John Ward rung the changes for the visit of the Saddlers, bringing in Evan Horwood and Cleveland Taylor to make their debuts, with Scott Dobie making his home debut for his second spell with the club. Paul Arnison moved in to the right back slot, deputising for David Raven, who took his place on the bench.
Both sides had chances during a lively opening at Brunton Park. First Arnison was forced to cut out a dangerous Tommy Mooney through ball before Simon Hackney forced a corner which was comfortably cleared by the Walsall defence.
Cleveland Taylor brought the crowd to their feet with his first touch of the ball in a blue shirt when he went on a mazy run, but it was left to the returning Scott Dobie to let fly with the first shot of the afternoon. Picking up on a loose ball in midfield Scott unleashed an instinctive 25 yard drive which left Ince rooted to the spot ? But struck the outside of the netting.
And he was at it again just minutes later. Joe Garner did well to flick on Chris Lumsdon's cross field pass and when Simon Hackney's cross came in it took an excellent block to deny Scott his first goal back at Brunoton Park.
United were now in the ascendancy and had another near miss in the 12th minute when Joe Garner's swivel and shot struck Walsall's Ian Roper and bounced agonisingly wide of the post.
By now United were bossing possession and looking especially dangerous in wide area's with Dobie and Hackney the main outlets.
However, Walsall had not gone 17 games unbeaten in League 1 by sitting back and their response was first a superb curling shot from Darren Wrack which had Westwood at full stretch, and then a succession of corners which were cleared by the United defence.
Yet just when it looked like United had rode the worst of the Saddlers storm, Walsall struck with the classic sucker punch. There looked to be little danger when Mooney flicked on an innocuous ball in the 23rd minute. However, Paul Arnison misjudged the bounce and as the ball looped over his head Lee Holmes was the first to meet it and steered his ten yard shot past Westwwod to give Walsall a 1-0 lead.
With his side celebrating Richard Money was forced into making his first substitution. Richard Taundry came on for Mark Bradley who had been injured at a corner.
The blow appeared not to rattle United and the Blues were soon back on the attack. Simon Hackney forced a corner which was whipped in by Mark Bridge Wilkinson and fumbled, not for the last time in the afternoon by Clayton Ince. On this occasion however, the big keeper eventually smothered the danger.
Ince was again called into action on 28 minutes. Joe Garner weaved through the away defence before being felled on the edge of the area. With the home fans screaming for a free-kick the referee waved play on and Chris Lumsdon whipped a curling 20yard shot towards the top corner. Ince clawed the ball away at the last moment and the resultant corner was eventually cleared.
The pressure eventually told though and on 31mins the Blues were back on level terms. With Walsall pressing for a second, a corner was cleared as far as Mark Bridge Wilkinson and the United number 4 took the opportunity to launch a swift counter attack. Bridgey ran most of the length of the field before striking a fierce drive from 25 yards which struck Paul Boertien on the hand just inside the area. Referee Eddie Ilderton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Bridge- Wilkinson duly dusted himself down to take the penalty, sending Ince the wrong way and making it 1-1 in the process.
With the scores level and half time looming both sides traded attacks with Simon Hackney and Edrissa Sonko both hitting wild shots over. However, neither side could make the breakthrough and the scores stayed at 1-1 at half time.
Neither manager made any halftime substitutions and the opening minuites proved to be a scrappy affair as both sides struggled in the worsening conditions.
The first shot of the second half came from Walsall's Richard Taundry, but the midfielder struck his 25-yard effort well wide. Scott Dobie then broke away and covered 45 yards before putting the ball high over the bar with both sides searching for a spell of pressure.
And it was to be Walsall who found their rhythm first. Sonko again shot over when he should have done better from 12 yards and Taundry then hit another tame effort as the pressure mounted. Richard Money decided to shuffle his pack and brought on Troy Deeney for Darren Wrack as United tried to respond.
Evan Horwood sliced a shot horribly wide from 25 yards before Cleveland Taylor gave the Blues another corner. The Cumbrians were bringing themselves back into the game but were forced to keep a close eye on the lively Lee Holmes and the experienced Tommy Mooney who were always a threat.
In the 61st minute Taylor found himself in trouble with the referee following a rash tackle on Paul Boertien. The match official showing the united debutant a yellow card.
Holmes was in the thick of the action for the Saddlers again minutes later. His powerful shot striking Tommy Mooney and bouncing away to safety. Mark Bridge-Wilkinson responded for United by driving wide in the 64th minute, before John ward decided to make his first change of the afternoon. Taylor who had enjoyed a promising debut was replaced to a standing ovation as John Ward sent on striker Danny Graham in search of the winning goal.
Minutes later however it was Walsall who should have taken the lead. A brilliant Tommy Mooney pass sent Kevin Betsy racing into the United penalty area. Betsy drew Keiren Westwood out of his goal before slipping the ball back to Troy Deeney. Brunton Park held it's breath as Deeney hit a confident shot form ten yards, only to see Peter Murphy recover and hack the ball off the United line.
United's defence was holding firm and the backline got their reward in spectacular fashion four minutes later. After a United corner was cleared too hastily by Clayton Ince, Evan Horwood swept up and directed the ball out to Mark Bridge-Wilkinson on the right wing. Bridge-Wilkinson sent an inch perfect ball onto the forehead of Danny Graham who watched with joy and his solid header slid under Ince and into the back of the net to give United the lead.
That goal seemed to set Walsal;l back and for the next ten minutes it was United who threatened the most. In the 80th minute Paul Arnison thought he had added to his one United goal so far. Hacney's deep corner was headed back to the edge of the box by Danny Livesey and Arnie struck a tremendous volley forcing an excellent save from Ince.
David McDermott then came on for Kevin Betsy as Money looked for the goal which would preserve the Saddlers 17 match unbeaten run, but despite a good header from Anthony Gerrard which sailed just wide and a wayward shot from Sonko the impetus had now swung back to United. Substitute Danny Carlton cut out another Walsall attack befor ethe Saddlers had their final fling. A ball into the box was met by Deeney who controlled the ball expertly on his chest, swivelled, shot, and watched as the ball rolled just wide of the United post.
There was still time for Joe Garner to go close to a third for United but by then the Blues had done enough and another three home points were in the bag.
- Thanks to Tino for providing this match report.
Goals
United - Bridge-Wilkinson (32 pen), Graham (74)
Walsall - Holmes (23)
Bookings
United - Taylor
Walsall - Boertien, Sonko
Teams
United - Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor (Graham 65), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney, Dobie (Carlton 85), Garner. Subs - Howarth, Raven, Joyce.
Walsall - Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Roper, Wrack (Deeney 52), Mooney, Holmes, Bradley (Taundry 24), Sonko, Boertien, Betsy (McDermott 81). Subs - Demontagnac, Bossu..
Away fans: 356
