The Saddlers’ pre-season preparations continued with a comfortable win at non-league Nuneaton Borough.
Liam Kinsella, Trialist B, Elijah Adebayo and Jack Kiersey were on target as Walsall tasted victory in Warwickshire.
The visitors quickly settled into their passing rhythm and dominated possession in the early stages.
Trialist A, who led the line in the first half, had two attempts inside the opening four minutes.
His first effort was tame and easily held by Boro keeper Cam Belford, while his second, after collecting Shay Facey’s low pull-back, flashed just wide of the far post.
Walsall had a goal chalked off on 13 minutes when Trialist C dispossessed Joel Kettle and squared for Trialist A to fire home – albeit from an offside position.
The Saddlers did break the deadlock midway through the half as Kinsella picked the ball up 20 yards out and rifled a sweetly-struck right-footed shot into the corner.
It was a lovely strike from the midfielder, reminiscent of his Goal of the Season winner at Sunderland.
Darrell Clarke’s men controlled the rest of the half but only fashioned one further opportunity, Trialist C cutting inside onto his left foot and pulling a shot wide.
The Saddlers started the second half with a bang, Trialist B making it 2-0 with a wonderful curling shot that kissed the inside of the far post on its way in.
Kiersey and James Hardy took aim from range but neither were able to find the target.
Against the run of play, Nuneaton pulled one back when Luke Benbow caught out Trialist E with a low free-kick at his near post.
Walsall looked to reassert their authority, with Trialist B having a shot cleared off the line after great work from Adebayo and James Hardy dancing into the box before dragging wide.
The two-goal cushion was restored on 66 minutes when Trialist B skinned his full-back and teed up Adebayo to sweep home – just moments after Boro’s Ryan Edmonds had struck the post.
Adebayo was then denied by the legs of Belford and created another chance for Mitch Candlin, but a deflection carried his effort wide.
Trialist E produced a fine finger-tip stop before Jack Kiersey made it 4-1 late on, the ball breaking kindly for the midfielder to coolly slot home from inside the box.
First-half team: Roberts, Trialist A, Pring, Trialist B, Leak, Trialist C, Facey, Sadler, Kinsella, Bates, Guthrie ©
Second-half team: Norman ©, Leak (Trialist D 73’), Kiersey, McDonald, Trialist E, Cockerill-Mollett, Trialist F, Adebayo, Hardy, Bates (Willis 70’), Trialist B (Candlin 73’).