Walsall 4-2 Salford City - Match Report
Salford City edge Walsall FC in a six-goal thriller at the Bescot Stadium
Salford City beat Walsall FC 4-2 in a top-of-the-table clash in WS1, with Luke Molyneux showing his quality
The opening stages saw Salford take the upper hand, with two early efforts testing Jed Ward early on.
Kelly N’Mai’s low drive was pushed away by Ward, before Elliot Bond had a similar effort parried away by the Walsall shot-stopper.
Salford threatened again as Luke Molyneux curled an effort into the top corner, which forced Ward into a phenomenal save to keep the score level.
Walsall came close soon after, when Aaron Pressley latched onto a ball on the edge of the area, driving a powerful effort over the bar.
His counterpart Tai Sodje was found in the area by Mason Hancock, but the forward couldn’t guide his effort on target, with the attempt going wide.
Despite the lack of goals in the first half, neither team looked short of intensity, with both goalkeepers being called into action.
On the stroke of half-time, Macaulay Langstaff gave the visitors the lead after Molyneux’s ball broke the offside trap, leaving Langstaff to slot his effort into the bottom corner.
Langstaff’s stoppage-time goal allowed The Ammies to take the one-goal advantage heading into the break.
HT: Walsall FC 0-1 Salford City FC
Salford began the second half in control yet again, after Bond and Langstaff threatened early on with efforts going wide.
Salford doubled their advantage after their early pressure, when Brendan Wiredu dispossessed Courtney Clarke, then assisted Jorge Grant, who fired a curled effort into the top corner.
It didn’t take long for Walsall to respond, after Sodje forced Bonds into a mistake, with the forward delivering the ball to Pressley, who finished coolly into an empty net.
Walsall’s momentum proved difficult for Salford to contain, with newly introduced Lewis Simper finding the equaliser moments later.
Mason Hancock darted down the line before firing a cross into the area, which allowed Simper to head into the corner to draw the game all square.
Salford responded immediately; Langstaff received the ball on the turn before he played Kallum Cesay, who drove a shot past Ward to regain the lead for Salford.
Salford continued to push for a fourth, coming close through Molyneux, who earned a corner.
Molyneux’s resulting corner picked out Adebola Oluwo, who headed in the fourth to regain the two-goal cushion for Salford, which confirmed the victory in the West Midlands.
The Reds provided a late push which proved too difficult, with Salford City claiming a valuable three-points in WS1.
The Saddlers will now turn their attention to an away visit to the JobServe Community Stadium as a visit to Colchester United arises for Lee Grant’s men.
FT: Walsall FC 2-4 Salford City FC
Player Ratings:
Jed Ward 6/10
Declan Skura 5.5/10
James Connolly 5/10
Ryan Leak 5/10
Mason Hancock 6/10
Courtney Clarke 5/10
Isaac Moore 6/10
Sven Sprangler 5/10
Reece Smith 6.5/10
Aaron Pressley 7/10
Tai Sodje 7/10
Subs:
Lewis Simper 7/10
Charlie Crew 6/10
James Furlong 5.5/10
Andrew Dallas 5.5/10
Lee Grant’s Comments:
Lee Grant said he saw ‘two versions’ of his side as Walsall lost 4-2 against league leaders Salford City.
Lee Grant said: “There were two versions of us. The version that didn’t play with personality, belief or confidence for the majority of the first half.” - Via (Express&Star)
Walsall went 2-0 down in the fixture, sparking a quick-fire comeback to draw level within a five-minute spell.
Grant added: “Then there’s the version at 2-0 down which decides that we need to have a swing at the game.” - Via (Express&Star)
Overall, Grant was left frustrated with his side after the game, after he stated: “We didn’t show enough belief and confidence in what we are and what we’ve delivered over large parts of the season.” - Via (Express&Star)
Lee Grant’s side will now turn their attention to an away fixture against Colchester United with the aim of getting back to winning ways in the Sky Bet League Two.
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