Walsall Bury Shakers

The first problem was the fact that midfield dynamos Keates and Dobson both failed late tests to face Bury. This left the midfield depleted to say the least. Although Kinsella was present to give the experience alongside Fox, Mark Wright and Tony Bedeau who failed to make the impression required and was replaced by Craig Pead.

Despite the heart of the team been disrupted Walsall held there own in the first half. However in the second a Paul Scott shot in the 52nd-minute from the edge of the six yard box, gave Bury the lead after Walsall failed to clear a Tom Kennedy corner. Some Saddlers thought Clayton was to blame.

However he redeemed himself when Bury top scorer and ex saddler Andy Bishop was then denied his 13th goal of the season by a flying save from Clayton Ince. Had that strike gone in Chris Casper’s side would surely have gone on to win.

However as Bury were wondering how we were top by such a margin, Walsall survived and Ian Roper bundled home a 75th-minute equaliser but only after the intervention of substitute linesman Mo Matadar, who judged the ball had crossed the line. After it looked to many that Ropers header had been saved on the line. In the melee that followed,on-loan keeper Andy Warrington was injured and he was limping when substitute Hector Sam scored an 85th-minute winner. When Hector headed from close in from Kinsella’s corner. This signalled the end for injury prone Warrington.

Bishop went in goal for the final five minutes but also came upfield to try his luck with a stoppage-time free-kick. But despite the saddlers been under strenght we held out for a valuable 3 points. Due to Mansfields win over saturdays visitors Swindon our lead has now stretched to nine points and an amazing 17 points ahead of the play off chasing pack.