Youth team back with a bang...
THE SADDLERS' youth team returned to action from their festive break and put in an impressive display as we beat Rochdale 5-1."After a poor performance in our last game, we had quite a while to wait in order to put it right," said Academy Manager, Neil Woods. "The boys have trained well in recent weeks and this display was as good as we have been all season, particularly in the first half.
"Our movement with the ball and tempo was outstanding and our opponents had no answer to us.
"We opened the scoring with a superb goal, which involved a full-pitch move as Carlton McKenzie applied the finish. Then ten minutes later it was 2-0 as some more neat play ended with Tevin Shakespeare getting his name on the scoresheet.
"It meant that we went in at the break two goals to the good against a good Rochdale side.
"We continued where we left off at the start of the second period with a bright start and it wasn't long before Shakespeare added his second and our third goal.
"Further strikes from Amadou Bakayoko and Carlton McKenzie put us five goals to the good and even though we allowed our opponents to snatch a late consolation, I was very pleased with the quality of our football and the progression we have made as a team since our last game.
"It was a positive start to the New Year."
WALSALL: Jones, Ashmore, Probert, Kinsella, K. Rowley, Christopherou, Shakespeare, McKenzie (Delaney), Bakayoko, Rush, Henry (A. Reid). Subs not used: Lovett, Garner.