Earlier today, Walsall Football Club played host to Oldham Athletic in the penultimate Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. Columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.
The Saddlers started as the brighter side - Michael Cain tried a turn and snapshot but it was easy for 19-year-old goalkeeper Joel Coleman.
Bradshaw then dragged an effort across the six yard box and Coleman did well to tip the ball away from onrushing Jordy Hiwula's path.
The teams cancelled each other out for much of the opening exchanges, but it took just one lightning fast breakaway and Walsall were ahead.
Following a corner for Oldham, Kieron Morris fed the ball to Hiwula on halfway and the counter was on.
Hiwula quickly pinged a pass into Tom Bradshaw and he showed expert touch to poke over the goalkeeper for a 19th minute lead.
Things got even worse for Latics boss Dean Holden on his return to the Banks's Stadium only six minutes later, when Mal Benning won what looked like a very soft penalty.
The left-back went down under Liam Kelly's challenge, however it looked like the Oldham midfielder got the ball first. That didn't matter to Bradshaw though, who sent Coleman the wrong way with his blasted spot-kick for a 20th goal of the season.
Dean Smith's continued in the ascendancy, but Benning is unfortunately no Andy Taylor from a dead ball situation and he put a 25-yard free kick straight into the wall.
A superb through ball from Benning then set up Hiwula but the young Latics keeper did well to beat it away at his near post.
The half ended on a quiet note. The referee had created a rather stop-start game, while more than a few of his decisions seemed dubious.
HT: Walsall 2 Oldham Athletic 0
The second half began still as quite a quiet affair, although Morris near got a slice of luck when his cross only just cleared the angle of the goal. Goalkeeper Coleman looked worried.
Mike Jones summed up Oldham in front of goal when he skied an effort from a long way out, however the Latics were seeing a bit more of the ball in the final third now.
Hiwula was again away on the counter attack but a brilliant sliding block from Kelly denied the Manchester City youngster after he cut inside the area.
Sam Mantom dragged wide following a nicely worked Saddlers move, but there really wasn't much to shout about for either side in this half.
Hiwula failed with a delicate chip over Coleman in the closing stages when he was one-on-one with the keeper, and you could see the striker's frustration at wasting the opportunity.
But in truth the match had really petered out - it had a real end of season feel to it.
Still it was another win and a clean sheet for Craig MacGillivray on his Walsall debut, even if the keeper had no saves to make.
The victory shoots the Saddlers up to 11th in the table, and even gives then hopes of making a top ten finish.
By: Scott Brotherton.
FT: Walsall 2 Oldham Athletic 0
GOALS: Bradshaw 18' & PEN 24'
ATT: 4,699
REF: Darren Sheldrake