did get the ball back into the danger zone, but they were unable to create a telling chance, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Port Vale winning by three-goals-to-two, taking all three points and replacing Walsall in top spot in the League Two table.
| ALLEN [P] (7') AMANTCHI (11') |
TOLAJ (4') GARRITY (41') TOLAJ [P] (45+2') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | LEWIS SMITH |
