By TheSaddlersFC
August 7 2004

The first game of the season ended on a positive note with a 3-2 for the Saddlers. It wasn't easy for either side. The Ref made sure it wasn't just the conditions having an impact on the pace of the game.

A NEW BEGINING

WALSALL 3-2 PORT VALE

WALSALL - Bazeley, Bennett, Emblen, Roper, Standing (Daryl Taylor 70), Wrack, Kinsella, Merson (Williams 70), Birch (Leitao 78), Fryatt. UNUSED: Paston, Broad. BOOKINGS - Roper (2 Yellows OFF) , Bennett, Bazeley. GOALS - Fryatt Penalty 12' , Williams 82' , Daryl Taylor 86' .

PORT VALE - Brain, Rowland, James, Collins, Dean Smith, Reid, Hulbert (Jeff Smith 84), Cummins, Armstrong, Paynter, Brooker (Matthews 79). UNUSED: Goodlad, Brown, Robinson. BOOKINGS - Armstrong, Reid, Paynter (2 Yellows OFF) , Collins, Hulbert. GOALS- Paynter 61', Matthews 90'

What an interesting afternoon of Football. This was the stage for a new beginning. What should have been a great spectacle for attacking football was turned in to a farce by a referee who has managed to surpass the performance of Mr Prosser (THAT Ref from the Milwall away game).

We started off well, took the lead, then failed to create any clear cut chances. Vale dominated the end of the first half, as a draw looked like  fair result. The Start of the second was pretty even, and apart from Wrack hitting the bar, you would have to say that Vale edged it.  As soon as they got their equaliser it all went potty. The Ref lost control. There was a card for everything. I just wish he had more than two colours, because i got fed up with just seeing Yellow and Red ones after a while.  

Walsall made some positive changes and went on to reap it's rewards with two late goals before a Vale consolation.

KEY MOMENTS

1st Half

5 MINUTES - Darren Bazeley has the games first chance as he cuts inside and sends a soft, low shot goal wards.

8 MINUTES - The First Vale effort on goal comes from Brooker who has a tame 20 yard effort collected by McKinney

10 MINUTES - The first signs of a petty ref surfaced when he books Ian Armstrong for rounding the keeper and scoring after the whistle.

WALSALL START THE GAME OFF WELL. KEEPING POSSESION. LOOKING TO SET FRYATT AND BIRCH FREE.

12 MINUTES - - GOAL - Matty Fryatt beats 2 men, gets in the box and is then stopped by a late challenge. The Ref awards a Pen and Fryatt coverts.

15 MINUTES - Ropes is booked for a clumsy challenge on Paynter. It's early doors, a booking is harsh for his first real offence.

25 MINUTES - Darren Wrack breaks from midfield and chooses to shoot from 20 yards plus. A decent chance, but he fails to find the target.

PORT VALE START TO PUT WALSALL UNDER PLENTY OF PRESSURE. WE STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE BALL STICK UP FRONT

30 MINUTES - McKinney watches Cummins miss the target with what seemed to be a good chance to score with a header.

40 MINUTES - It's another card as Reid puts in a late challenge on Bennett.

2nd Half

45 MINUTES - The Ref's first action of the game is to book Paynter of Vale. The Ref is very animated pointing and saying 4 TIMES. He loves the attention.

46 MINUTES - The Ref's really on a roll. Just after a Wrack effort on goal, Bennett commits a foul and is carded

50 MINUTES - Collins (Vale) and Wrack (Walsall) both go close with good chances to score. Wracks long-range effort bounces back off the bar.

VALE REALLY TAKE CHARGE OF THE GAME. WE ARE FINDING IT HARD TO GET OUT OF OUR OWN HALF. THEY ARE OUT NUMBERING US WHEN COMING FORWARD. EMBLEN AND BENNETT ARE HAVING GOOD GAMES.

60 MINUTES - Collins finds his way in to the Ref's book. By now both sets of fans can't believe what they are watching. This fella is card happy.

61 MINUTES - GOAL - Paynter Gets one back for Vale. A deflection caught McKinney wrong footed and loops over his head as Walsall fail to clear the ball. Paynter is then given his second yellow card for leaving the field of play whilst celebrating.

65 MINUTES - Roper is sent off for a normal scramble to the ball. Both he and the Vale striker went to ground is what seemed like a normal 50-50 challenge. Iffy Onura is also Red Carded for his protests. Darren Wrack gets a yellow for moaning. The Ref marches the ball 10 yards forwards. Walsall clear the danger.

70 MINUTES - Williams and Taylor replace Standing and Merson. Williams floats deep behind Birch and Fryatt. Taylor plays Wide Right and both are keen to get on the ball and run at Vale.

78 MINUTES - Jorge replaces Birch.

VALE STRUGGLE TO COPE WITH THE FRESH LEGS AND PACE OF THE WALSALL ATTACK. MERSON IS THROWING MEN FORWARD.

82 MINUTES - GOAL - Leroy Williams bursts in to the box after leaving his man standing and chips the ball over the advancing keeper. Quality finish.

86 MINUTES - GOAL - Daryl Taylor is on hand turn in a cross and get his first goal in a competitive fixture

91 MINUTES - After 90 Minutes of showing the fans his selection of coloured cards, he decides to show us his yellow one for one last time. This time he gives Darren Bazeley a close up for a normal late challenge on Lee Matthews.

94 MINUTES - GOAL -Lee Matthews takes advantage of sloppy play as McKinney, Emblen and Bazeley manage to cock up a back pass, leaving Matthews free to tap the ball in to an empty net.

94 MINUTES - Full Time

 

 

PLAYER REVIEWS

MCKINNEY, Richard - Solid for most of the game. Bit of a mix up for the second Vale Goal.

BAZELEY, Darren - A competent performance from Baze. Plenty of attacking and getting forward.

BENNETT, Julian - A MOTM contender with a brilliant performance. I think he's had tackling lessons from a certain Paul Ritchie thought.

ROPER, Ian - Shouldn't have been sent off. The first one warranted a Yellow Card. But the second one. Was it even a foul?

EMBLEN, Neil - The Sponsors MOTM. A Captains performance. Not troubled

KINSELLA, Mark - Does what we expect him to. Protects the back 4 well and tidied up the play.

STANDING, Michael - Who? Didn't do much really. Managed to make a nuisance of himself every now and again

WRACK, Darren - Unlucky not to get a goal. One of our most potent threats going forward. Looked good in a central position

BIRCH, Gary - He did try hard, but doesn't look up to it. Doesn't throw his weight around enough

FRYATT, Matt - Won and took the penalty. Got through a lot of work. Tired in the second half. Was a bit quiet for long periods of the game.

MERSON, Paul - Kept things moving along and was involved in some of our best play in the final third

SUBS -

TAYLOR, Daryl - What must the Vale left back have thought. He had been running around in that heat for well over an hour then had to contend with the pace and movement of the lively Taylor. Excellent.

WILLIAMS, Leroy - What a performance. His Burlesque runs from deep strike fear in to the hearts of defenders. Took his goal well

LEITAO, Jorge - The unsung hero. Played a part in both goals. A busy performance for the last 15 minutes from Jorge.

 

REACTION - We played some fab footy at times. Then again, at other times, Vale just walked all over us. The arrival of Taylor, Jorge and Williams gave us some drive in the final third - something that Birch, Fryatt and Merse were unable to provide. Today we saw two different approaches. The one where you try and carve our chances patiently. The other where you go for throat. Try and beat men, and put the opposition on the back foot. Guess which one got the fans off their feet and interested in the game?