SADDLERS SLIP
MATCH REPORT
THE SADDLERS stepped out for the first of three home games in the space of a week as we played host to Scunthorpe United.
The visitors started on the attack and within the opening couple of minutes, former Walsall youngster, Karl Hawley forced a corner which was cleared without too many problems.
With seven minutes gone, George Bowerman charged down a clearance from debutant 'keeper, Steve Mildenhall as Jake Jones, making his first start looked to profit but the goalkeeper redeemed himself to clear.
Some positive running on the left by Leon Clarke saw him cross low into the path of Hawley who had two attempts at it, with his second deflected wide.
It was unlucky 13th minute for Walsall as the visitors took the lead from a corner as Niall Canavan found the net with a towering header.
Walsall cut open as The Iron broke the offside trap through Hawley, but he was denied by a committed block from Andy Butler who saved the day.
The lead was doubled just past the half-hour when Hawley held the ball up well just inside the area to find Mark Duffy who had time to guide the ball home and make it 2-0.
It took until the 37th minute for The Saddlers to have a strike on goal as Jake Jones tried his luck from distance but was off target.
There was a straight red card for David Prutton on the stroke of half-time for a lunge at Adam Chambers which left the midfield man in need of treatment on the half-way line.
The Saddlers ended the half on the attack as Nicky Featherstone's strike was deflected wide. The resulting corner met with a wayward header from Butler as the half-time whistle signalled the end of a disappointing opening period.
HALF-TIME: Walsall 0 Scunthorpe United 2
The second half started with Will Grigg on for Jones.
The ten men of Scunthorpe made it 3-0 five minutes into the second period when a corner was headed home by Canavan for his second of the night.
Walsall's best move of the game came just past the hour and ended with James Baxendale's strike from distance being clawed away by Mildenhall. Moments later, Baxendale flashed another low effort across the face of goal.
On 66 minutes, James Chambers was replaced by Malvind Benning for his senior debut.
The fourth goal came with a quarter-of-an-hour to go as Leon Clarke broke through before lifting the ball over David Grof and walking it into the net.
The third and final change saw Aaron Williams replace James Baxendale with 81 minutes on the clock.
Some good play by Aaron Williams saw him tee up Jamie Paterson for a curling effort that Mildenhall did well to hold on to.
Paterson did well to get to the by-line and flash the ball invitingly across the face of goal, but no-one on hand to capitalise.
A consolation arrived in stoppage time when a slip by Canavan allowed Grigg through and he slotted home to make it 4-1.
The performance of youngster, Malvind Benning, who got up and down the left flank well, was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable night for Walsall.
FULL-TIME: Walsall 1 Scunthorpe United 4
WALSALL: David Grof, Richard Taundry, Andy Butler, Dean Holden, Nicky Featherstone, Adam Chambers, Jamie Paterson, Jake Jones (Will Grigg), George Bowerman, James Baxendale (Aaron Williams), James Chambers (Malvind Benning). Subs not used: Ashley Hemmings, Kieron Morris, Paul Downing, James Walker.