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

In what was the first game under new boss Darrell Clarke, the Saddlers experimented by playing a different team in each half against the National League North outfit.

The squad also included trailists Jon Flatt, Liam McAlinden and ex-Saddler Alex Nicholls who were all given the chance to impress in the second half.

Clarke's men should have had the game won in a first-half they controlled.

Elijah Abebayo opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a smartly taken header.

The visitors were then denied a clear penalty when Cameron Norman was hauled down in the box.

Josh Gordon and Dan Scarr also missed good chances while Scott Sinclair had an effort cleared off the line.

And those misses meant when Josh Clackstone scored - with Alfreton's only genuine attack - the two teams made their way off at the break all-square.

Alfie Bates, Sinclair and Adebayo were the pick of the performers for Clarke's men in the opening 45 minutes.

But the boss made 10 changes at the break and it was Alfreton who grabbed the initiative from that point against a very young Walsall team.

And they went on to net a winner in the closing stages when Morgan Brough fired in.

Match analysis

Fans got a glimpse of new recruits James Clarke, Cameron Pring, Sinclair and Adebayo from the off with Darrell Clarke naming a strong starting line-up at North Street.

Lining up in a 3-5-2 formation, youngster Tom Leak joined James Clarke and Scarr at centre-back.

Up front, Adebayo was partnered by Josh Gordon while Bates joined Liam Kinsella and Sinclair in midfield.

The Saddlers opened the scoring in the sixth minute after winning a free-kick wide on the left.

Kinsella sent the ball to the back-post where Norman headed it back into the danger area.

Adebayo then did well to beat his marker and plant a header beyond the outstretched arms of keeper Tom Nicholson.

Walsall - with Clarke and assistant boss Marcus Stewart bellowing orders - were in control with the team creating a number of chances to double their advantage.

They should have had a penalty when Clackstone blatantly hauled down Norman only for the referee to incorrectly wave play on.

Adebayo then sent a half-volley into the arms of Nicholson from 18-yards.

Undeterred, the Saddlers created two more excellent chances to extend their lead as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark.

First a pin-point ball forward from Scarr found Adebayo who sent in an inviting cross for Gordon.

But the strikerm who was wearing a mask while he recovers from a broken nose, couldn't keep his header down with his effort sailing over the bar.

The Saddlers came close again moments later when a corner fell kindly for Scarr.

But from six-yards the defender fired over when he should have scored.

Walsall had looked comfortable but in the 39th minute Alfreton scored with their first attack.

The ball was worked wide right to full-back Clackstone and he steered a low drive past Roberts and into the corner.

Clarke's men responded with Sinclair seeing a shot blocked on the line just before the break.

But despite their dominance, they had to make do with being all-square at the break with Bates and Sinclair arguably the pick of their performers.

Clarke made 10 changes at the interval with Leak the only player to start both halves.

Trialists Flatt, McAlinden and Nicholls were all given a chance to impress with the Saddlers continuing in a 3-5-2 formation.

George Dobson was joined by Jack Kiersey and James Hardy in midfield. While youngsters Leak, Joe Willis and Joe Foulkes made up the back three.

Alfreton created the first chance of the half with David Lynch heading wide from a corner.

Walsall responded with McAlinden pressing well to first win the ball and then play-in Nicholls.

But the forward's touch took him too wide with Nicholson doing well to race off his line and smother the ball.

Alfreton though were now the brighter of the two teams.

They threatened once again when Bobby Johnson curled narrowly wide from 18-yards.

And with 10 minutes to go, the hosts looked the only side likely to win it.

They should have got their noses in front when a cross came in from the right but Harvey Grice headed wide despite having the goal at his mercy.

Shortly after though, the reds did find a winner.

Just moments after Flatt made an excellent double save, Brough found himself through on goal.

And while the keeper got a touch to slow him down, the ball bounced back to the forward who back-heeled it into the empty net.

Line-ups

Walsall first-half: Roberts, Scarr, Clarke, Leak, Norman, Pring, Sinclair, Bates, Kinsella, Abebayo, Gordon.

Walsall second half: Flatt, Cockerill-Mollett, Dobson, Facey, Kiersey, Nicholls, Faulks, Hardy, Leak, McAlinden, Willis