6 Points in 3 days - Thats the way to do it
By Alan Stokes & 4two
September 30 2003
So, 2 wins in three days. A good way to end that run of games without a win.
Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview
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Direct Saddlers edge past
Gills. |
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| Walsall
2-1 Gillingham |
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Date
- 29/9/03 |
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Location
- Bescot, Walsall |
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Attendance
- 6395 |
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Gillingham
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Walsall |
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Hope
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Walker |
8 |
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Cox
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Emblen |
7 |
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Perpetuini |
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Ritchie |
8 |
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Saunders |
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Aranalde |
7 |
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Smith |
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O'Neil |
8 |
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Spiller |
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Pedro |
7 |
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Benjamin |
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Lawrence |
8 |
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Sidibe |
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Merson |
7 |
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Nosworthy |
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Samways |
8 |
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Bossu |
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Baird |
7 |
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Brown |
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Leitao |
7 |
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Subs |
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Subs |
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Hessenthaler |
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Osborn |
6 |
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Johnson |
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Bazeley |
6 |
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Johnson |
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Birch |
6 |
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Ashby |
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Burton |
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Hill |
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Kerr |
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| Date:
29/9/03 |
Reporter:
Alan Stokes |
On Line: 22:00pm |
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Well, to coin a phrase, it was definitely
a game of two halves. The Saddlers managed to secure successive home
victories with a deserved but fortuitous 2-1 victory against the
Gills.
The Saddlers totally dominated proceedings from the off with O'Neil
orchestrating all the positive moves from the middle of the park and
Baird supplying width and attacking pace.
Throughout the first 45 minutes Walsall played some excellent,
incisive, delicious football bombarding the Gills box with superb
crosses and peppering shots on goal which somehow eluded the back of
the net. Just when it seemed that it was going to be one of those
days another good build up on 25 minutes resulted in Matias thumping
a right footed screamer into the bottom corner from 25 yards to give
the Saddlers the lead.
Moments earlier, the impressive Baird let go with a 30 yard
thunderbolt which the Gills keeper somehow turned away for a corner.
It was a totally one sided first half in front of the cameras with
the Saddlers totally in control. Gillingham, for their part were at
best - limited.
What Colin Lee said at half time remains a mystery as the previously
dominant midfield quintet vanished and shortly after the restart
Gillingham equalised with a penalty. The reason for the penalty
escapes me. However, Brown planted the ball firmly into the far
corner beyond Walker's reach.
Walsall were by now all at sea and seemingly unable to cope with
Gillingham's "ale house" football. Their players looked
like an overweight pub team and played like a pub team but, they
were always a danger from set plays with the colossal Benjamin and
Sidibi throwing their weight about up front.
As the second half wore on with the Gills seemingly happy with a
point a delightful cross field ball from O'Neil found Merson on the
edge of the box who supplied an equally delicious cross to the
unmarked Leitao who somehow contrived to head wide from 3 yards out
with the goal at his mercy. It looked like it was going to be one of
those days until the Gills gaffer Hessenthaler decided to make his
mark on the game slicing a Baird effort past his own keeper.
If that piece of fortune wasn't enough to win a game then Walkers
miraculous save in injury time to deny Johnson certainly was. It was
with some relief that the ref decided to call time with the Saddlers
leaving the pitch with all 3 points. Man of the match for me -
Ritchie
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.gif) 4two - I was pleased with the game. I wouldn't
have moaned at a draw - which would have been a fair result ! |
.gif) Willenhall Saddler -what a gr8 result yesterday i
think we can go on from here and stay mid table |
| onenil - . why does lee still only play 1
striker at home |
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Pedro took it well on his Right
Foot from outside the area. Low in to the corner. It was handball
for there peno. He tucked it away well. Baird was lucky to his shot
deflected past the keeper at the end !
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The two for a tenner scheme
probably boosted it up. Gills in the corner brought 300 or 400
hundred fans. Poor atmosphere.
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Liked us to know he was there.
Some dodgy decisions. But kept control pretty well.
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