The Banks’ was a place full of hope and expectation (for once) this weekend. The Saddlers current unbeaten run in five in the lead up to the game served to give everyone some rare optimism.
The game began evenly, both sides earning early corners that both came to nothing, in a cagey start for the both sides.
On about the quarter of an hour mark, the Saddlers starts to look the more likely to score, with both George Bowerman and Jon Macken going close.
The Saddlers bench was forced to make a change early doors as a head injury to Olly Lancashire saw him replaced by Manny Smith.
Walsall again finished the half the stronger of the two, with some good wide play from Lee Beevers, delivering som cracking crosses which despite Bowerman and Mackens best efforts, came to nothing.
The second half begin with George Bowerman being brought down just outside the box, Kevan Hurst curled the resulting free kick just wide.
This seemed to wake our support up and we began to get behind the team vocally.
Macken took a clattering from The Pool ‘keeper and somehow the referee decided, not only was it not a penalty but it was a free kick to them!!
Bowerman continued to cause Hartlepool defensive problems, before Pool made a rare foray into our half With Anthony Sweeney forcing David Grof into a smart save.
Will Grigg came on in place of Bowerman, and straight away Grigg was causing problems. Grigg battled his way into the opposition area and fired a shot at goal from a tight angle, forcing Flinders into a save.
Another Walsall free kick, this time out wide was headed over by Andy Butler, before Adam Chambers made a welcome return in place of the tiring Jon Macken.
The Saddlers and particularly Will Grigg continued to push, an although they always looked the more likely to scored (David Grof could taken his IPad onto the pitch at times) Walsall were unable to make the breakthrough.
Six games unbeaten, is still sending a lot of optimism around the club and although people may call this two points dropped, it is invariably still a vital point towards our end of season tally!
Full Time score: Walsall 0 Hartlepool United 0
Attendance: 3751
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