Forest Green 1 Walsall 2 - Report and pictures

After a relatively even first half, which ended 0-0, a Josh Gordon penalty after five minutes of the second half put the Saddlers ahead.

Substitute Wes McDonald then scored an excellent solo goal to double their lead.

Despite defending well, Walsall lost Josh March at a corner and the striker nodded one home but the Saddlers defence stood firm in the closing minutes to earn the win.

Darrell Clarke made one change to the side that lost 2-1 to Crewe last week, starting in a 4-4-2 formation.

Stuart Sinclair made his first start since Boxing Day, coming into midfield.

Liam Kinsella was moved out wide, meaning McDonald dropped to the bench.

Mark Cooper made two changes to his side that drew 2-2 with Grimsby last time out, starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Striker March, who joined the club from Leamington in January after turning down Walsall, started for Rovers.

The home side were almost gifted a chance in the first five minutes when Rory Holden played a reverse pass in midfield, but straight to Rovers player Rob Hall. The forward ran at the Saddlers defence, and had space on the edge of the box, but his shot was eventually blocked.

Gordon almost created a chance from nothing when he nutmegged a player on the left and charged into the box, but his cross for Holden at the back post was cleared.

Hall then had another attempt on goal for Rovers, but his shot was well held by Liam Roberts.

The Saddlers should have scored when a Holden free-kick found Nathan Sheron at the back post. Although the lofted cross was bouncing, the midfielder only needed a good contact with the ball to score but it bounced off him and over the bar.

Walsall then had a shout for a penalty when Caolan Lavery volleyed Holden’s cross and the ball seemed to hit Farrend Rawson’s arm. Referee Anthony Coggins waved away the appeals.

Cameron Pring saved Walsall from a certain Rovers goal after 36 minutes. A corner was headed past Roberts and bounced off the back post, heading over the line, before Pring cleared it off the line.

Despite Walsall having won a corner, and being set up to take it, the referee blew for half-time. Much to the fury of manager Clarke who marched across the pitch as the teams came off to have words with Coggins.

The sides went into the break at 0-0.

Within five minutes of the restart, Walsall had a penalty. Kevin Dawson came crashing through the back of Kinsella, just inside the box, for a stonewall spot-kick.

Goalkeeper Conrad Logan got a touch to the ball, but Gordon’s penalty found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

Pring then cleared the ball off the line for the second time in the game. Chris Stokes shot at the back post following a corner and Pring was on hand to keep Walsall in the lead.

The introduction of McDonald, replacing Holden, meant Walsall changed to a 4-5-1 with Gordon pushing out wide and Kinsella coming into midfield. But within 10 minutes, the team changed back to 4-4-2 with Gordon returning to striker and Kinsella moving to the right wing.

Substitute Aaron Collins should have equalised when he was left free at the back post, but the striker scuffed his volley from five yards and it was lifted wide of the post.

Minutes later, McDonald doubled Walsall’s lead. In a rapid counter attack the winger ran the length of the Rovers half down the left wing and rifled his shot past Logan in the host’s net.

Roberts then pulled off a magnificent save to turn Collins’ shot around the post with one hand.

Rovers pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when a corner was nodded in. Despite confusion over who got the final touch, Rovers credited it to March.

Despite a late chance for Jack Aitchison, Walsall hung onto to the lead throughout the five minutes of injury time and ended their losing streak.

Teams

Walsall: Roberts, Facey, Scarr, Sadler, Pring, Sinclair, Kinsella, Sheron, Holden (McDonald 53), Gordon (Adebayo 73), Lavery.

Subs not used: Rose, Norman, Jules, Guthrie, Nolan.

Forest Green: Logan, Rawson, Winchester, Adams (Williams 70), Hall (Collins 56), Dawson (Frear 70), Kitching, March, Aitchison, Stokes, Bailey.

Subs not used: Thomas, Bernard, Stevens, McGinley.

Attendance: 3,136 (995 away).