Five Baggies were in action for their loan clubs over the Easter weekend.
The standout moment came on Easter Monday when striker Mo Faal scored an injury-time winner for Walsall at home to Salford City in Sky Bet League Two.
The towering frontman cut inside on to his right foot and squeezed the ball beyond the goalkeeper to earn the Saddlers a 2-1 victory – a result which means they’re three points off the play-off positions with six fixtures left to play.
⚽️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭! pic.twitter.com/HxeyxehoKI
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) April 1, 2024
Faal had come on the 65th minute of the contest, replacing Josh Gordon. Jamille Matt gave the hosts the lead early on, with Matty Lund equalising for Salford before the Albion youngster’s late strike.
Mo also completed the first half of his side’s disappointing 5-0 defeat at MK Dons on Good Friday. Irishman Ross Tierney came on in his place at Stadium MK.
Goals from Emre Tezgel, Max Dean (2), Alex Gilbey and Joe Tomlinson secured three points for the home team.
🥳 Big 𝗠𝗢ment! pic.twitter.com/IIOIWmYmLi
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) April 1, 2024
In the same division, midfielder Jamie Andrews played in both matches for Grimsby Town.
The 21-year-old was introduced with just over 20 minutes remaining during Good Friday’s 3-1 defeat at Barrow, replacing Curtis Thompson.
Cole Stockton’s first-half brace for the hosts was followed up by Robbie Gotts’ effort inside the final eight minutes. Justin Obikwu scored a late consolation for the Mariners.
Jamie was handed a start for Bradford’s visit on Easter Monday. The Baggies man completed 93 minutes of their incredibly frustrating 1-1 draw.
Andrews came off for Evan Khouri in the dying embers of the encounter, just moments after the boys from Blundell Park had conceded an equaliser, with Richard Smallwood converting a penalty for the Bantams.
The two results over Easter leave Grimsby looking nervously over their shoulder in 21st position in the table, two places and two points above the danger zone.
90+3' |
1-1 | #gtfc pic.twitter.com/S5DZ66mCgH— Grimsby Town F.C. (@officialgtfc) April 1, 2024
In Sky Bet League One, Zac Ashworth played the final 20 minutes of Bolton Wanderers' crucial 5-2 home win over Reading.
The full-back came on in place of Nathaniel Ogbeta at Toughsheet Community Stadium as the hosts kept up the pressure on Derby County in the race for automatic promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.
Aaron Collins hit a hat-trick and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson bagged a brace for Bolton, while Lewis Wing and Paul Mukairu found the net for the Royals.
Ashworth was an unused substitute on Good Friday as Wanderers drew 0-0 at Stevenage.
Striker Karlan Grant completed 180 minutes for Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship.
The forward's side lost 2-0 at home to Sunderland in their first fixture. Adil Aouchiche and Jobe Bellingham scored for the visitors in South Wales.
Grant then helped the Bluebirds to a 2-1 victory at play-off chasing Coventry City on Easter Monday. Ellis Simms put the Sky Blues in front, but a pair of own goals from Liam Kitching turned the game on its head and sent all three points back to the Welsh capital.
Finally, goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead played every minute over the weekend for Alvechurch in the Southern League Central Division.
The young Welshman featured in their narrow 2-1 defeat at home to second-place Mickleover Sports on Good Friday, as well as their 1-0 loss at Halesowen Town on Easter Monday.
The duo of defeats leave the Church 16th in the standings.
