THE SADDLERS came from behind to cllse the season with a deserved 2-1 victory over MK Dons.

The early action saw Manny Smith block well to deny the marauding Daniel Powell. Then Jamie Vincent had to make an important interception from a low cross from the left as The Dons started with purpose.

A free-kick in a good position with eight minutes on the clock saw Matt Richards rattle the crossbar and as the ball came out, Troy Deeney put the ball in the net only to be penalised for a foul.

Steve Jones did well on the right and his cross was met by the head of Deeney whose effort was beaten away by Stuart Searle in the visitors' goal.

As The Saddlers started to get into their stride, Julian Gray's cross into the danger zone found Darren Byfield who was denied at the second attempt by Searle.

Some good endeavour by Jones saw him set up Deeney who blazed over from a good position before the same pair linked up well in the next attack as this time Deeney set up Jones to break into the area only for Searle to bravely take the ball off his foot.

On 26 minutes, Gray evaded a couple of challenges inside the area before getting in a strike that beat the 'keeper by was cleared from in front of goal by David McCracken.

Within seconds, The Dons broke at the other end and as the offside flag stayed down, Jermaine Easter was denied by a block from Rene Gilmartin who was quick off his line. The loose ball landed at the feet of Daniel Powell who fired home to beat Mark Hughes on the line.

Powell went close to grabbing a second from the edge of the area before the half ended was Byfield putting a header over from close range.

It didn't take The Saddlers long to get back on level terms at the start of the second half as Matt Richards' kow drive from just outside the area found its way into the net.

With 52 minutes on the clock, a foul on Gray gave Walsall a free-kick right on the edge of the area which Taundry failed to capitalise upon.

In the next attack, Deeney curled an effort just inches wide before another raid ended with Byfield missing his kick at the crucial moment under pressure from Dean Lewington.

On 70 minutes, Gray did well to pull the ball back from the by-line to find Byfield in front of goal, but his effort was kept out by Searle who produced a smart stop.

Jones did well to beat Lewington out wide on the right and he made progress before his eventual cross was only half-cleared as far as Richards who was crowded out as he lined up a strike. The ball fell to Taundry whose low strike from distance was kept out by Searle.

There was a change as Alex Nicholls replaced Byfield and Nicholls was soon in the action when a neat touch from Deeney played him in only for Dons to get back in numbers to clear the danger.

As the clock ticked down, Taundry whipped in an inviting cross that was met with a deft header from Jones which produced an acrobatic save from Searle who tipped the ball over. The resulting corner wasn't properly cleared and as the ball came back in, Manny Smith was on hand to guide the ball home from close range and make it 2-1.

As The Dons chased an equaliser, some frantic Walsall defending saw us keep them at bay as Deeney got a cut to his head for his troubles.

There was a late change as Clayton McDonalkd replaced Jones as The Saddlers finished the season with a win, our fifth consecutive home victory, to finish the season in tenth place.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography