13 consecutive wins in all competitions...
Lezion Cela scored the only goal as the Saddlers’ Development Squad made it 13 consecutive wins in all competitions with a deserved 1-0 victory over Morecambe.The decisive moment came on 37 minutes when Cela volleyed home Tobias Hayles-Docherty’s pinpoint cross from close range.
Cameron Peters, Will Shorrock and Hayles-Docherty all went close for the Saddlers, who dominated throughout, but one goal proved enough.
Cela twice went close for the hosts in a lively opening, first testing Morecambe keeper Niall Maher with a crisp right-foot volley before firing wide from a tight angle.
Hayles-Docherty saw a low 20-yard drive kept out by Maher, who then held Will Shorrock’s tame sixth-minute effort after some good build-up play.
The match settled down after a bright start, with not too much in the way of goalscoring opportunities in the remainder of the half.
Hayles-Docherty cut inside from the left before firing off target, while on a rare Morecambe attack, Steve Yawson headed tamely wide from Joel Drewery’s deep right-wing cross.
The Saddlers were doing most of the pressing and made the breakthrough seven minutes before half-time, Cela volleying home Hayles-Docherty’s fine far-post cross from close range.
Walsall – 5-0 winners when the teams met a fortnight ago - had chances to double their lead at the start of the second half.
Jordon Sangha steered a right-footed shot wide from the edge of the box, Kory Roberts headed a Will Shorrock corner over the bar and Hayles-Docherty swept an effort into the arms of Maher.
It should have been 2-0 midway through the half when Hayles-Docherty’s pull-back found Peters, who got the ball under control before drilling wastefully wide from ten yards.
The Saddlers continued to dominate, with Peters diverted Cockerill-Mollett’s driven cross-shot wide and Hayles-Docherty having a powerful drive cleared off the line by Tyler Brownsword.
Hayles-Docherty went close again with five minutes remaining as his fierce near-post strike squirmed under Maher before Shorrock’s follow-up attempt was blocked by a defender.
Sangha had a hooked volley claimed by a diving Maher in the closing stages but the Saddlers held on for all three points.
Team: Ganley, Tonks, Cockerill-Mollett, Shorrock, Roberts, Kendrick, Cela (Candlin 77’), Sangha, Peters (Maddocks 84’), Kinsella, Hayles-Docherty (Mason 90’).
Subs not used: Caswell, Fisher.