Walsall finished their 2022/23 season with a well-earned victory over Doncaster Rovers at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Second-half strikes from Conor Wilkinson and Isaac Hutchinson secured the three points and Walsall's first win since March, with Bobby Faulkner’s goal only proving to be a late consolation for the visitors.
The victory was Mat Sadler’s first as the interim manager of the club, guiding the team to a 16th-place finish in the Sky Bet League Two table this season.
Sadler made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 away at Crawley Town nine days ago.
Jackson Smith stepped in to make his first league start between the sticks following the injury to Owen Evans last time out.
Joe Riley, who played the second half against Crawley Town, earned himself a starting spot at right-back with Hayden White missing out.
The Saddlers enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening half whilst also creating the first chances of the game.
Tom Knowles did well to beat his man on the right before squaring the ball for Mathew Stevens, whose first-time effort went slightly wide after seven minutes of play.
Moments later it was Knowles who got himself a chance to score from a tight angle but saw his powerful strike turned away for a corner by Louis Jones.
Jones was called into action again after 13 minutes of play, as Stevens freed up his body inside the penalty area before forcing a good save out of the Doncaster shot-stopper.
Nearing the end of the opening period Walsall created a couple of more chances but failed to capitalise, with Hutchinson first firing over the bar and Knowles seeing his close-range header saved.
The Saddlers were solid at the back throughout the first half, though, with Smith having no trouble keeping out a long-range effort from Zain Westbrooke and a soft header from Harrison Biggins.
There were no changes at the break and it was Walsall who retained control of the game in the second half.
With 50 minutes on the clock, Hutchinson played a neat through ball for Stevens, whose left-footed shot hit the side-netting.
The attacking duo connected again a few minutes later, but this time it was Hutchinson who took a shot on goal from outside the area only for Stevens to direct it wide.
With the pressure building, Walsall finally broke the deadlock after 57 minutes of play, when a deflected cross from Liam Gordon was clinically tucked in by Wilkinson.
Doncaster came close to a quick reply, but a great save from Smith denied Aidan Barlow from close range.
Wilkinson then had another opportunity to extend the hosts’ lead, but his volley from inside the area bounced just wide off the post.
Walsall then made the following chance count, as Hutchinson received the ball inside the area and blasted it into the net for Walsall’s second and his seventh league goal of the campaign and eighth in all competitions.
But the visitors had not given up yet, with defender Faulkner bringing one back for Doncaster with a deflected shot from inside the area six minutes before full-time.
Doncaster tried to build on their goal, but Walsall did well to refuse the pressure and finish the season in winning ways.
Smith; Riley, Low, Monthé, Gordon; McEntee (Daniels 89’), Comley; Knowles (Maher 89’), Wilkinson (Kinsella 85’), Hutchinson; Stevens (Matt 79’).
Subs: Barrett, James-Taylor, Onabirekhanlen.
Attendance: 7176