Pre Season Friendly
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Tuesday 11th July 2023
By Paul Edwards
Brakes were given a thorough workout by League 2 side Walsall’s first team squad as the Saddlers registered a fairly straightforward victory in their maiden pre season outing.
A decent crowd assembled on a pleasant summer evening, most of whom had barely settled down to watch the game before Walsall opened the scoring after just 28 seconds.
Douglas James-Taylor and Danny Johnson were the main protagonists for the visitors in the first half, and the former nipped in on the right to cross low for the latter to tap in the first goal of the evening.
Leamington were looking busy themselves in the opening exchanges however, and Tyrone Barnett saw a downward header saved by keeper Owen Evans at his near post, before Callum Stewart’s low first time drive whistled wide of the target.
Callum Smith saved a close range shot, but was helpless as the Saddlers doubled their lead on 33 minutes. Jack Lane was robbed by Tom Knowles as the ball stuck under his boot on the hard surface, and he centred for James-Taylor to pass it into the net.
A great ball out to the left wing from Adam Walker found Ben Usher-Shipway on the charge, and he was supported by Josh Quaynor, who swept a good looking ball into the box for Barnett to attack at the far post, but the veteran frontman headed well over the bar.
Walsall broke to devastating effect from a blocked Leamington shot to score their third goal with Knowles being sent scampering away down the right, and he tied Quaynor and Devon Kelly-Evans in knots before chopping back onto his left foot to curl the ball in towards goal, where it deflected off Theo Streete before being helped home by James-Taylor.
Brakes struck back almost immediately however, when Evans was beaten by Kelly-Evans’ strike in from the right, and Stewart bundled the ball in from close range.
If Leamington thought that the second half might be different with their visitors fielding ten fresh faces, including former Brakes loanee Taylor Allen, they were to be disappointed, as although they only added one further goal, a fine first time strike from Isaac Hutchinson that flashed past Smith before he had chance to move; Walsall were in almost total control throughout.
A trialist headed a left wing corner just wide, while a trialist substitute had Leamington’s only effort of the half, a very well struck free kick that was held under the bar by the Walsall keeper.
Some late pressure from the visitors saw Smith forced into a fine stop from a powerful low first time drive from a Trialist, while another Trialist sent a free kick curling just wide, but Walsall had long since earned a comfortable victory, while the 90 minutes will have provided a worthwhile exercise for Paul Holleran’s side, who are unlikely to come up against opposition of quite the same standard when they kick off their league campaign in just over three weeks time.
Attendance: 554
Leamington: Callum Smith, Dan Meredith, Josh Quaynor (17 Zac Taylor), Jack Edwards, Theo Streete (Trialist A), Jack Lane (12 Junior English), Ben Usher-Shipway (Trialist B), Adam Walker, Tyrone Barnett (14 Jiah Medrano), Devon Kelly-Evans, Callum Stewart.
Subs not used: Dan Moore (GK).
Walsall: 1st Half: 1 Owen Evans, 3 Liam Gordon, 4 Oisin McEntee, 5 Donervan Daniels, 6 Priestley Farquharson, 10 Tom Knowles, 11 Douglas James-Taylor, 16 Ronan Maher, 23 Chris Hussey, 25 Ryan Stirk, 39 Danny Johnson.
Walsall: 2nd Half: 22 Trialist A, 7 Joe Riley, 8 Isaac Hutchinson, 9 Jamile Matt, 21 Taylor Allen, 12 Joe Foulkes, 17 Trialist B, 18 Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, 20 Trialist C, 23 Chris Hussey, 24 Trialist D.
Referee: Mr Scott Chalkley
Assistant Referees: Mr Mitch Cartwright & Mr Harley McKittrick
