Successful month for Saddlers...
SEPTEMBER started with a home clash against a Brentford side who were already making their second visit to Banks's Stadium of the season.Things were looking good as goals in quick succession from Jamie Paterson and George Bowerman gave us a two-goal advantage. Despite pressure from the visitors, we managed to hold them at bay until the final five minutes when they grabbed two goals to take a point.
We were back at home seven days later for the visit of a much-fancied MK Dons side.
Once more, Dean Smith's side played some neat football and it was rewarded with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Dean Holden's first goal for the club.
A first trip to Portsmouth in a decade followed and against a side that contained plenty of higher level experience despite their off-the-field troubles, we put in an assured display.
After an even opening period, The Saddlers started to get into our stride as the second half went on and we got our noses in front with a superb strike from James Baxendale for his first-ever senior goal.
It wasn't long before one-time Pompey youngster, Flo Cuvelier fired home from distance to double our advantage and, although the home side pulled a goal back and were roared on by a vocal home crowd, we held firm to take another three points.
A trip to Stevenage followed three days later. This was a different kind of test against physical and direct opposition.
Having fallen a goal behind, George Bowerman's header levelled matters and at that stage it looked as though we were going to get at least a point. However, a sweet long-range strike saw the hosts regain the lead and then they sealed the victory with a third goal late on as we pushed up in search of an equaliser.
We returned to home soil against an expensively-assembled Preston North End outfit looking to get back on track straight away.
With new on-loan goalkeeper, Karl Darlow between the posts, we fell behind to an early goal from our Lancashire opponents but what was to follow over the next 75 minutes was one of the most impressive displays from a Walsall side for many years as we passed the ball around sharply and got our reward with another goal from Baxendale and a brace from George Bowerman, including a first penalty of the season.
The players received a deserved ovation at the end as each member of the side played their part.
The month ended with a trip to the south coast to take on AFC Bournemouth.
Once more, our hosts had invested large amounts into their squad, but they were second-best for the majority of this encounter.
A goal from skipper, Andy Butler just before the break set us on our way but we were unable to kill the game off with another goal.
The Cherries managed to get back on level terms as the clock ticked down, but in the final minute Bowerman fired home his sixth of the season to give us our fourth win of a fruitful month.
And what better way to celebrate than by going for a dip in the Bournemouth sea... bring on October!