Match Report: Peterborough United 4 Walsall 2

Walsall got the action underway, but it was Peterborough who enjoyed much of the early possession, though they were unable to create anything to trouble the Saddlers defences in the early goings.

That changed, however, just seven minute into the contest, as Chris Conn-Clarke worked the ball to Gustav Lindgren who found space to shoot from the edge of the area. Walsall shot-stopper, Sam Hornby got a touch on the ball, but it was insufficient to keep it out and United took the lead.

The hosts continued to enjoy a decent spell of play, winning a corner in the twelfth minute, as an effort on goal from Jadel Katongo was deflected behind by Charlie Lakin, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.

Peterborough were awarded a penalty as we reached the quarter hour mark, as Emmanuel Fernandez drew a foul from David Okagbue inside the area. Malik Mothersille stepped forth to take the spot-kick and duly converted, doubling his sides advantage.

United continued to seek further goals, with Abraham Odoh firing wide in the seventeenth minute.

Walsall created their first chance of note, at the other end, just one minute later, as Taylor Allen sent a shot in from outside the box, but Peterborough 'keeper, Nicholas Bilokapic, got down well to make the save, with the ball then falling kindly for Oisin McEntee, whose effort on goal sailed wide.

Play was paused in the twentieth minute, allowing Walsall captain, Donervon Daniels to receive treatment. It was soon determined that he would be unable to play any further part, and he headed off down the tunnel for further treatment, with Jamie Jellis taking his place.

Jellis was quick to get involved in the action, crossing the ball to Allen just moments after his introduction, but the defenders effort from outside the box was saved.

Walsall did pull a goal back as we reached the half hour mark, as Adomah pulled the ball back for Danny Johnson, who fired past Bilokapic.

However, Peterborough restored their two goal advantage just one minute later, as a Mothersille header was turned home by Lindgren.

The Saddlers saw more of the ball as the game continued, though they were unable to create anything of note to trouble the hosts defences, with the final ten minutes of the first-half, a rather quiet affair.

Four additional minutes were added to end the first forty-five, during which time a poor pass from Bilokapic was met by Johnson, who turned the ball straight back into the arms of the 'keeper, when he really should have scored.

Walsall went on to win a corner late into added time, as Fernandez turned the ball out of play. The ball was played towards the back post by Evan Weir, where Allen was waiting to meet it, but Bilokapic was well positioned to make the save.

That would prove to be the final action of note, before the referee called time on the first-half, with Peterborough leading by three-goals-to-one at the break.

The teams returned unchanged following the break, and Peterborough got the action back underway. Walsall won a corner just two minutes after the restart, as Fernandez turned the ball out of play, but the hosts were able to clear the danger.

The Saddlers continued to press, with Brandon Comley playing the ball through for Jellis, who crossed to Johnson, but the striker was unable to find the target, sending the ball wide of the target.

Another Walsall corner followed five minutes into the second-half, but they were unable to find the target once again, as Weir's ball in was turned onto the post by head of Rico Browne.

Peterborough began to see more of the ball as play continued. As we reached the hour mark, the hosts almost added to their tally, as Conn-Clarke looked to find the target from fifteen yards out, but his effort landed narrowly wide of the upright.

With sixty-three minutes on the clock, Walsall chose to make two further changes to their line-up, with Oisin McEntee and Taylor Allen making way for Connor Barrett and Liam Gordon.

The hosts also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Abraham Odoh, Oscar Wallin and Gustav Lindgren departing in favour of Ricky-Jade Jones, George Nevett and Bradley Ihionvien.

Walsall continued to seek goals as play got back underway, with Johnson and Lakin combining to work the ball to Adomah, but the strikers effort from close range was deflected behind, with the resulting corner coming to nothing as Browne fired over the rebound after Bilokapic denied Lakin.

Peterborough chose to make a fourth change to their line-up, in the sixty-eighth minute, as Hector Kyprianou was replaced by Ryan De Havilland.

Walsall used their final two available changes in the seventy-second minute, as Danny Johnson and Rico Browne saw their places taken by Jamille Matt and the returning Josh Gordon.

Peterborough all but put the game to bed, in the seventy-fourth minute, as Harley Mills crossed the ball in for Mothersille, who found the target from close range.

The hosts then chose to use make their final substitution of the evening, with Archie Collins making way for Donay O'Brien-Brady.

The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side able to create much of note, until Lakin fired goal-wards from distance, ten minutes from time, with Bilokapic pulling off a fine fingertip save to deny him, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

At the other end, moments later, Hornby was called into action to deny Jones.

Brandon Comley became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul, in the eighty-second minute.

Five minutes from time, the Saddlers created a chance to pull back a goal, but Jellis was unable to find the target from a tight angle.

The visiting side continued to seek opportunities to add to their tally for the evening, with Barrett crossing the ball into the box for Josh Gordon, in the eighty-sixth minute, but the striker saw his effort turned behind by Bilokapic, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

Walsall continued to seek goals late in the game, with Josh Gordon drawing another fine save from Bilokapic in the eighty-ninth minute, with the resulting corner, and the one which followed that both coming to nothing for the visitors.

Six additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Lakin forced another save from the Peterborough 'keeper, shortly before the shot-stopper collected an Adomah headed effort.

In the sixth of the added minutes, Walsall did pull a goal back, as a clearance from Bilokapic was charged down by Josh Gordon and turned home.

That would prove to be the final action of note, and the referee brought an end to the contest, with Peterborough winning by four-goals-to-two.