Successful month for The saddlers...
THE MONTH of September kicked off with a Johnstone's Paint Trophy clash at Wolves.The Saddlers twice came from behind with goals from Ashley Hemmings and substitute, Troy Hewitt, to draw 2-2 in a game whereby we were the better side for long periods in the second half.
It meant that penalties were required to decide the outcome and the home side went through 4-2.
We were on the road again in the next game as we locked horns with Crewe Alexandra.
Despite being in control for most of the opening period, we failed to create many clear-cut chances and we in at the interval goalless. That changed in the second half as two goals from Craig Westcarr - one of which was a penalty - and a further strike from James Baxendale gave us a convincing and well-deserved 3-0 win.
It gave us plenty of confidence for our third away assignment in a row, this time at Wolves in the League.
With a large and vocal travelling contingent, we frustrated the home side and looked a solid unit throughout. The icing was put on top of the cake when Andy Butler grabbed the winning goal with around 20 minutes left on the clock.
It was Wolves' first defeat of the season.
Our one and only home fixture of the month saw us host another side who were previously unbeaten in Rotherham United.
In what was a keenly-contested encounter, The Millers got their noses in front only for Sam Mantom to fire home an equaliser to give us a share of the spoils.
The month ended with a trip to a Leyton Orient side who had won all eight of their previous League games.
Our task was made even more difficult when Andy Butler was red-carded after just 17 minutes, but we refused to let our heads drop, and even after The O's had taken the lead, we kept working hard to get our reward with an equaliser from Craig Westcarr.
In truth we could have even snatched a victory, but, under the circumstances, it was a good point and what's more, Butler later had his red card rescinded on Appeal.