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Walsall 1-1 Notts County


Joe Jones

Walsall started the game brightly, and Bartosz Bialkowski, reinstated to the team after his injury spell, was forced into a save early on, a Jamie Paterson shot defused by Gary Liddle before being picked up by the keeper.

Shortly after, Grigg rounded the Pole and could have scored if not for Alan Judge who heroically cleared the shot off the line.

Neal Bishop, back in the team, attempted a wayward shot, but thirteen minutes in, the game appeared to have settled into a bit of a lull on the bumpy Bescot Stadium pitch.

Fabien Brandy, who had a spell at Notts in 2011, was fouled by Alan Sheehan on twenty minutes, but the ensuing free-kick came to nothing.

Half an hour in, Bialkowski rushed out to try and deny Paterson, but in the process fouled the striker and earned Walsall a penalty, which Grigg converted to give the Saddlers the lead.

Buoyed by the goal, Walsall began threatening the Notts goal further. Brandy cut inside and fired, but Bialkowski came out on top. Just four minutes later, he powered a header towards goal which again was saved.

As is often the case, former players are the most dangerous to play against, and Notts alumni Brandy and Craig Westcarr combined to breach the Notts defence, before Grigg's effort was skied.

The half petered out uneventfully, save for a firework being set off from one of the stands which halted the game for a number of seconds, and 1-0 was the half time scoreline.

The second half began brightly for Notts, who replaced Blythe with Yoann Arquin. Jamal Campbell Ryce cut inside in the Walsall area and fired towards the goal. His shot saved, the ensuing corner saw Jeff Hughes power a header against the keeper and scrambled clear.

Shortly afterwards, Arquin and Judge weighed in with good efforts of their own, before a Sheehan free-kick saw Hughes and Judge again come very close to scoring. But 1-0 it remained at this stage.

Liddle, having a great game, was the hero on the hour as a Westcarr chance was blocked by the defender.

The Notts pressure in the second half finally paid off as Arquin, from a JCR cross, fired low into the corner, sending the travelling fans into ecstasy. 1-1, 66 minutes played, game on.

On 78, a penalty appeal was turned down as Brandy was felled in the area, luckily for Notts. The ensuing counter attack however came to nothing.

Just four minutes later, JCR bombed down the flank after Bishop won the ball back, before cutting inside and curling an effort towards goal, but this was saved.

Just two minutes before full time, a Sheehan free kick was so nearly converted by Arquin, who completely changed the game after coming on, but the header was just wide.

The closing stages of the game saw Gavin Mahon replace Hughes, and the game, lacking a climactic finish, ended 1-1, a precious away point against a dangerous side.



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Recommended Comments

shrewswill

Posted

praise for the work to both Joe's.

this is an excellent write up, as I didn't hear the match, relying on comments it's nice to see that they was fair after reading this. great write up! well done for pulling back the game.

Chris

Posted

Yes great work from a great member of the team!

Really delighted that we changed things around and especially to see Arquin on the score sheet. Leaving him out of the starting 11 hopefully contributed towards his mentality as he entered the game. Can't blame the young forwards, we just need to play 90 minutes and things may be different and not just after the first half.

COYP!!

2piesonmyshirt

Posted

Good write up, just as I saw it. Not a dig, but it was the Banks's Stadium.

Chris

Posted

Good write up, just as I saw it. Not a dig, but it was the Banks's Stadium.

Wiki is one place which I pull information from and other sites refer to it online. (including their fans) I know your not being funny and neither am I but we go on what we can find. The only mentioning from the name mentioned in your quote is on the football ground guide which says "Still known to many fans as the Bescot Stadium" and although this is only a quick search, we know now for the future.

-edit-

I'd like for people to pick up these things so we can improve, the above might read like I've taken it the wrong way but I'm responding as to how I can. (It's not me being funny, dismissive etc) I wouldn't want anyone feeling that they can't approach us either.

Chris

Posted

Exactly "still known as to many fan" But it is the Banks's Stadium http://www.saddlers.co.uk/club/visit-us/ I would post my ticket, but haven't a clue how to do it. :-)

No need 2pies :)

I generally check multiple sources including the BBC which didn't highlight this to me but you have now, in the future I will try to put more checks into place to avoid error. Thank you

liampie

Posted

excellent write up joe, love reading your articles. as i wasn't at the game this paints the game in my mind. tnx joe

super_ram

Posted

Lovely write up again,very informative and keeps me up to date with one of my 'other clubs'.Seems like a fair result especially away from home.It could be a spring board for the rest of the season if only Notts could learn to play for two halves.




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