Blood, Sweat and Joy at the Bescot

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 19/08/2025

HEAD Coach David Artell talks of us needing to be more ruthless. There could be no greater example of this than on Saturday when we failed to convert our chances before Newport scored a second half equaliser.

It all worked out on the end when Khouri found Green who shoved the ball home in the last seconds for the winner. Walsall, our opponents and hosts today, have started the season with two wins and a loss. It’s very early days but a win or even draw here in the West Midlands would keep Town’s momentum going and hold a potential promotion rival at bay.

Town wore the third kit tonight - the smart cream one, not forgetting the sky blue and chocolate detailing, which to me makes it sound like a cake. Our starting team tonight was: Pym – Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Sweeney – McEachren – Burns, Green, Khouri, Vernam – Kabia. Walsall got the game underway.

After initial unproductive exchanges, a ball up the line from Sweeney on 5 minutes found Green who won a corner. A second corner was headed clear, before Khouri committed a foul as Walsall broke, subsequently winning a corner themselves on 8 minutes. Rodgers got a great header to clear the corner, starting a Town move. Burns showed his pace and did really well to find Kabia whose shot lacked composure. Walsall put together a fluid move on 11 minutes. Stuttle’s cross found Pressley’s head but the header lacked control. It was Town’s turn next when Burns’s ball found Kabia who did well but there was no-one on hand to take advantage of his ball across the goal mouth. With 15 minutes gone, the game was open and being played at a good pace, so much so that there were rapid exchanges of possession. McEachren did well to intercept a Walsall pass but gave the ball away on 23 minutes. Walsall broke. Warrington’s low shot was saved well by Pym. Walsall came back. Hancock crossed. Pym parried the cross but reacted well to stop Lakin from firing home. Town’s forward ball was letting them down but on 29 minutes as Walsall struggled to clear a cross, Khouri struck his shot high and wide when he should have done better. Sweeney received a yellow card following a tussle in Town’s half. After a prolonged stoppage for an injury to Stuttle, Khouri was subject to a robust tackle by Jellis. Green inspirationally dragged Khouri up, urging him to get on with it instead of lying down. A long ball by Flint found Jellis who controlled the ball well and laid the ball off to Barrett who won a corner. Jellis’s header was fierce but Pym was able to push it upwards. Town broke on 42 minutes. The impressive Burns did well to find the imposing Kabia whose shot smashed against the inside of the post. As 8 minutes were added, Vernam trickery found Rodgers whose shot was wild. McJannet was penalised for a challenge on Lakin on the left side. Green headed clear and Town ran out but Vernam lost the ball. Walsall crossed but Jellis’s shot from a central position was poor. The whistle blew for the half: Walsall 0, Town 0. Both sides showed plenty of energy and endeavour, but not the highest quality. Walsall were very direct, and while there were some good individual touches, Town seemed guilty of rushing things in the face of Walsall’s frantic approach to play.

McEachren provided the first skill moment of the second half, directing a clever ball up the left towards Kabia. Town kept control, and eventually won a free kick on the right after Green was fouled. Vernam wasted the opportunity by sending his cross into the wall. The lively Kabia was given a ball to run on to but keeper Roberts was there first. Walsall then went on the attack. Tharme denied Pressley from Jellis’s cross. Town cleared the ball, and Vernam sent Kabia away. It was two on one. Kabia found Vernam who, with only Roberts to beat, shot weakly straight at the keeper. It was a really poor miss and hopefully not a costly one. The game had another lengthy stoppage for an injury, this time to Walsall’s Hancock. Walsall went close on 56 minutes when Cox struck the crossbar from range after a headed Rodgers clearance. Burns was close to scoring 2 minutes later but Flint made an excellent interception. Walsall continued to play with energy and directness. Town’s threat came in the form of counterattacks. 60 minutes had passed. There was plenty of endeavour from both teams but still no goals. A clumsy challenge by Lakin on Khouri deep on the right side gave Town a free kick. Vernam’s cross once again was underhit. Walsall broke but McJannet was quick to get across and deny Adomah. From the follow up Lakin lashed at a shot from inside the box. Town responded with a patient buildup. Burns found himself on the right and sent in a long cross. Green muscled in and headed back towards the goal. The unbalanced Flint struggled to clear. Khouri was on hand and from 6 yards out slammed his shot into the roof of the net. Walsall 0, Town 1. 67 minutes had gone. Walsall had a short spell of attacking before making a triple substitution. As we have seen in previous games where we’ve led, Town didn’t rest on their laurels. Green got a shot on target before being hauled down. The ball went out to Vernam on the right but his cross was poor. 76 minutes had gone when Town made substitutions. Gardner and Amalazor replaced Kabia and Burns. Walsall won a free kick on 77 minutes. Hollman crossed to Cox who headed towards goal. Pym made a good save Finnegan headed home - Cox was offside and the goal was disallowed. Phew. 81 minutes had now passed. Walker replaced Vernam. Tharme did well to cut out another attacking threat. Town countered after a Warrington error. Green took the ball forward. Gardner fumbled, but Khouri crossed. Walker was unable to reach it. Green then surged forward again into the box and it took gargantuan efforts by two defenders to hold him off. 87 minutes had gone, and Town were still giving it their all. Warren came on for Green who suffered a strain in the last attack. Town planted themselves in Walsall’s half. For the second time, 8 minutes were added following the earlier injury stoppage. Walsall attacked. Clarke crossed. Warrington’s shot was blocked. With 92 minutes gone, McEachren sent the ball up to Gardner who worked towards the Walsall box and was tripped. McEachren’s free kick was deflected for a corner. Town played it tight but Barrett retrieved it and worked the ball forward. Walsall won a corner. Keeper Roberts went up and was booked when stopping Warren from breaking out. Walsall tried. Town battled. The battle was won. Walsall 0, Town 1 was the final score.

This was a great result and a good all-round performance without being dazzling. Town did fantastically well against a blood and thunder Walsall side, matching them for energy. The outstanding quality was Town’s sheer determination. Town’s performance in the second half was more controlled than the first, where each side raced from one end to the other, sacrificing quality in the process. In the second half, while Walsall continued to press, Town tightened up defensively while showing more patience going forward, as exemplified by the goal. Once again, everyone played their part, including the substitutes, and Town’s collective and individual efforts deserved the reward of victory here at the Bescot Stadium.

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