Wrexham Youth 1
Walsall Youth 0
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference)

Match Report

The under-18s made it ten points out of a possible twelve with a pleasing, and hard-fought, victory over Walsall at Colliers Park. Walsall won 5-0 in the corresponding fixture last season (though, admittedly, the Dragons did exact a measure of revenge with a 3-0 victory in the return – also played at Colliers Park incidentally!) so a tough morning game was envisaged. And those pre-match thoughts proved to be well founded as a closely fought contest saw determined defending from both sides and clear-cut chances at a premium.

Despite obviously being in a confident frame of mind going into the game the Dragons struggled to get going in what was fast developing into a scrappy game, and the Saddlers just about had the better of the opening 45 minutes. Indeed a Tom Matischok 20-yard effort that sailed over the bar was about the only meaningful effort at the visitors’ goal in the first half. Meanwhile, at the other end, Chris Maxwell had a couple of routine saves to keep himself occupied though in the main moment of note before the interval Johnny Hunt did superbly to head away from under his own crossbar under pressure from a Walsall forward.

There was more goalmouth incident after the break, and Mark Head latched onto a Paul Williams flick on in the 53rd minute, beat a defender, but snatched at the shot and pulled the ball wide from the edge of the box. Four minutes later it was the turn of George Stewart to run at the Saddlers’ defence after getting possession on the halfway line but he also snatched at his 20-yard shot and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.
Maxwell’s superb tip over the bar from a header on 65 minutes maintained the stalemate and five minutes later his opposite number did equally to turn a Paul Williams 30-yard shot that looked destined for the top right-hand corner over for a corner.

Still no breakthrough though, so Steve Cooper introduced Obi Anoruo into the fray, and the striker had an almost immediate impact by setting up the decisive goal ten minutes from time. His powerful run at the heart of the Walsall defence created space and his pass released Mark Stewart who rounded the keeper before slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle despite the presence on the line of a covering defender. Both Mark Stewart and substitute Kai Edwards had shots blocked as the Dragons probed away in search of a second goal, but it wasn’t needed as the defence stood firm to keep the visitors at bay.