Walsall v Scunthorpe United

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Football League One

Walsall :
Oakes, Pead, Roper, Mills, Wright, Devlin (sent off 69), Osborn (Demontagnac 67), Keates, Smith, Timm (James 20(Nicholls 86)), Barrowman
Subs not used:
Gilmartin, Bradley

Scunthorpe United :
Evans, Byrne, Hinds, Foster (Crosby 72), Rose, Taylor, Goodwin, MacKenzie, Sparrow, Keogh, Sharp
Subs not used:
Stanton, Parton, Williams, Musselwhite

SULSESC REPORT

by Andy Skeels at Bescot Stadium

TWO more points thrown away. This could be very costly come the end of the season.

By my reckoning, since New Year's Eve, we've probably squandered up to 11 points: two against Bradford, two at Bournemouth, two against Huddersfield, three against Donny and now another two at Walsall. Add those on to our current haul of 37 and we'd be on 48 points - just three points off a play-off place and 13 clear of the relegation places! Instead, we're still bogged down in the relegation mire only two ahead of third-bottom Bristol City who visit Glanford Park on Tuesday for a real six-pointer.

This result at the Bescot somewhat spoiled a good day out for the travelling SULSESC contingent on the 10.03 out of Euston on Saturday morning.

A decent boozer was discovered in Birmingham city centre, where Neil Holland was delighted with his puffy chick pea and goat's cheese pie and a fine selection of ales was quaffed, even 'lager boy' Russ Foster being tempted by the Fuller's Discovery Blonde.

A 20-minute train journey to the Bescot, via Villa Park where Newcastle were the visitors, was completed in sufficient time for a swift one in the Saddlers Club after Darren had negotiated a 50 per cent reduction on the non-members' admission charge of £2. "Come on, mate, we're not paying two quid to go in for 20 minutes..."

As for the match itself, it followed the familiar pattern of most recent matches as United took the lead...and failed to hold it. This time, not once but twice.

A cracking drive into the top corner from Andy Keogh put us 1-0 up, but then Walsall's Dean Keates escaped with a blatant handball not spotted by the referee to lash one over Tommy's head for the equaliser.

MacKenzie belted one into the bottom corner from a free kick routine right on half-time to re-establish the Iron's advantage before the break but despite numerical supremacy for the last 20 minutes after Paul Devlin was dismissed for elbowing Steve Foster in the face, the Iron couldn't hang on.

A defensive clanger from Hinds allowed Barrowman to get in behind the Iron defence and lob Tommy for 2-2 and a couple of terrific saves from home 'keeper Oakes in the closing stages ensured a point for the manager-less home side as United pressed strongly for a winner.

Once again, this draw seemed more like a defeat. We surely can't continue to dominate games without winning, and expect to stay up at the end of the season.

PS to Darren, Neil et al: I will remind you of the significance of the Franchise Scum's win over Blackpool at 4.55 pm on Saturday, May 6, in the away end at Oldham... when the Franchise have just stayed up in fifth bottom place and we've been relegated in fourth-bottom spot! Honestly, absolutely clueless...