On Tuesday evening Walsall Football Club played host to Preston North End in the Second Leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Northern Area Final. Bescot Banter columnist Calum Williams was in attendance and shares his match report below.
The day had arrived for the Saddlers, a chance to book their place at Wembley Stadium on 22nd March, for the first time in their 127 year history. With a 2-0 lead going into this home fixture from a good performance in the first leg, it was certainly theirs for the taking. Walsall lined up as expected, with Tom Bradshaw prepared to worry the Preston defence up front, and with Jordan Cook and Anthony Forde occupying the wings, where Walsall would attempt most of their attacking play.
Preston started experienced goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann due to former Saddlers loanee Sam Johnstone being ineligible for the cup tie. Paul Gallagher and another experienced man, Kevin Davies, would be the source of the away side’s attacking threat.
For the first time in a number of years, the Saddlers sold out their entire allocation, and the ground really was rocking with optimism for what would be a game to remember, regardless of the final result. The Lilywhites on the other hand failed to sell out their share of tickets, fans of the away side maybe lacking optimism from that 2-0 defeat in the first leg.
With a final roar of enthusiasm from both sets of fans, the game way underway. It was clear right from the offset that this could be a nervy fixture, with both teams being sloppy on the ball at times, and struggling under pressure. It also seemed apparent that the away side intended to plow most of their attacking efforts down the left-hand side, James O’Connor having to be alert early on to thwart an onrushing Kyel Reid, who almost carved open the Saddlers back-line.
Walsall then went on an attack of their own, Tom Bradshaw holding up the ball well in the box to find Anthony Forde, but he couldn’t quite find his footing in time, before the ball was smacked against him, and out for a goal kick.
The home fans continued their magnificent support through a dangerous patch, The Lilywhites again posing a threat down the left wing, a free kick just on the edge of the box finding defender Tom Clarke, who could only direct his header up and over the bar.
Probably Walsall’s best chance of the half came from very little, what seemed to be a Preston team comfortable in possession, suddenly became flustered when Tom Bradshaw attempted to wriggle his way through. They struggled to deal with his movement, and he managed to poke the ball goalwards, only for his effort to bobble the wrong side of the post.
Except for a long range effort from Walsall’s Michael Cain which was easily saved by Stuckman, the home side had to bear the brunt of a Preston storm. Paul Downing having to be alert on numerous occasions to clear the danger, and James O’Connor having a very hard time stopping Kyel Reid, whose crosses were dangerous, but failed to create any meaningful opportunities. But the Saddlers held out to half time, with the scores level, and Wembley just over an hour away.
H/T: Walsall 0 Preston North End 0
The Saddlers certainly didn’t look like they wanted to shut up shop in this game, starting strong in the second half and posing a threat, as they attacked towards a packed Tile Choice stand. John Welsh did well to block an Anthony Forde shot for the home side, before the resulting corner was spilled by Thorsten Stuckmann, but the chance came to nothing.
Walsall continued to probe, Romaine Sawyers finding space and unleashing a shot that was easily saved by Stuckmann. Most of Preston’s attacks culminated in a player being offside, often experienced front man Kevin Davies, to the frustration of the travelling supporters (and to the amusement of the home fans).
That’s not to say the away side lacked attacking intent, far from it. They started to win more corners, one of which forced a double save from Walsall’s reliable goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell, a man many are hailing as a possible player of the season contender already. He was on hand to punch away another corner soon after, as the pressure mounted.
After quelling the Preston onslaught, the Saddlers pushed for a goal to kill the game off completely, left back Andy Taylor trying his luck from distance, but he was out of luck on this occasion, firing high over the bar.
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake was introduced to the field of play by Simon Grayson, to a chorus of boos from the home supporters, the former Wolves striker looking to make his mark on the game, as the clock ticked down.
But the Saddlers continued to attack and threaten, a free kick on the edge of the box after a foul on Jordan Cook found Tom Bradshaw in the danger zone, and his brave diving header went just wide of the target.
The away side made their final two permitted substitutions to freshen up the team, but they failed to make an immediate impact. Both sides won free kicks that eventually came to nothing, and despite Preston continuing to seek a breakthrough, Walsall held strong, and pressured the ball well for the most part.
There was not long left in the nervy fixture, Walsall fans on the edge of their seats, refraining from singing about a certain stadium. They knew their side wasn’t there just yet, and The Lilywhites created probably their best chance of the game to go a goal to the good. An initial effort was saved superbly by Richard O’Donnell in the Walsall goal, before he sprung to his feet to grasp the ball at Preston’s second attempt.
Five minutes of added time was all that was separating a monumental day in the club’s history, and the home fans simply couldn’t contain their excitement, ‘que sera sera’ echoed around the ground for the first time in the match.
But it wasn’t over yet. Preston continued to drive forwards, and really tested the resolve of Walsall’s back line one final time. A scramble in the box saw an effort stabbed towards goal, saved by Richard O’Donnell. Another point blank effort was parried away by the resilient O’Donnell between the sticks. Still the ball bobbled and bounced before a final effort was blasted towards goal. This time, O’Donnell was beaten, but defender Paul Downing wasn’t, hacking the ball to safety, to the delight and relief of the 9,131 home fans in attendance.
Still the away sided pushed. A corner soon after dealt with by the Saddlers defence. Then a final roll of the dice, a pile driver from substitute Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. O’Donnell stretched, but couldn’t reach it, but it whacked off the top of the crossbar, only for the former Wolves striker to be flagged offside yet again.
That would be the end of a barnstorming finish from the away side. Their efforts had come to nothing. Celebrations at the final whistle were marred somewhat, by a small contingency of fans entering the playing field before hearing the final whistle. But when referee Nigel Miller eventually did put the whistle to his lips, there was sheer jubilation.
This time fans from all three stands flooded onto the pitch to demonstrate their delight at Walsall Football Club finally booking their place at Wembley Stadium. 4 times they’ve came within one game of gracing the hallowed turf, 1984, ‘93, ‘98, and ‘99, but this time, they weren’t to be denied. A game that Saddlers fans won’t be likely to forget for a very long time, and a game that will hopefully see Walsall’s initial allocation of 20,000 seats for the big day in London selling very quickly indeed, with everyone in the midlands showing their support for the Saddlers in the final.
See you all on March 22nd, for another day to remember!
By: Calum Williams.
FULL TIME WALSALL 0 PRESTON NORTH END 0
AGG 2-0
AT Banks's Stadium (Walsall)
ATTENDANCE 10,038 (907 Preston North End)
REFEREE Mr. Nigel Miller (County Durham)
WALSALL O'Donnell ; O'Connor, Downing, J.Chambers (Purkiss 90+4'), Taylor; A.Chambers (C) , Cain ; Cook (Baxendale 88'), Sawyers, Forde; Bradshaw
SUBS NOT USED MacGillivray; Flanagan; Manset
PRESTON NORTH END Stuckmann, Woods, Clarke , Huntington, Buchanan, Welsh (Browne 70'), Kilkenny, Reid, Humphrey (King 71'), Gallagher, K.Davies (Ebanks-Blake 60')
SUBS NOT USED Wiseman, Brownhill