Goals from Morris and Makris...
Goals from Kieron Morris and Andreas Makris earned the Saddlers’ Development Squad a fully deserved 2-1 victory over Burton at St George’s Park.Marcus Harness’ cool finish put the Brewers ahead four minutes before half-time, but Morris equalised almost immediately with a low left-footed drive.
The Saddlers dominated after the break and secured victory with 20 minutes remaining when Makris tapped in after George Dobson’s initial effort was parried.
The match also marked the return of Reece Flanagan after a nine-month injury lay-off. The homegrown midfielder, who ruptured his ACL last April, played the first 45 minutes and came through unscathed.
Flanagan was one of a host of first-team players named in John Ward’s starting line-up.
And it was another of the senior players, Makris, who had the game’s first chance inside six minutes.
The forward chased a long ball in behind the home defence but his right-footed attempt was smothered by onrushing Brewers keeper Harry Campbell.
The Saddlers bossed the remainder of the half without creating too many opportunities.
Franck Moussa had penalty appeals waved away and also saw a goalbound strike well blocked by a home defender.
Kieron Morris also went close, cutting in from the right and testing Campbell at his near post with a fierce strike.
Somewhat surprisingly, it was Burton who broke the deadlock with their first attempt on 41 minutes, Harness bursting through the Saddlers defence and slotting low past Craig MacGillivray.
But the home side’s lead lasted barely two minutes, Morris driving forward before finishing left-footed into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
It was one-way traffic in the second half, with the Saddlers doing all of the pressing and creating plenty of opportunities.
Morris and Jordon Sangha each fired wide, Franck Moussa had an effort blocked and a stretching Makris diverted Morris’ teasing right-wing delivery over the bar.
The visitors kept pushing and scored the goal their dominance deserved with 20 minutes remaining.
Dobson did superbly, twisting and turning on the edge of the box before unleashing a right-footed shot which Campbell could only parry, with Makris following up to tap home.
The Cyprus international very nearly grabbed another goal moments later, but his deft close-range header from Dobson’s corner was spectacularly kept out one-handed by Campbell.
The Saddlers could have put the game to bed with six minutes left, but Dobson’s pull-back was scuffed wide by Liam Kinsella from 15 yards.
Team: MacGillivray, Kinsella, Vann, K Roberts, Laird, Morris, Dobson, Sangha, Flanagan (Maddocks 45’), Moussa, Makris.