Young Saddlers exit Birmingham Senior Cup...
THE SADDLERS went out of the Birmingham Senior Cup at the second round stage with a 3-1 reverse at a chilly Hednesford Town."It was a cracking game," said reserve team boss, Richard O'Kelly. "Hednesford played some good, quick football and they were on top for the opening 20/25 minutes.
"We had to work hard to keep them out in the opening stages and it was the sort of game that you want a group of young lads to be involved in as it can only help with their development.
"Our hosts were competitive and technically good and it was nice to see the game played in the right spirit.
"We started to come to terms with things as the first half went on and finished the half strongly. They took the lead with around 20 minutes to go, possibly against the run of play, but certainly in controversial circumstances and we reacted to that in a negative way to concede a second goal straight away.
"We managed to pull a goal back through substitute, Carlton McKenzie, and just as we were about to send Matt Preston up to join the attack for the closing stages of the game, Hednesford grabbed an all-important third goal to seal the game.
"Despite the result, it was the perfect learning experience for our young side."
WALSALL: Lewis, George, Benning, Christopherou (Dallison), Preston, Kinsella, McQuilkin (McKenzie), Flanagan, Morris, Rush (Ashmore), Bakayoko. Sub not used: Jones.