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Match Reports

Match Report: Walsall 2-0 Port Vale

23 April 2022

Match Reports

Match Report: Walsall 2-0 Port Vale

23 April 2022

The Saddlers picked up all three points against local rivals Port Vale to ensure they did the double over the Valiants in League Two thanks to two second half goals from substitute Sam Perry and Emmanuel Osadebe.

It was a very even contest between the two sides at the Banks’s over the course of the 90 minutes with one moment of quality proving to be the difference between the two sides.

 

After just two minutes of the game, the visitors had a sight on goal as James Wilson intercepted a loose pass from Donervon Daniels and drove towards goal but the defender made up for his mistake by blocking the low shot. 

 

Half way through the first half and Vale went close again, this time through defender Conor Hall who met a right wing corner but his downward header was well saved by Carl Rushworth. 

 

As the clock ticked towards half time, the visitors again went close through Wilson but his direct free-kick was well saved by Rushworth at the second time of asking. 

 

Seconds after that chance for Wilson, his strike partner Jamie Proctor had the opportunity to test Rushworth but his curling effort from the edge of the box flew over the crossbar. 

 

Just after the hour mark the Saddlers went close to opening the scoring themselves for the first time in the game as George Miller, who was superb throughout, clipped a cross into the box and Brendan Kiernan tried an acrobatic effort but his flick was just wide of the far post. 

 

But two minutes after that chance for Kiernan, the Saddlers broke the deadlock through Perry. 

 

Osadebe cut inside from the left and lofted the ball into the area and Perry arrived right on the money to glance the ball past Aiden Stone in the Vale goal.

 

With a little over 15 minutes left to play, the Saddlers again went close to finding the back of the net only this time they were denied by the woodwork.

 

Miller latched onto a pass down the right hand side and unleashed a powerful effort from an acute angle but his effort kissed the underside of the bar and flew out. 

 

Right at the death, Vale looked like they were going to equalise as substitute Chris Hussey delivered a curling free-kick into the box but somehow Rushworth made a sensational save with his right leg. 

 

With one minute left to play, the Saddlers doubled their advantage and secured all three points as the ball fell for Osadebe inside the area, he composed himself and slotted the ball home past Stone.


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