The Banks’s Stadium, home to Walsall FC based in the West Midlands. Nicknamed the “Saddlers” after the town’s history in the saddle industry. 26th October 2019 and Mansfield were away to Walsall to hopefully kick start Mansfield’s season whereas Walsall had suffered 4 straight defeats.
Pit stop before the ground in a small town called Bloxwich nearby. A few pre-match drinks and the early kick off, Sheffield Wednesday Vs Leeds. Time was up and off to the ground we went. Sadly some Walsall fans thought it would be a good idea to throw a brick at our bus window… Only the second time that’s happened with the other one being Walsall Wood… Coincidence? Should be nicknamed the “Brick Throwers!” £18 to watch this League 2 clash! Ok then! Minutes silence as we listen to the last post for Remembrance Day.
Kick Off! “YELLOW & BLUE ARMY!” End to end start to the game! 7 minutes in and a corner for Walsall, taken and Cockerill-Mollett… Parried away by Conrad Logan. 12 minutes in and Mansfield had the ball whipped in towards Nicky Maynard!! Saved! Half an hour gone and Otis Khan ran at the Walsall back line, he went down the left hand side and crossed the ball in towards ANDY COOK! 0-1! Against the team Mansfield signed him from and he enjoyed that one! Last chance of the half and Walsall had a free kick, delievered into the box and Elijah Adebayo rose up to meet it… And he scored!! 1-1 just like that!! As the Walsall players celebrated the ball was kicked away and funnily enough came straight to me as I was walking down the walk way and I could be seen on the highlights giving the ball back. Famous! It would be the last action of the half and the score at half time was 1-1.
Second half, good start to the half from Walsall with the ball finding Adebayo after good battling in the final third by Walsall, Adebayo went for goal… Good save by Logan! Walsall were the better side and on 67 minutes a mistake by Mansfield gave Kinsella the ball who gave it to Gaffney!! Another save from Conrad Logan. Straight after and a break away for Mansfield, Conor Shaughnessy played the ball to Mal Benning who charged into the Walsall box, played back to Alex MacDonald… GOAL!!! 1-2 against the run of play!! Mansfield would go on to see the game out.
FT: Walsall 1-2 Mansfield Town
Rating
- Atmosphere: 5/10 – The Mansfield fans were good but we’ve been louder but having said that, I couldn’t hear much from the Walsall fans.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice ground and definitely fit for the Championship should they ever get there.
- Expense: 7/10 – A decent open game and a Mansfield win, not bad going!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – I enjoyed the day as a whole and it was great to see Mansfield win again after a slow start to the season.
26/40