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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Bescot Stadium
  • Attendance: 4651
  • Referee: Moss, J

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

90mins

Craig Pead is being taken off, Scott Dann has come on in his place.

90mins

Ian Roper goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

84mins

Julian Joachim is being taken off, Neil Wainwright has come on in his place.

71mins

Carlos Manuel Fangueiro is being taken off, Hector Sam has come on in his place.

64mins

Gaetano Giallanza is booked for unsporting behaviour.

56mins

Barry Conlon is being taken off, Carlos Logan has come on in his place.

56mins

Darren Holloway is replaced by Simon Johnson.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 0.

46mins

James Constable is replaced by Kris Taylor.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by J Moss

45mins

Goal!! Walsall have scored with Martin Butler putting it in the back of the net.

37mins

Carlos Manuel Fangueiro goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

6mins

The referee has booked Sam Russell.

0mins

It's 3pm on Saturday, August 26th, the match has kicked off.

Match Report

Following two seasons of abject despair Walsall's fortunes have taken a turn for the better as they again demonstrated when they inflicted Darlington's third successive defeat.

Martin Butler produced his third goal since his return to the club but the influence of new manager, Richard Money, is having a major impact as the Saddlers moved into second place behind Swindon.

The highly motivated Walsall side seemingly owe a great deal to Money, who has injected much needed fresh inspiration after a couple of years of dejection and relegation.

Darlington had been looking to the experience of Julian Joachim to inspire a much needed success but his fall from the Premiership into division two in a comparatively short space of time now has to be viewed with some concern for a player who appeared to have all the assets - skill, pace and goalscoring ability.

He certainly failed to hit the high notes against Walsall despite an early attempt on goal. But this promise faded into a generally ineffective performance and he was substituted late in the game.

Walsall were often the more dangerous side in the first half without really bring able to turn their advantage into goals until Butler's strike just before the break.

Darlington enjoyed several narrow escapes including the raw James Constable shooting weakly in front of goal to allow Joey Hutchinson to make a clearance.

The Quakers then nearly handed the game on a plate to Walsall when Darren Holloway blasted the ball at his own goal only to be rescued by a brilliant save by Sam Russell.

Walsall built up some strong pressure in the closing stages of the first period and in the 44th minute a Darren Keates free-kick was back-headed by Carlos Fangueiro for the lurking Butler to scramble home from close range.

Darlington had some brighter moments in the second half with Gaetano Giallanza wasting a clear opportunity from a Joachim cross when he handled the ball to earn himself a yellow card.

Later only a goal-line clearance by substitute Kris Taylor foiled another Giallanza goal attempt as the Quakers turned up the heat in their unsuccessful bid to salvage a point.

While Walsall have yet to concede a goal at home this season Darlington failed to score for the first time.

Walsall

Darlington

Corners

98

Fouls

197

Goal attempts

1112

Shots off target

67

Offsides

34

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