Two wins for The Saddlers, including a superb display at Swindon...
THE MONTH got underway on home soil with the visit of a newly-promoted Bradford City outfit who had built on their momentum of the previous campaign and were flying high in the table.Our visitors went home with maximum points courtesy of a 2-0 victory as we tasted defeat for the first time in five League games.
The next game saw us make the long journey down to Colchester United.
It was a game in which we started well only for our hosts to snatch the lead against the run of play.
We refused to let our heads drop and continued to press for the majority of the game, hitting the woodwork a couple of times and also posing numerous questions of the home defence, who were forced to work hard.
It looked like our efforts were going to be in vain until a free-kick deep into stoppage time saw Andy Taylor step up and curl sweetly into the top corner for his first goal in our colours.
The equaliser was the least The Saddlers deserved.
We were back on home soil for the visit of Stevenage seven days later and in the presence of Saddlers' Legend, Alan Buckley, who was a guest of the club for the game, we took an early lead through Romaine Sawyers.
Against opponents who favoured a more robust approach, we continued to play the better football and we rewarded with a second goal, this time from Craig Westcarr, ten minutes into the second period.
We had the chances to make the game safe, however, we failed to take them and our visitors were able to reduce the arrears to set up a tense final quarter.
There was a red card for Lucas Akins following an off-the-ball clash with Paul Downing that was spotted by the Fourth Official as we eventually ran out worthy winners.
A midweek trip to Swindon Town followed and against opponents who were undefeated at home and on a run of four straight wins, we put in an absolutely superb away performance.
We were on top virtually throughout the entire 90 minutes, hitting the woodwork a couple of times and also seeing the home goalkeeper in inspired form.
The home side simply had no answer to us and we took a deserved lead with a thunderbolt from Ashley Hemmings. He was later to get his second goal of the evening, whilst Sam Mantom also joined him on the scoresheet.
The Robins were able to pull a goal back late on, but it was just a mere consolation.
The month came to a close with a home local derby against another in-form outfit in Coventry City.
In front of a large and vocal crowd, it was an extremely tight affair with both sides cancelling each other out.
The game was decided by a single goal from the visitors that was hard luck on The Saddlers, and in particular Richard O'Donnell, who saved well from the initial effort only to see the ball land kindly for Franck Moussa who was able to turn home from close range.