6 Points in 3 days - Thats the way to do it


By Alan Stokes & 4two
September 30 2003

So, 2 wins in three days. A good way to end that run of games without a win. Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview

Walsall

Walsall

Direct Saddlers edge past Gills. 
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Walsall 2-1 Gillingham
Date - 29/9/03
Location - Bescot, Walsall
Attendance - 6395
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Gillingham

Walsall
Hope Walker 8
Cox Emblen 7
Perpetuini Ritchie 8
Saunders Aranalde 7
Smith O'Neil 8
Spiller Pedro 7
Benjamin Lawrence 8
Sidibe Merson 7
Nosworthy Samways 8
Bossu Baird 7
Brown Leitao 7
Subs Subs  
Hessenthaler Osborn 6
Johnson Bazeley 6
Johnson Birch 6
Ashby Burton  
Hill Kerr  
Date: 29/9/03 Reporter: Alan Stokes 

On Line: 22:00pm
Well, to coin a phrase, it was definitely a game of two halves. The Saddlers managed to secure successive home victories with a deserved but fortuitous 2-1 victory against the Gills.

The Saddlers totally dominated proceedings from the off with O'Neil orchestrating all the positive moves from the middle of the park and Baird supplying width and attacking pace.

Throughout the first 45 minutes Walsall played some excellent, incisive, delicious football bombarding the Gills box with superb crosses and peppering shots on goal which somehow eluded the back of the net. Just when it seemed that it was going to be one of those days another good build up on 25 minutes resulted in Matias thumping a right footed screamer into the bottom corner from 25 yards to give the Saddlers the lead.

Moments earlier, the impressive Baird let go with a 30 yard thunderbolt which the Gills keeper somehow turned away for a corner. It was a totally one sided first half in front of the cameras with the Saddlers totally in control. Gillingham, for their part were at best - limited.

What Colin Lee said at half time remains a mystery as the previously dominant midfield quintet vanished and shortly after the restart Gillingham equalised with a penalty. The reason for the penalty escapes me. However, Brown planted the ball firmly into the far corner beyond Walker's reach.

Walsall were by now all at sea and seemingly unable to cope with Gillingham's "ale house" football. Their players looked like an overweight pub team and played like a pub team but, they were always a danger from set plays with the colossal Benjamin and Sidibi throwing their weight about up front.

As the second half wore on with the Gills seemingly happy with a point a delightful cross field ball from O'Neil found Merson on the edge of the box who supplied an equally delicious cross to the unmarked Leitao who somehow contrived to head wide from 3 yards out with the goal at his mercy. It looked like it was going to be one of those days until the Gills gaffer Hessenthaler decided to make his mark on the game slicing a Baird effort past his own keeper.

If that piece of fortune wasn't enough to win a game then Walkers miraculous save in injury time to deny Johnson certainly was. It was with some relief that the ref decided to call time with the Saddlers leaving the pitch with all 3 points. Man of the match for me - Ritchie
Click To Preview4two - I was pleased with the game. I wouldn't have moaned at a draw - which would have been a fair result !
Click To PreviewWillenhall Saddler -what a gr8 result yesterday i think we can go on from here and stay mid table
Click To Previewonenil - . why does lee still only play 1 striker at home
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Pedro took it well on his Right Foot from outside the area. Low in to the corner. It was handball for there peno. He tucked it away well. Baird was lucky to his shot deflected past the keeper at the end !
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The two for a tenner scheme probably boosted it up. Gills in the corner brought 300 or 400 hundred fans. Poor atmosphere.

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Liked us to know he was there. Some dodgy decisions. But kept control pretty well.

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