THE CONDITIONS were the winner at a snowy Banks's Stadium as an early goal from Yeovil Town gave them a 1-0 win.

There was an early chance for Dean Bowditch who beat the offside trap only for his effort to be well blocked by Clayton Ince.

The visitors got their noses in front on four minutes when some defensive hesitation allowed former Walsall loanee, Sam Williams to poke the ball home from close range.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Josh O'Keefe, who was starting in place of the injured Dwayne Mattis, drilled a low drive just wide from the edge of the area.

A foul by Terrell Forbes on Darren Byfield as he broke through gave The Saddlers a free-kick which was headed clear from Richard Taundry's delivery.

Just before the half-hour mark, Alex Nicholls' cross was only half-cleared as far as O'Keefe who was well off target with his strike.

There was a booking for Nicholls for a foul on Nathan Smith that had much to do with the conditions than anything else. Smith was also booked for his reaction and as the resulting free-kick fell to him, his powerful low strike was well pushed out by Ince.

The visitors ended the half with a flurry that ultimately came to nothing as Walsall cleared their lines.

An early cross from the right caused problems for Yeovil at the start of the second half but they managed to scramble clear ahead of Deeney.

There was a booking for McDonald in the 49th minute for a foul on Bowditch.

A high cross from Richards was headed over by O'Keefe before Deeney did well on the left-hand side of the area only for Nicholls to pull the ball well wide with his strike.

Bowditch did well at the other end to cut inside Richards and get in a low strike that Ince could only push out into the path of Williams who fired over from close range.

The Saddlers were still struggling to come to terms with the tricky conditions as Byfield fired wide from distance.

At the other end there was a fine tackle from McDonald to deny the lively Bowditch inside the area.

A collision between Julian Gray and Byfield summed up the night and as both players fell to the ground, the visitors were able to break through Williams who saw his effort beaten away by Ince.

After Deeney's shot on the turn had flew over, a break by Bowditch saw him round Ince who had come a long way outside his area only for his effort to land wide of the target.

First-year professional, Sam Adkins came on to replace Gray for his first senior outing at Banks's Stadium but he could do little to lift our fortunes.

With time running out, Byfield's low ball into the danger zone was hooked well wide by Nicholls before Taundry's powerful free-kick had the sting taken out of it by a deflection as the loose ball was cleared and with it went any chance Walsall had of taking anything from the game.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography