WALSALL v CRAWLEY TOWN
THE SADDLERS stepped out on a pleasant Spring evening as we faced out second home game in three days with the visit of Crawley Town.There were a couple of early half-chances for Walsall as firstly Michael Cain fired wide of the target before Kieron Morris saw an effort from outside the area sting the palms of Brian Jensen.
It was a positive start for The Saddlers who were looking to build on our victory in the last game on home soil.
Following some neat passages of play, Sawyers fed Jordy Hiwula who looked to burst through only for the Crawley back-line to be alert to the danger and clear.
The Saddlers took the lead on 16 minutes when some neat play between Sawyers and Morris saw the latter pick out Jordy Hiwula who slipped the ball coolly beyond the 'keeper to open the scoring.
It was Walsall asking all of the questions at this stage and Sawyers did well to pull the ball back into the danger zone from the by-line as Crawley cleared in front of goal before a low effort from Ben Purkiss crept wide.
A long-range drive from Cain just past the half-hour mark was beaten away by Jensen. Then Morris, who is playing with plenty of confidence, tries his luck from distance but is just off target.
As Jensen cleared well outside his area, Andy Taylor's attempt to lob him failed to reach its intended destination. It was a valiant effort nevertheless from the full-back.
Some more neat play from Morris saw him link-up well with Hiwula who forced a corner and from the resulting flag-kick, Bradshaw stooped to head just over.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, some positive play from Adam Chambers saw him burst from the middle of the park to fire over.
The half ended with Walsall good value for our 1-0 lead.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the opening exchanges of the second period, although Bradshaw nearly forced an error out of Jensen from a back pass.
Just before the hour-mark, Cain hit the ball sweetly from distance to force an equally-impressive save from Jensen who pushed the ball around the post.
There was another good save from the veteran custodian, this time to deny Bradshaw as Saddlers pushed for a second goal.
That second goal duly arrived as Hiwula curled his second of the evening into the top corner to double our advantage.
In the wake of the goal, Sam Mantom replaced Cain and seconds later, Morris fired home a sweet strike from distance that sailed into the net to make it two goals in quick succession and give us a 3-0 lead.
With 72 minutes on the clock, Jordan Cook replaced Bradshaw.
On his 100th Saddlers' appearance, Romaine Sawyers tried his luck but Jensen was able to make the save. It was to be his last involvement in the action as he was replaced by Anthony Forde with just over ten minutes to go.
A fourth goal arrived on 82 minutes as Andy Taylor tried his luck from distance and the ball took a wicked deflection to leave the 'keeper standing and make it 4-0.
As the clock ticked down a fifth goal duly arrived as Forde made a positive break before feeding Cook was stayed cool to pass the ball into the net.
The scoreline stayed at 5-0 as The Saddlers recorded a resounding victory with five goals and a fourth clean sheet in a row to make it an excellent night's work.