Rain was the order of the day at kick off time today, torrential showers hit the Banks's just before the teams came on the field. Not unexpectedly Scunthorpe started the better of the two in the first half. Walsall quite frankly struggled to plant two passes together, and it was a Saddlers mix up that almost gave Scunthorpe the chance to take the lead. Richard Taundry was dispossessed which ended in Scunthorpe's Dagnall being denied by the returning Jimmy Walker.
On the 22nd minute the unthinkable happened...Walsall took the lead through Adam Chambers, completely against the run of play. Usually i would be throwing out a description of the goal, but to be honest it shocked us so much, I couldn't tell you how the lead came about. It then became a literal case of 'as you were' with Scunthorpe taking control again, Walsall defending well but showing little or no threat, at the other end.
Half Time Walsall 1 Scunthorpe United 0
The second half started lively, with Jarvis' imaginitive chip unlucky not to find the net. Adam Chambers then conceded a free-kick 25 yards out which was fired towards goal and flew off the Saddler's post. Scunthorpe kept on threatening, but didn't really look convincing, yet forcing Walker into action a couple of times. Walsall went back to their first half style, not really having much clue going forward but not being stretched too much at the back either, when Taundry put a free kick wide. Scunthorpe carried on with possession and. Anton Peterlin was replaced by Will Grigg and Ryan Jarvis was replaced by Alex Nicholls. In the 78th minute Scunthorpe got a deserved equaliser as a result of the Saddlers failure to clear a 'Scunny' corner, which was turned in by Scunthorpe's Thompson.
The (you may disagree) poor Dave Martin was the replaced by Kevan Hurst. Not too much later Richard Taundry's deep cross was met by Will Grigg on the volley around 13 yards out, that flew into the opposite corner for the lead, and a goal of the season contender. Cue 'squeaky bum time' as the fourth official indicated a surprising 4 minutes of injury time Scunthorpe piled on the pressure. Heart break for the Saddlers (who if we're honest were lucky to be in the lead anyway) as with near enough the last kick of the game Scunthorpe man Jimmy Ryan hammered in a low equaliser from the edge of the area.
That was the last kick of the game, all Walsall's hard work in defence earned them a point, on reflection this was more than The Saddlers deserved.
By: Lee Hale