Walsall Reserves 2 Stoke Reserves 1

Adam Chambers staked his claim for a first-team recall as Walsall reserves came from behind to beat Stoke reserves at the Banks's Stadium.

The midfielder, hit with a three-game ban after a red card in the 3-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup, played the entire 90 minutes in yesterday's victory.

Ryan Jarvis' penalty and Jamie Tank's header cancelled out Karmi Rossi's opener, as the Saddlers made a winning return to the Central League Central Division after a year's absence.

Chambers is available for Saturday's trip to Bournemouth and coach Chris Nicholl, who took the side with head of youth Neil Woods, believes it was the perfect run-out.

Nicholl said: "Adam needed it, it was quite obvious he needed it and he got better and better as the game went on.

"He looks much more ready than he did at the start, so we're delighted with that. He'll be ready for the manager for Saturday – that's what they're all after.

"Stoke are a Premier League team so that helps us make judgements on our players and, at the death, we had a pretty young team.

"We still did alright and played some good stuff."

Rossi opened the scoring in the 40th minute after a mistake by goalkeeper David Grof.

Walsall rallied and Jarvis levelled on the hour, after Jamie Paterson was impeded in the box.

Winger Paterson grew in confidence and supplied the corner for youth team captain Tank to head the winner on 76 minutes.