Walsall 2-0 Port Vale: Saddlers extend unbeaten start in League Two

Walsall extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory over local rivals Port Vale at Bescot.

James Connolly scored the opener on the verge of half-time when the Walsall skipper flicked Courtney Clarke’s corner beyond Vale goalkeeper Marko Marosi.

Andy Dallas marked his emergence from the bench with a super strike into the top corner in the 89th-minute to open his goal scoring account for the club.

That saw Walsall emerge with their first win in four games in League Two, as they registered their third successive clean sheet in the process.

Lee Grant made two changes from the goalless draw against Rochdale last time out, as leading scorer Aaron Pressley was a surprise absentee.

Tai Sodje was tasked with leading the line instead, while Isaac Moore was recalled to partner Sven Sprangler in the double pivot.

Mason Hancock came closest for Walsall in the opening exchanges when he curled an effort over the crossbar following Antony Evans’ knockdown.

But Evans was forced off due to injury after just 18 minutes and had to be replaced by Lewis Simper.

The first half-hour was scrappy, and chances were limited, but Jed Ward was tested for the first time when he dived to his right hand side to keep out Ben Waine’s long-range strike.

Ward was called upon again when Lewis Montsma headed goal wards at the back post, before Jordan Gabriel blasted over the rebound.

Walsall hit the front right on the cusp of half-time when Connolly wriggled goal side of his marker at the near post to flick Clarke’s low corner into the far corner.

Hancock came close to doubling the Saddlers’ advantage 12 minutes into the second half when his teasing free-kick was tipped over by the backpedalling Marosi.

Reece Smith then went in search of a second when he surged inside, but his powerful strike drifted off target.

The hosts continued to look the side most likely to score again and came even closer when substitute Dallas’ powerful shot was beaten away by Marosi.

They then kept the attack alive, but the Vale goalkeeper plunged to his near post to thwart Clarke, who had made a rampaging run.

Albert Adomah was introduced for the closing stages, as the 38-year-old made his 800th club career appearance.

Dallas sealed the deal late on when he powered an unerring strike beyond the reach of Marosi and into the far top corner from 20 yards out.

Teams

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Ahui, Connolly (c), Skura, Hancock; Sprangler, Moore; Clarke, Evans (Simper 18), Smith (Crew 82’); Sodje (Dallas 70).

Subs: Wooster, Leak, Furlong.

Port Vale (3-4-2-1): Marosi; John (Moon 73), Montsma, C Hall; Gabriel, Dempsey (Walters 61), Garrity, Headley; Byers (Hernandez 61), Waine (G Hall 61); Lynch (Watters 46).

Subs: Moseley.

Other details

Referee: James Oldham

Attendance: 6,902