THE SADDLERS got back to winning ways with a deserved 2-0 triumph at Colchester United.

Former Walsall youngster, Clive Platt was just off target with a header from a left wing cross in the opening five minutes as the hosts started by seeing more of the ball in attacking sense, although goalscoring chances were at a distinct premium at either end.

The opening goal arrived on 16 minutes in The Saddlers' first attack when Troy Deeney showed good strength and determination out wide on the right before crossing low into the path of Dwayne Mattis who turned the ball home.

Colchester looked for an instant response as Ifil's cross was headed just wide by Platt. Then a powerful free-kick on 23 minutes was pushed out by Clayton Ince.

At the other end, Alex Nicholls worked hard to cause problems for the home defence who eventually scrambled the ball away. Some sloppy defending by Colchester then saw the ball land at the feet of Deeney just inside the area and he turned sharply to get in a shot that was deflected wide by Cousins in the home goal.

The resulting corner saw the young 'keeper claim following a towering header from Stephen Roberts who was up from the back to make his presence felt.

A misunderstanding between Anthony Gerrard and Ince allowed Platt to nip in only to fire into the side-netting from a tight angle.

With half-time approaching, a neat move Deeney and Michael Ricketts ended with Nicholls denied as he closed in on goal.

The final action of the half saw Platt win the ball in the air against Roberts as the ball landed to Johnnie Jackson whose shot lacked the necessary power to beat Ince.

The home side made a purposeful start to the second period as John White's piledriver was well saved by Ince.

An inviting cross from Chris Palmer on the hour-mark saw the ball cleared ahead of Nicholls as The Saddlers launched a slick counter-attack. The resulting corner found its way to the far post where Ricketts was on hand to loop a header over Cousins and into the net to make it 2-0.

The home side were being restricted to long range efforts as Williams tested Ince but couldn't find a way past the agile custodian.

With Sofiene Zaaboub on in place of the ever-willing Deeney, there was another change ten minutes later as Marco Reich took the place of skipper, Stephen Hughes.

On 82 minutes, Colchester substitute, Sunday Wasiu hit a low strike from a good position that was deflected wide as Walsall defended in numbers.

Some excellent play by the hard-working Nicholls saw him feed Zaaboub who was denied by White's brave block as he pulled the trigger. White then had to be alert to block from Reich who received the ball from a corner before showing some skill as he entered the penalty area.

The Saddlers were working well as a unit, however Wordsworth had an effort that landed just wide for the home side.

In the closing stages, the returning Rhys Weston was forced to hobble out of the action as Paul Boertien took his place. There was still time for Jimmy Mullen's men to survive a scare from a corner as Ince gathered the ball at the second attempt to secure a clean sheet and three points for Walsall in our first-ever visit to the Weston Homes Community Stadium.