Four of Albion’s academy graduates represented their respective loan clubs over the weekend as the 2023/24 campaign drew another step closer to its conclusion.
For promising centre-half Caleb Taylor, the season could be prolonged for his Bolton Wanderers team-mates through the Sky Bet League One Play-Offs despite their 2-0 home win over Port Vale.
Aaron Collins and Cameron Jerome struck in the second half to seal a comfortable victory at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, with Taylor starting his first match in over two months, playing the full 90 in the process and keeping a clean sheet.
The result leaves Bolton in third place, three points behind Derby County who occupy the second and final automatic promotion spot with a superior goal difference heading into the final game of the regular term.
In the division below, Mo Faal continued his scoring run for Walsall during what proved to be a tough afternoon for Matt Sadler’s team, as they let a two-goal lead slip at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Bradford City were the visitors, and the latest team who the Baggies’ Gambian target man had found the net against - notching his third goal in as many matches and sixth in Saddlers colours.
16' -BIG MO FAAL SCORING HEADERS....SHOCK!!! pic.twitter.com/AM8ua08Wmd
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) April 20, 2024
That effort, along with Ryan Stirk’s finish, handed Walsall a 2-0 advantage within the first 16 minutes, but the Yorkshire outfit turned things around when Andy Cook provided a response three minutes later before a remarkable Jamie Walker brace either side of the interval put the visitors ahead at 3-2.
It went from high to low for Bantams man Walker, who saw red after 68 minutes, but Faal’s side were unable to restore parity in the contest as their Sky Bet League Two play-off hopes were dealt a major blow heading into the last day.
Elsewhere in England’s fourth tier, Ethan Ingram started for Salford City in their dramatic triumph over Newport County in South Wales.
The full-back played the full 90 minutes and kept Karl Robinson’s men in the game heading into stoppage time, where veteran forward Matt Smith popped up to net a 92nd-minute winner and help the Ammies record their 13th league victory of the campaign.
Lastly, Jamie Andrews came off the bench for Grimsby Town late on to help inspire David Artell’s team to a 2-0 home triumph over Swindon Town.
The midfielder replaced Gavan Holohan for the final 17 minutes and, just a few moments after his and a few others' introductions, the Mariners scored twice through Liam Smith and Donovan Wilson to seal a morale-boosting late win.
Andrews' outing took his senior appearances total for the season to 36 across all competitions.
