The Saddlers secured their spot in round three of the Emirates FA Cup thanks to a first half strike from Jamille Matt against a resilient Alfreton Town.
Mat Sadler’s side backed up their impressive win in League Two on Saturday against Notts County with a deserved victory over Alfreton at the Poundland Bescot Stadium to set up a trip to Sky Bet Championship side Southampton.
It took Matt just five minutes to put the Saddlers ahead as he ghosted in at the back post to tuck home a loose deflected Donervon Daniels shot.
The Saddlers continued to show their dominance in the first half as Ryan Stirk, Oisin McEntee and Brandon Comley all had efforts saved by George Willis from distance.
Shortly before the half hour mark, the visitors went as close as they came in the first half as a long ball into the box was met by Ryan Taylor but his looping effort was easy for Jackson Smith to claim.
Five minutes before the break and Douglas James-Taylor, who was returning to the starting line-up on the night, went close himself but his downward header was well saved down to his left by Willis in the Town goal.
Into the second half and both sides had chances to get themselves on the scoresheet.
To begin with, James-Taylor latched on perfectly to a long ball over the top from Tom Knowles and he then tried to chip the Town keeper but his clipped effort came back off the post.
Just a minute later and the visitors came extremely close to equalising as Jordan Thewlis unleashed a fierce left-footed effort but Smith made a great one handed save to deny the lively winger.
The post would once again deny the Saddlers with 19 minutes left of normal time as Liam Gordon advanced into the 18-yard box but his low drive cannoned back off the woodwork.
Moments after hitting the post, the Saddlers found themselves under a bit of pressure as Thewlis again went close with a dipping, curling shot but Smith was able to watch it over the crossbar.
Despite some late pressure from the visiting side, it would be Sadler’s Saddlers who would advance into the next round of the competition.