Another close call for the home defence
Pictures Dave Howarth / Sportpixs
All you can ever ask of the players is they give their all on a Satrday afernoon and on that score we can have no complaint. To go to the side who are likely to be crowned as League champions and battle them all the way was tremendous achievement, especially for a team who are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.
Our recent results have at least assured us of a last day finale with Boston United and we go into that game knowing that if we avoid defeat we will be safe - and we would all have settled for that a month ago!
Manager Brian Carey had the luxury of naming the same starting line-up following Tuesday night's derby day victory at Shrewsbury. There was one alteration on the bench, with forward Mike Carvill replacing Levi Mackin.
On 11 minutes Simon Spender broke up a Walsall attack by the eager Ishmel Demontagnac, and made his way to the half way line without being challenged before releasing a pass through the middle that would have set both Lee McEvilly and Michael Proctor.
With 17 minutes played Spender's throw in from the right was headed on inside the Walsall area by Roberts for Danny Williams to hit first time as it dropped on the edge of the six yard but, but his marking defender was able to get a boot in the way and deflected it over for a corner.
That flag kick was aimed at Spender 20-yards out and he won the header to set up Steve Evans for a shot that whistled over Clayton Ince's crossbar.
Wrexham were continuing to put pressure on the home goal, chasing even lost causes as Neil Roberts did on 20 minutes to charge down a Daniel Fox clearance. While the ball bounced out for a goal kick, it was all encouraging for the near 1,400 travelling Wrexham fans who were shouting their team on.
The Saddlers were relying on the pace of youngster Demontagnac down their left wing, to start any attacking moves they were creating, but he was up against the in-form Spender who was giving him little chance to shine.
Walsall created their first decent chance on 29 minutes, when Trevor Benjamin's long pass from the left was headed back into the centre by Martin Butler for the unmarked Dean Keates to try a shot from 25-yards, but he was unable to control his effort and it headed towards the M6!
This was the same fate for the ball just 60 seconds later, when a similar move from the Saddlers' right was headed down by Benjamin for Demontagnac to blaze over.
Wrexham were still pushing forward, with Proctor putting a teasing cross over on 34 minutes, before McEvilly chested down inside the six-yard box, both efforts aimed at Roberts.
Mark Wright's comer after 37 minutes carried the back of the Wrexham goal, dropping over Danny Williams' head but Martin Butler headed wide when well placed.
Two minutes before the break, Spender's long cross forced Ince into conceding a corner and when the ball was headed down by McEvilly, Steve Evans spun round some 270 degrees in an effort to make contact at the back post, but only succeeded in kicking fresh air.
Even then there was still time before the interval for McEvilly to head wide when well placed and for Proctor try a long-range effort.
HT
The second half started at the same frantic pace as the Dragons once more pushed onto their hosts and McEvilly was unfortunate to see his goalbound shot blocked by fellow striker Proctor.
Walsall boss Richard Money was also unhappy with the amount of possession that the visitors were enjoying and only five minutes after the break he replaced full back Tony Bedeau with Craig Pead.
As news filtered through that 10-man Torquay had taken the lead at Boston, the Dragons were nearly caught out themselves as Demontagnac raced into the Wrexham half and supplied a cross field pass which sat up nicely for the speeding Wright, but his effort sailed over Anthony Williams' crossbar.
Then disaster for the visitors as Wright got round a challenge from Steve Evans to fire a shot that Anthony Williams turned away, but in came Ishmel Demontagnac with time to collect the loose ball and pick his spot before firing Walsall in front on 61 minutes.
This was the spark that Walsall needed to start showing exactly why they have won promotion and still have one eye on the title itself. For the next 10 minutes they ran the Welshmen ragged, but couldn't find their touch in front of goal to kill the game off.
The response from Wrexham was to bring on Matty Done for McEvilly, meaning a more forward role for Proctor. This did the trick, as Done proved a good outlet on the left flank and once again the Dragons started to get forward in search of that valuable equaliser.
At the other end, former Wrexham striker Hector Sam headed narrowly over from a Keates corner and then defender Shaun Pejic was happy to concede another corner when hooking a clearance over his own crossbar.
With five minutes left and Wrexham committing men forward, Sam broke alone for Walsall but with only the keeper to beat he placed his chip over Williams wide for the right hand post.
In the end a great effort by Wrexham was not quite enough and it will now all go down the final whistle next Saturday when Boston United are the visitors to the Racecourse for a do-or-die encounter.
Walsall: Clayton Ince, Tony Bedeau (Craig Pead 51), Chris Westwood, Anthony Gerrard, Daniel Fox, Ishmel Demontagnac (Darren Wrack 70), Martin Dobson, Dean Keates, Mark Wright, Martin Butler, Trevor Benjamin (Hector Sam 64).
Subs: Bertrand Bossu, Emmanuele Smith.
Wrexham (4-4-2): Anthony Williams, Simon Spender, Shaun Pejic, Steve Evans, Ryan Valentine, Michael Proctor, Jeff Whitley, Danny Williams, Chris Llewellyn, Neil Roberts (Mike Carvill 89), Lee McEvilly (Matty Done 68).
Subs: Michael Jones, Mike Williams, Robbie Garrett.
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex)
Attendance: 7,057
Away: 1,369
STAT ATTACK
2
3
8
9
10
15
4
3
0
0
0
0
REFEREE: C Penton
