Pre-season: Cheltenham 1 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures

In what was an eventual afternoon for Saddlers trialist Tomas Egert, the defender gave away two penalties and came a whisker away from scoring after heading a corner against the post.

Cheltenham were left wondering how they weren’t 2-0 up after 20 minutes with Jacob Maddox hitting the post and Manny Duku missing a spot-kick following an Egert foul.

But Nicky Devlin put the Saddlers ahead with a brilliant finish before the break with Andy Cook then doubling their advantage late in the second half.

But the Robins grabbed themselves a consolidation when Egert was harshly deemed to have fouled Jordon Forster.

And this time Brian Graham converted from 12-yards to give the home fans in attendance something to cheer.

In what was overall a low-key friendly, Josh Ginnelly, George Dobson and Cook were the standouts for Keates’s side – with the boss pleased with the result albeit he felt his team should have won by a greater margin.

With just seven days until the start of the new season, Keates named a strong starting XI that is likely to be similar to the one that takes on Plymouth next weekend.

Sticking with his favoured 4-4-2 formation, trialist Tomas Egert partnered Jon Guthrie at the heart of the defence while youngster Dylan Parker lined up alongside Andy Cook in attack.

Otherwise the team was full of familiar faces with Liam Roberts, Devlin, Luke Leahy, George Dobson, Adam Chambers, Zeli Ismail and Josh Ginnelly all in from the start.

Former Liverpool and Middlesbrough youngster Tom Brewitt, who is also on trial, was named amongst the substitutes.

Cheltenham announced the signing of Liam McAlinden just an hour before kick-off with ex-Wolves man thrown straight into the starting XI.

It was the home side who started the brighter of the two teams with Gary Johnson’s men a whisker away from taking the lead in the seventh minute.

After Devlin failed to head the ball clear, the Saddlers defence was at sixes and sevens and that allowed McAlinden to slip in Jacob Maddox.

But just 12-yards out, the forward planted a strike against the base of the post with the ball then running in front of the goal-line before being cleared.

The Robins had started well and they were presented with another glorious opportunity to open the scoring when Manny Duku rolled Egert in the box before being hauled down by the trialist.

Duke dusted himself down to take the spot-kick only to then fire wide of the left hand post.

Walsall responded with Ginnelly darting at goal before curling a lovely strike that was beaten away by a diving Scott Flinders.

The Saddlers then should have had a penalty of their own when Will Boyle wrapped his arms around Cook after the striker had gathered a low cross.

But despite their appearing to have been a clear foul, referee John Busby opted to wave play on.

Just seconds before half-time though, Walsall did get their noses in front with Ismail teeing up Devlin who lashed in an unstoppable strike from the right side of the penalty area.

Keates made a change at the break with Kieron Morris replacing Parker in a move that saw Ismail play off Cook.

The change almost paid immediate dividends with Ginnelly cutting in off the right-flank before finding Ismail who fired agonisingly over from 20-yards.

In what had largely been a low-key friendly, it wasn’t until the 74th minute that either side threatened again.

And it was Walsall who came close to doubling their advantage with Egert powering a header against the post after meeting a Leahy corner.

Keaets made his second change shortly after with Maz Kouhyar replacing the lively Ginnelly.

And the winger was straight into the action with Kouhyar cutting into the box and curling a strike against the post.

The loose ball then fell for Ismail but with the goal at his mercy he fired over when he should have scored.

Just moments later though, the Saddlers had doubled their lead with Kouhyar again involved.

The Afghanistan international found Ismail who saw a strike saved – but not held – by Flinders. And Cook then reacted quickest to fire in from close range.

Cheltenham did pull a goal back right at the end when trialist Egert was deemed to have given away a second penalty.

The defender was deemed to have pulled Jordon Forster in the box – with the decision infuriating both Egert and manager Keates.

But Brian Graham stepped up and succeeded where Duke had earlier failed to net his side a consolation.

Teams

Cheltenham: Flinders, Tozer (Smith 71), Mullins (Forster 67), Atangana, Thomas (Kalala 64), Duku (Dawson 64), McAlinden (Graham 77), Broom, Boyle (Bower 77), Debayo, Maddox (Lloyd 77).

Subs: not used: Lovett, Smith, Duncan.

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin Egert, Guthrie, Leahy, Ismail (Candlin 82), Chambers (Kinsella 82), Dobson, Ginnelly (Kouhyar 77), Cook, Parker (Morris 46).

Subs not used: Dawe, Brewitt, Cockerill-Mollett, Sangha, Bakayoko, Hayles-Docherty.