The Walsall game last night

From the saddlers website:

THE SADDLERS have played out a 1-1 draw with a young Manchester United outfit.

A skilful break through The Saddlers' back-line on two minutes by Lee Martin saw his low shot blocked by the arm of Clayton Ince as the visitors, whose late arrival meant that the game kicked off 45 minutes late, made the brighter start.

Shortly afterwards Sean Evans put in a dangerous ball that just beat Fraizer Campbell who was poised in the middle.

Martin then caused more problems in the 13th minute as his pace took him past Ian Roper before he placed a low effort just the wrong side of the post as he closed in on goal.

A shot from distance by Daniel Fox stung the hands of Tom Heaton in the United goal as Walsall looked to get into gear.

Former United youngster, Kris Taylor went close with a low drive before his weak header back towards Ince at the other end almost let in Campbell, but Roper was on hand to sort out the danger.

A header from Michael Dobson just past the half-hour flew over from a good position as The Saddlers started to get on top.

The next attack saw Mark Kinsella and Martin Butler combine well on the edge of the area to set up Hector Sam who made room for a fine shot that was acrobatically tipped over by Heaton.

It wasn't long before the opening goal arrived courtesy of Kris Taylor as he rifled the ball home from the left-hand side to give the 'keeper no chance.



The second period began with a Butler effort that flew over after some good battling on the edge of the area by Kinsella.

There was a double substitution on the hour as Craig Pead and Kinsella were replaced by Dean Keates and Mark Wright respectively.

United got back onto level terms in the 65th minute when former Saddlers' loanee, Paul McShane was allowed to make progress inside the area before curling a shot through a crowd of players that caight Ince unsighted.

With 73 minutes on the clock a curling effort by Floribert Ngalula was held by Ince at his acrobatic best before Roper denied Campbell with a fine challenge as he closed in on goal.

Ishmel Demontagnac replaced Kris Taylor with quarter-of-an-hour to go before a pacy break by United ended with Fox clearing from in front of goal.

Some fine skill by Demontagnac saw him weave his way through before crossing low from near the by-line. The ball evaded everyone in the middle as it went out to safety.

Hector Sam was replaced by James Constable with time running out and in the 88th minute a cross from the right was by by an intelligent header from Butler that looped over the 'keeper but cannoned against the crossbar before United were able to clear their lines.

In the end, the encounter ended with honours even.


In addition, there were pictures of Jones and Marsh from that game.
 
manutd.com

18/07/2006 21:52, Report by Steve Bartram

Walsall 1 United Reserves 1

A second-half equaliser from Paul McShane earned United's Reserves a 1-1 draw against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

The 20-year-old Irish defender glanced home a header after 66 minutes to level Kris Taylor's first-half opener for the hosts.

With the Reserves rendered managerless by Rene Meulensteen's departure to Brondby, Brian McClair took the reins in his second spell as caretaker manager.

Reds keeper Tom Heaton produced a wonderful one-handed save to deny Hector sam, but was helpless to stop Taylor's angled right-foot shot on 34 minutes.

United pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to forge any clear-cut openings before the interval. Then, six minutes after the hour-mark, McClair's side drew level as McShane glanced in Michael Barnes' cross-cum-shot inside a packed penalty area.

Both sides had chances to snatch the win, with Fraizer Campbell denied by a tremendous last-ditch challenge from Ian Roper, while Saddlers striker Martin Butler headed against the crossbar in the final minute.

United's young Reserves will be satisfied with their solid pre-season start, while the game's major plus came through Floribert Ngalula's return from a hip injury after almost a year on the sidelines.

United: Heaton (Crockett, 46), Gray, Rose, McShane, Shawcross, R Jones, Marsh (Barnes, 46), Ngalula (Burns, 46), Campbell, Martin (Hewson, 60), S Evans (Mullan, 46).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.