Express & Star

Pre-season: Odra Opole 0 Walsall 1 - Report

A goal from Jack Kiersey was enough to see Walsall secure a 1-0 win over Odra Opole during their pre-season trip to Poland.

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In what proved to be a keenly contested friendly in Opalencia, Opole started the game well with the I Liga side seeing a lot of the ball in the opening half-hour.

Gradually though, an organised Saddlers side took control with Kiersey opening the scoring in the 32nd minute.

And from that point they created a number of other decent chances with winger Wes McDonald hitting the crossbar while Callum Cockerill-Mollett hit the post in what was a deserved victory.

Report

Clarke opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation when naming his starting line-up with Mitch Candlin the lone frontman.

James Hardy was in the number 10 role with a trialist - understood to be Rory Holden - on the right-wing and Wes McDonald on the left.

Kiersey was partnered by Alfie Bates in central midfield.

In what proved an intriguing opening 30 minutes, Opole showed they were a threat technically with the I Liga side retaining possession well.

And they created the game's first chance in the opening minutes with striker Szymon Skrzypcz connecting with a right-wing cross but heading over just six-yards out.

The Polish side had enjoyed the lion's share of possession. But they were lacking a cutting edge.

And eventually, it was the Saddlers who started to seize the initiative.

From a corner, James Clarke powered a header wide. Hardy then saw a low drive from 18-yards claimed by the keeper.

Then in the 32nd minute, Darrell Clarke's side opened the scoring.

Hardy did well to find Kiersey in the box with the former Everton man taking a touch before curling a strike into the corner from 10-yards.

Just minutes later it was almost two with McDonald - who was seeing more and more of the ball - rattling the crossbar with a fierce effort from just outside the box.

The Saddlers now seemed into control, but Opole showed they still carried a threat just before the break with a defender glancing a header onto the roof of the bar following a free-kick on the left.

While initially, the Saddlers had taken time to adjust to their opponents, they deserved their lead at the break with Kiersy, Bates, McDonald and Cameron Pring all looking lively.

The opening stages of the second half proved to be cagey with little goalmouth action.

And on the hour Clarke made a raft of changes with Cameron Norman, Tom Leak, Callum Cockerill-Mollett, Liam Kinsella, Stuart Sinclair, Elijah Adebayo, Josh Gordon replacing Dan Scarr, Shay Facey, Bates, Hardy, Candlin, McDonald and Holden.

It meant the Saddlers switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Cockerill-Mollett and Leak joining James Clarke in the back three.

Clear-cut chances continued to be few and fair between but the Saddlers had pressed well in the second half.

And they almost doubled their advantage with 15 minutes to go when Kiersey sent in another dangerous corner.

The delivery was met by Cockerill-Mollett with the 20-year-old steering a low strike against the base of the post.

Things got a bit tasty in the final minutes with a few of the Opole players having a problem with James Clarke - who had been excellent for the Saddlers.

Overall though, the second-half had proved an uneventful affair with Walsall looking organised and defending well to ensure Odra never really threatened their goal.

Team

Walsall: Rose, Pring, Clarke, Scarr (Leak 60), Facey (Norman 60), Bates (Kinsella 60), Kiersey, Trialist A (Adebayo 60), Hardy (Gordon), McDonald (Sinclair), Candlin (Cockerill-Mollett).

Subs not used: Roberts