Heading into the match on the back of a win over table-topping Forest Green Rovers - their second victory in as many games - the Saddlers reached their clash with Play-Off hopefuls Swindon with a welcome air of belief.
The recent win over second-placed Tranmere Rovers, coupled with the win at the New Lawn, proved the team more than capable of competing with the best, something they'd need to proved once again as they made the trip to the County Ground.
Walsall began the match brightly, with George Miller seeing an early shot sail well wide of the goalpost just one minute into the contest, but it was Swindon Town who created the first real chance of the game, five minutes into the contest, as Joe Tomlinson fired goal-wards from distance, but his effort was easily gathered by Saddlers shot-stopper, Carl Rushworth.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where Tyrese Shade brought the Swindon 'keeper into the action, forcing Joseph Wallacott to clear an effort from outside the area.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without troubling their defensive counterparts.
As we reached the quarter-hour mark, the Saddlers began to show signs of promise, as Shade played in Jack Earing, but the midfielders' effort from outside the area sailed wide. Moments later, Earing looked to turn provider for Shade, whose effort on goal was blocked.
The hosts were eventually able to clear the danger, winning a corner at the other end in the seventeenth minute, as Emmanuel Osadebe turned the ball out of play, though they were unable to make anything of the opportunity.
Walsall wasted little time in working the ball back up field, where they were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position after Ricky Aguiar fouled Earing. The ball was played into the box, where it was partially cleared, falling to Liam Kinsella, who sliced his effort on goal, sending the ball sailing well wide of the upright.
The game settled back into a midfield battle, with little action of note from either side, until, in the thirty-first minute, Josh Davison played in Harry McKirdy, who was unable to keep his shot on target as he fired high over the crossbar.
Swindon continued to press, with Louie Barry playing in Davison moments later, but the striker was unable to beat Rushworth with an effort aimed at the bottom corner.
Unperturbed, the hosts continued to seek an opening goal, and thirty-six minutes into the contest, they found just that. Barry the man to get the better of the Walsall defences, after a nice pass from Davison played him in.
The hosts continued to press, seeking a second goal to put some distance between the two sides, but Davison's thirty-seventh minute effort was saved by an alert Rushworth.
Swindon went on to win a corner kick four minutes before the break, as Donervon Daniels turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the set-piece.
As we neared the break, Louis Reed went close to adding a second goal to the hosts tally, but his looping, long-range effort sailed inches over the bar.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, as they sought to draw level before the break, but Conor Wilkinson was unable to beat Wollacott in the Town goal, with a left-footed effort from outside the box.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, and Swindon took full advantage, as Ricky Aguiar got on the end of a Davison cross and fired home from outside the box to double his sides lead heading into the break.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball back to the other end, where Tyrese Shade brought the Swindon 'keeper into the action, forcing Joseph Wallacott to clear an effort from outside the area.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without troubling their defensive counterparts.
As we reached the quarter-hour mark, the Saddlers began to show signs of promise, as Shade played in Jack Earing, but the midfielders' effort from outside the area sailed wide. Moments later, Earing looked to turn provider for Shade, whose effort on goal was blocked.
The hosts were eventually able to clear the danger, winning a corner at the other end in the seventeenth minute, as Emmanuel Osadebe turned the ball out of play, though they were unable to make anything of the opportunity.
Walsall wasted little time in working the ball back up field, where they were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position after Ricky Aguiar fouled Earing. The ball was played into the box, where it was partially cleared, falling to Liam Kinsella, who sliced his effort on goal, sending the ball sailing well wide of the upright.
The game settled back into a midfield battle, with little action of note from either side, until, in the thirty-first minute, Josh Davison played in Harry McKirdy, who was unable to keep his shot on target as he fired high over the crossbar.
Swindon continued to press, with Louie Barry playing in Davison moments later, but the striker was unable to beat Rushworth with an effort aimed at the bottom corner.
Unperturbed, the hosts continued to seek an opening goal, and thirty-six minutes into the contest, they found just that. Barry the man to get the better of the Walsall defences, after a nice pass from Davison played him in.
The hosts continued to press, seeking a second goal to put some distance between the two sides, but Davison's thirty-seventh minute effort was saved by an alert Rushworth.
Swindon went on to win a corner kick four minutes before the break, as Donervon Daniels turned the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the set-piece.
As we neared the break, Louis Reed went close to adding a second goal to the hosts tally, but his looping, long-range effort sailed inches over the bar.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball back up to the other end, as they sought to draw level before the break, but Conor Wilkinson was unable to beat Wollacott in the Town goal, with a left-footed effort from outside the box.
One additional minute was added to end the first-half, and Swindon took full advantage, as Ricky Aguiar got on the end of a Davison cross and fired home from outside the box to double his sides lead heading into the break.
HT
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STFC
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2-0
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WFC
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The teams returned unchanged after the break, and the second-half got underway, however, just six minutes after the re-start, Walsall manager, Michael Flynn opted to ring the changes, with Donervon Daniels and George Miller making way for Joss Labadie and Devante Rodney.
Swindon could have scored a third goal in the fifty-fourth minute, as Reed played in McKirdy, but the strikers' effort sailed wide of Rushworth's upright without troubling the 'keeper.
Rollin Menayese became the first player to draw the attention of the referee, in the fifty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned for a foul on Barry.
Seconds after the booking, the home team had more luck in front of goal, as Aguiar got on the end of a Joseph Tomlinson cross and fired home for his second goal of the evening, putting his side three goals to the good.
Swindon could have extended their lead even further in the fifty-seventh minute, were it not for Rushworth, who pulled off a wonderful save to deny Barry, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall were able to work the ball back up to the other end following the flag-kick, where Shade looked to play in Wilkinson, but the strikers effort on goal sailed wide of the mark.
Town well and truly put the game to bed in the sixty-third minute, as Barry secured their fourth goal of the evening, with an effort from outside the area as the Saddlers defences continued to struggle.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Swindon opted to make their first change of the evening, as Harry McKirdy was replaced by Jonathon Williams.
The Saddlers were presented with an opportunity to pull a goal back in the seventieth minute, as Earing crossed the ball into the box for Menayese, but Wollacott was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
Back at the other end, just one minute later, the recently introduced Williams was well-placed to turn home after Aguiar saw an effort blocked by Rushworth. A fifth goal of the evening for the hosts, a tally which may take on even greater significance to the Saddlers come the end of the season if they are unable to secure more goals themselves.
In the seventy-second minute, Walsall opted to make their third and final change of the evening, as Jack Earing was replaced by Brendan Kiernan for the final twenty minutes.
Two minutes later, Swindon chose to introduce their second substitute of the game, as Ellis Iandolo made way for Ryan East.
A third and final change followed for the home side just four minutes later, as Josh Davison departed in favour of Harry Parsons.
Not content with their five goal tally, the hosts continued to seek further goals as the game wore on, with Rob Hunt playing in Williams in the seventy-eighth minute, forcing a corner kick as Manny Monthé blocked his shot. Tomlinson swung the ball into the area from the flag-kick, but, fortunately for the Saddlers, Williams was unable to direct his headed effort on target.
The game settled again following that chance, with Swindon continuing to see much of the ball, whilst appearing content to see out the game with the current score-line intact.
With eighty-seven minutes on the clock, Manny Monthe joined Menayese in the referee's notebook, as he picked up a caution for a foul on Parsons.
Three additional minutes were added to end the game, during which time Tomlinson failed to find the target with an effort from outside the area, though there was little real action of note, and the match was brought to it's conclusion with Swindon Town winning by five-goals-to-nil. The Saddlers being brought crashing back down to earth after two much improved performances.
Swindon could have scored a third goal in the fifty-fourth minute, as Reed played in McKirdy, but the strikers' effort sailed wide of Rushworth's upright without troubling the 'keeper.
Rollin Menayese became the first player to draw the attention of the referee, in the fifty-fifth minute, as he was cautioned for a foul on Barry.
Seconds after the booking, the home team had more luck in front of goal, as Aguiar got on the end of a Joseph Tomlinson cross and fired home for his second goal of the evening, putting his side three goals to the good.
Swindon could have extended their lead even further in the fifty-seventh minute, were it not for Rushworth, who pulled off a wonderful save to deny Barry, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Walsall were able to work the ball back up to the other end following the flag-kick, where Shade looked to play in Wilkinson, but the strikers effort on goal sailed wide of the mark.
Town well and truly put the game to bed in the sixty-third minute, as Barry secured their fourth goal of the evening, with an effort from outside the area as the Saddlers defences continued to struggle.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Swindon opted to make their first change of the evening, as Harry McKirdy was replaced by Jonathon Williams.
The Saddlers were presented with an opportunity to pull a goal back in the seventieth minute, as Earing crossed the ball into the box for Menayese, but Wollacott was alert to the danger and got down well to make the save.
Back at the other end, just one minute later, the recently introduced Williams was well-placed to turn home after Aguiar saw an effort blocked by Rushworth. A fifth goal of the evening for the hosts, a tally which may take on even greater significance to the Saddlers come the end of the season if they are unable to secure more goals themselves.
In the seventy-second minute, Walsall opted to make their third and final change of the evening, as Jack Earing was replaced by Brendan Kiernan for the final twenty minutes.
Two minutes later, Swindon chose to introduce their second substitute of the game, as Ellis Iandolo made way for Ryan East.
A third and final change followed for the home side just four minutes later, as Josh Davison departed in favour of Harry Parsons.
Not content with their five goal tally, the hosts continued to seek further goals as the game wore on, with Rob Hunt playing in Williams in the seventy-eighth minute, forcing a corner kick as Manny Monthé blocked his shot. Tomlinson swung the ball into the area from the flag-kick, but, fortunately for the Saddlers, Williams was unable to direct his headed effort on target.
The game settled again following that chance, with Swindon continuing to see much of the ball, whilst appearing content to see out the game with the current score-line intact.
With eighty-seven minutes on the clock, Manny Monthe joined Menayese in the referee's notebook, as he picked up a caution for a foul on Parsons.
Three additional minutes were added to end the game, during which time Tomlinson failed to find the target with an effort from outside the area, though there was little real action of note, and the match was brought to it's conclusion with Swindon Town winning by five-goals-to-nil. The Saddlers being brought crashing back down to earth after two much improved performances.
FT
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STFC
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5-0
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WFC
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Barry (36') Aguiar (45+2') Aguiar (56') Barry (63') Williams (71')
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REFEREE
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Christopher Pollard
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ATT // AT
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9,840 (214) - The County Ground
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