Lucky Saddlers scrape past Bantams


Birch - Goal

By Alan Stokes
December 7 2003

An improved second half performance saw the Saddlers take all three points against a struggling Bradford side. Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview

Walsall

Walsall

Second half show does it for Saddlers
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Saddlers 1-0 Bantams
Date - 06/12/03
Location - Bescot Walsall
Attendance - TBC
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Palace

Walsall
Combe Walker 7
Francis   Ritchie 7
Atherton Roper 6
Gavin Bazeley 7
Heckinbottom Wrack 7
Sumerbee Corica 7
Farrelly Osborn 7
Kearney Dinning 6
Emanuel Vincent 6
Windnass Merson 7
Francis Birch 7
Subs Subs
Bower Allaway
Evans Oakes
Branch Aranalde 6
Paston Emblen 6
Murihead Leitao 7
Date: 22/11/03 Reporter:

OnLine: 18:00
A fabulous strike from Gary Birch on 75 minutes clinched a valuable 3 points for Walsall. The game was heading towards a tedious bore draw when Darren Wrack produced the only quality ball to be seen all afternoon as he split the Bradford defence and released Birch. The young striker then lashed home past the helpless keeper to secure a much needed victory.

The rest of the match was largely forgettable as an incompetent Saddlers outfit huffed and puffed against an incompetent relegation bound Bantams outfit aided and abetted by an extremely incompetent official.

Bazeley was recalled to the right back berth and fortunately managed to turn in one of his better performances with a number of timely tackles and interventions to thwart a poor quality but eager Bantams attack. Ritchie was back after suspension and as we have come to expect was as solid as a rock at the heart of the defence. Unfortunately, Corica apart, the rest of the team were not really at the races.

There appeared to be a lack of quality in the middle of the park as Dinning and Osborn were guilty of needlessly gifting possession to the opposition on too many occasions whilst Merson simply loitered, done nothing, and then took his gloves off. (So enthralling was the first half you notice these things).

On the stroke of half time the incompetent official turned down what was seemingly the most obvious penalty you will see all season as Birch was brought to ground with the goal at his mercy.

The second half continued in much the same way with too many balls pumped aimlessly into the channels. The Saddlers were looking gutless, toothless, leaderless and clueless. Fortunately Bradford, for all there effort, never really looked like scoring except for when they had one come back off the bar and when Walker decided to entertain the crowd with some pantomime goalkeeping. What on earth was going on when Ritchie launched the ball into orbit with Walker flapping around the box like a lunatic I will never know.

Finally with a quarter of an hour to go Mr Wrack produced a moment of pure quality as he released Birch who thankfully put us all out of our misery with a thunderous strike. Thank you Gary. Overall, a poor team performance but a massive 3 points gladly received.
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Click To PreviewAlan S - Bloody awful display. Gutless, leaderless, toothless and clueless. Thank heavens for Wracky's quality through ball and Birchy's fantastic finish. Phew!!
Click To PreviewRushall Saddler - What an absolutely dire game that was, we were rubbish, and Bradford not much better, only plus point is that last season we would have lost that game, thinking back we did and by the same scoreline.
Click To PreviewSheffield Saddler - Lets face it. The second half display could not be worse than the first, it was not possible for this to be achieved

 

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