Daylight at last....

Gillingham 0-1 Walsall

Nationwide League Division 1

Priestfield, Kent

Saddlers Latest

Goals

- Aranalde (Walsall)

- None

Match Report By 4two and Neil Ravenscroft

With defeats for Stoke, Brighton and Grimsby, Walsall's excellent 1 - 0 away win at Gillingham today has put the Saddlers in touching distance of safety this season. 

They were indebted to a Jorge Leitao goal and a wonderful save from stand in keeper Gavin Ward. New signing Jamie Lawrence had a steady debut, which he should have capped with a goal. A win at home on Tuesday against Coventry will take the Saddlers to the agreed safety level, not to mention take them level with their neighbors on points, following their throwing away of a two goal lead at home to Ipswich, eventually losing 4 - 2.

The Saddlers went 3-5-2  with Bazeley, Corica and Sonner (obviously) not included. Wrack played as a right wing back, Barass as the 3rd center half and Lawrence played in the 3 man midfield.

The Saddlers were undoubtedly the best side of the opening half an hour keeping Vince Bartram in the Gillingham goal. Junior looked sharp and called Bartram in to action with a fine effort from inside the penalty box, in what was Walsall's best chance of the half. Carbon and Samways went on to have half chances, but on one was able to break the deadlock

Gillingham had their chances but Gavin Ward and the Walsall back line were on top form denying Johnstone and Shaw goal scoring chances.

It was Jorge Leitao that grabbed the only goal of the game on 49 minutes, his shot from the right hand side of the penalty area found its way in to the bottom left hand corner of the Gillingham goal with a shot that appeared to be miss hit.

Leitao could have made it 2-0 five minutes later, but he failed to hit the target from just 6 yards out. Only moments later and the ball fell to Sedibe in the Walsall penalty area, only for Ward to save his close range effort.

The Saddlers rode their luck for the rest of the game with Ward keeping out 2 Johnsone efforts and Sidebe hitting the post. The only negative thing that can be took from the game is that Danny  Hay left the field with " severe lateral ankle ligament damage" (Colin Lee) after coming on as a second half replacement for Roper whoalso  picked up a knee injury.

After Match Reaction