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Press Reports Season 2000-01

Tamworth U-15 2 Walsall U-15 5 - 5.05.01
Walsall under-15s ended their Staffordshire campaign in style against Tamworth and could now end up with a share of the runners-up spot. Luke Blair (St. Francis) set Walsall on the way but Tamworth forced an equaliser before goals from Lee Hagan (Streetly), Jason Paphitos (Arthur Terry), Gary Stevens (Sneyd) and Andy Rowley (Barr Beacon) with a penalty sealed the victory. A late second goal for Tamworth completed the scoring.

Wolverhampton U-15 0 Walsall U-15 0 - 31.03.01
There was less excitement but no less commitment in this under-15 local derby in the Staffordshire league. An under-strength Walsall side came away with a creditable draw thanks to an outstanding display from keeper Simon Hands (Arthur Terry). Matthew Winn (Aldridge), Tom Niblett (Pool Hayes) and Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) also played their part in restricting Wolves to half chances. In a game with few scoring opportunities for either side Shazad Akhtar (Sneyd) came closest for Walsall. Walsall were further hampered when Daniel Townsend (Arthur Terry) had to go off injured.

Wolverhampton U-15 1   Walsall U-15 1 (a.e.t. Wolverhampton won 5-4 on penalties) - 14.03.01
Wolverhampton under-15s dominated the first half of this Levon-Yates quarter-final at Aldersley Stadium but had nothing to show for their efforts at half-time. Lee Hagan (Streetly) looked to have sealed the game for Walsall with a goal midway through the second half but Wolves took the game into extra-time with a last minute equaliser. Stephen Polley (Arthur Terry) hit the bar for Walsall in the extra period but the game went to a penalty shootout with Wolves winning 5-4.

Cannock U-15 1 Walsall U-15 1 - 10.03.01
The under-15s turned in a tremendous performance to hold and almost beat a Cannock side fresh from their ESFA Trophy quarter-final victory over Sheffield. Walsall were short of players and gave a first full outing to keeper Simon Hands (Arthur Terry) who played his part in frustrating Cannock. Walsall took a deserved first half lead when Jason Paphitos (Arthur Terry) scored. The referee played to the letter of the law when he sent off Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) when he stopped a Cannock shot by handling on the line. Cannock equalised from the resulting penalty but Walsall’s ten men still caused problems for the home side. Germaine Gittens (Blue Coat) came on as Walsall went for an unlikely victory and he caused the Cannock defence numerous problems before the final whistle.

Walsall U-15 2 Halesowen and Stourbridge U-15 2 - 17.02.01
This draw ended any lingering hopes of a West Midlands semi-final spot for Walsall’s under-15 side. Once again a combination of defensive mistakes and bad luck deprived the team of the win they probably just deserved. A forgettable first half was followed by an exciting second half with Walsall performing well against a side above them in the table. Good work by Lee Hagan (Streetly) gave Luke Blair (St. Francis) the chance to give Walsall the lead. Daniel Townsend (Arthur Terry) nearly increased the lead minutes later but his long-range effort was inches over the bar. Kieran Harris (Windsor) equalised for the visitors before Blair returned the favour for Hagan by setting him up for Walsall’s second goal. Walsall conceded a second equaliser when they failed to clear a corner and Jacob Higgett (Redhill) was one of three players waiting to slot the ball home.

Walsall U-15 1 Warley U-15 3 - 10.02.01
In the under-15 game defeat for Walsall has effectively put paid to any West Midlands semi-final hopes. Lowly Warley proved a sterner than expected test for Walsall and keeper David Barton (Arthur Terry) had to be alert on a couple of occasions to prevent the visitors going in front. At the other end Luke Blair (St. Francis) was causing all sorts of problems for the Warley defence. On twenty minutes Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) celebrated his West Midlands County call-up by putting Walsall in front from the spot. Warley equalised with a brilliant strike from Stephen Bowers (Heathfields). An even second half saw Walsall’s Jason Paphitos (Arthur Terry) have a shot turned round the post before Warley went in front with five minutes left thanks to an unfortunate own goal. Stephen Chilton (Bristnall Hall) added a third in the final seconds of the game.

Walsall U-15 0 Brierley Hill and Dudley U-15 3 - 3.02.01
In the under-15 game Walsall produced a good performance in the first half to restrict the table-topping visitors to a few half chances. Ebon Coker (Arthur Terry) was having an outstanding game in midfield for Walsall and Luke Blair (St. Francis) had a couple of scoring opportunities. Brierley Hill and Dudley showed why they are heading for a West Midlands semi-final spot with a second half performance which kept Walsall pegged back for long periods. The Walsall cause was not helped by poor defending for the first two goals and there was no way back after that against such a strong side.

Walsall U-15 2 North Shropshire U-15 0 - 13.01.01
Walsall under-15s won through to the next round of the Levon-Yates trophy after a real battle against North Shropshire. Walsall were restricted to half chances in the first half and they suffered a blow when Lee Hagan (Streetly) picked up an injury and had to go off. The half ended with a tremendous save by Walsall keeper Luke Banner (Sneyd) and the Shropshire keeper followed suit with a good block to prevent Luke Blair (St. Francis) scoring. The visitors nearly took the lead early in the second half when the ball shaved the post. Walsall hit back when Germaine Gittens (Blue Coat) saw his shot parried and he slotted the rebound home. Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) set up Gittens for a second goal with a defence splitting pass to make the game safe. Banner produced another good save to prevent a nervous last ten minutes.

Walsall U-15 2 West Bromwich U-15 4 - 9.12.00
This West Midlands game was the only one to survive the weather and a defensive nightmare left Walsall wishing it had been postponed. Walsall started well enough when Shazad Akhtar (Sneyd) scored with a well-struck shot after ten minutes. West Bromwich equalised ten minutes later but Akhtar struck again within a minute to restore Walsall’s lead. With Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) dominating the midfield a win for Walsall looked the most likely result at half time. West Bromwich scored a second equaliser early in the second half and then defensive errors from set pieces gifted them two goals in a minute to end Walsall’s challenge.

Telford U-15 1 Walsall U-15 3 - 25.11.00
Walsall under-15s continued their recent good form with this West Midlands win against Telford. Walsall dominated the first half but only had an Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) goal to show for their efforts. Lee Hagan (Streetly) hit the post twice and man of the match Luke Blair (St. Francis) also went close. Blair got his reward in the second half with Walsall’s second goal. Telford pulled one back after Walsall keeper Luke Banner (Sneyd) saved a penalty but could do nothing about the shot from the rebound. Daniel Townsend (Arthur Terry) restored Walsall’s two-goal cushion with his first goal for Walsall.

Wolverhampton U-15 0 Walsall U-15 5 - 18.11.00
Walsall under-15s produced a stunning performance in this Staffordshire Leckie Shield game to demolish Wolverhampton in what is the biggest win over their local rivals at any age group in recent years. Lee Hagan (Streetly) set Walsall on the way after ten minutes with his first goal for Walsall. Stephen Polley (Arthur Terry) scored a brace and Shazad Akhtar (Sneyd) added a fourth in an amazing first half for Walsall. The Walsall management had the unheard of luxury against Wolverhampton of being able to bring on all five substitutes in the second half. Luke Blair (St. Francis) completed a bad day for Wolves when his pressure forced an own goal for Walsall’s fifth.

Worcestershire North U-15 1 Walsall U-15 2 - 4.11.00
The under-15s produced their best performance of the season to beat high-flying Worcestershire North in their West Midlands game. Shazad Akhtar (Sneyd) opened the scoring midway through the first half and Walsall could have been two or three up at the break. Walsall defended well when the home side came back into the game and Akhtar added a second to relieve the pressure in an exciting game. Worcestershire North pulled a goal back with ten minutes left but Walsall held out for a deserved victory. In a game where the whole team played well Gary Stevens (Sneyd) shone on his comeback. Akhtar, only recently playing regular football, has been a revelation.

Walsall U-15 1 Derby U-15 4 - 28.10.00
Walsall under-15s suffered a similar fate but their defeat was largely down to defensive frailties rather than being outplayed. Daniel Townsend (Arthur Terry) had a golden chance to put Walsall in front from a corner but his shot was blocked and cleared. Minutes later a poor defensive clearance let in Chris Masuda to give Derby the lead. Two minutes later Walsall were caught on the break and Paul Bacon provided a clinical finish to put Derby in the comfort zone. A third goal by Matthew Critchley left Walsall with an uphill task but to their credit Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) saw one free kick sail just over the bar and another finger-tipped away and Ebon Coker (Arthur Terry) shot wide. Walsall did pull a goal back before the break with a good finish from Luke Blair (St. Francis of Assisi) but Jason Caruthers made the game safe for Derby after the break.

Worcester U-15 1 Walsall U-15 0 (ESFA Trophy Round 1 replay) - 7.10.00
Walsall under-15s crashed out of the ESFA Trophy at the first hurdle in this replay. Walsall were on top for most of the game and did not deserve to lose a game they should have won easily. Chance after chance went begging in a first half where Walsall should have had the game sewn up. The second half was a similar story although the loss of last week’s man of the match Jason Paphitos (Arthur Terry) midway through the first half did not help Walsall’s cause. With Shaun Hesson (Darlaston, Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) and Nathan Samuels (Willenhall) leading the way it seemed only a matter of time before Walsall’s pressure would bring its reward but Worcester were gifted a goal to leave Walsall regretting throwing away a 3-1 lead in the first game.

Walsall U-15 3 Worcester U-15 3 a.e.t. (ESFA Trophy Round 1) - 30.09.00
Walsall under-15s built up a 3-1 lead against the run of play in this 1^st round Trophy game only for Worcester to force extra-time in the last ten minutes. Walsall took an early lead after five minutes when Germaine Gittens (Blue Coat) was put clear. Oliver Endicott scored a deserved equaliser before good work by Jason Paphitos (Arthur Terry) ended with Gittens seeing a shot blocked by the Worcester keeper. An attempted chip from Stephen Polley (Arthur Terry) sailed narrowly over the bar. Worcester put real pressure on the Walsall defence after the break and should have taken the lead when a shot flew over the bar from close range. Against the run of play Daniel Townsend (Arthur Terry) took a good corner and Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) put Walsall back in front. Minutes later Shaun Hesson (Darlaston) set up Shazad Akhtar (Sneyd) for Walsall’s third on his debut. Worcester hit back with two tremendous goals the first coming from a short corner to Adam Connolly who hit a fierce cross shot which found the far corner. James Raynor equalised for Worcester with a shot from just inside the Walsall half that dipped under the bar.  Extra-time saw a Connolly free kick hit the bar  for Worcester and keeper David Barton (Arthur Terry) saved Walsall when he tipped a shot over the bar.

Wolverhampton U-15 0 Walsall U-15 0 - 23.09.00
With the fuel crisis over this West Midlands game, postponed from last week, was hurriedly rearranged, but both sides were left less than satisfied with a draw in what is usually a tight league. Defences were on top for most of the game and there were few clear-cut scoring chances for either side. Walsall played well but were disrupted by an injury to Luke Blair (St. Francis). Shaun Hesson (Darlaston) marshalled the Walsall defence and Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) controlled midfield but it was the vital finishing touch which Walsall lacked as the ball flashed across the goalmouth on several occasions without result.

Walsall U-15 2 Mid and South Cheshire 1 - 9.09.00
This under-15 game was a close affair and Walsall found themselves a goal down early on. Walsall equalised with an Andrew Rowley (Barr Beacon) penalty after Germaine Gittens (Blue Coat) was tripped. Gittens then gave Walsall the lead before half-time. Luke Banner (Sneyd) pulled off some good saves to prevent an equaliser and Tom Niblett (Pool Hayes) had a promising debut for a Walsall side preparing for the first round of the national competition against Worcester at the end of the month.

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