Colchester United 1-3 Walsall FC - Match Report

Courtney Clarke’s late strike secured three points for Walsall as the Saddlers get back to winning ways.

Walsall claim a 3-1 win over struggling Colchester United at the JobServe Community Stadium on Halloween.

Walsall opened the scoring, taking the lead just three minutes in.

A dangerous cross from Reece Smith evaded the Colchester defence, which allowed Declan Skura to poke home his first goal in red and black.

Colchester responded positively, believing they should’ve been awarded a penalty after Mason Hancock brought down Oscar Thorn inside the area.

The pressure continued after Jack Payne broke through the Walsall defence; Payne’s low strike was saved by Jed Ward, maintaining the one-goal advantage.

In the thirty-fifth minute, the U’s were awarded a penalty after Moses Sesay avoided the offside trap, bearing down on goal before Elicha Ahui tripped the forward inside the area.

The resulting penalty was dispatched by Payne, with Ward diving the right way; Payne’s strike proved too powerful for Ward, bringing the game to level terms.

Walsall nearly regained the lead early in the second half, when Hancock’s cross ricocheted into the path of Aaron Pressley, whose effort was denied by Timothee Lo-Tutala at the near post.

Shortly afterwards, Tai Sodje released Pressley through on goal, but Lo-Tutala once again was equal to the Walsall forward's effort.

Colchester created chances of their own; a ping-pong episode inside the box saw the ball fall to Paul Digby, whose effort was saved by the feet of Ward.

On the third time of asking, Pressley gave the Saddlers the lead in the eightieth minute.

Hancock picked out the flying Scotsman in the area, whose headed effort nestled into the bottom corner to double Walsall’s goal tally.

Walsall added a third in the dying seconds, after Andrew Dallas drove towards goal, only for his effort to be saved, falling kindly to Courtney Clarke, who lobbed Lo-Tutala to make it three for the Saddlers, sealing the match.

Walsall secured an impressive Halloween away win at the JobServe Community Stadium, with Clarke rounding off a successful day in Colchester.

Lee Grant’s Comments:

Lee Grant said he was ‘delighted’ with his side’s reaction following Walsall’s 4-2 defeat to Salford City on Monday Night.

Grant added,” it was one of the biggest things for us post-game, in that it’s not easy when you’ve had a flat performance and one where you actually feel like you’ve let yourself down.” – via (Shropshire Star)

Grant urges his side to ‘keep working hard’ and to ‘trust what they’re doing’ following his side's 3-1 win at Colchester United.

Grant added: “We’re organised, and the structure is good, so go and take action,

“That confidence, trust and belief comes as a by-product of that.” – via (Shropshire Star)

 Walsall will now turn their attention to FA Cup action as they face fellow League Two Side, Newport County, at the Rodney Parade.