Junior and Jorge rip Forest apart.
By 4two
October 3 2002
Junior and Jorge ripped through the Forest defence in the First Half, then some valiant defending in the Second saw the Saddlers hold on. Junior for Zdrilic was the only change, as the Saddlers made it three wins in a row.
Notts Forest 1-2 Walsall
Goals: Leitao 20' Junior 22'
Man of the Match: Jimmy Walker
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Report:
The game started off rather scruffily, Forest were pressing on, but Walsall looked up to the challenge. Eugen Bopp was looking impressive for Forest, but it was a Junior effort from 25 yards that set this game alight, it signaled Walsall's intentions, they had come to take the game to Forest.
Walsall were hurrying and hassling the Forest players, and it was through this that on 20 minutes Jorge Leitao was able to break down the left flank, running nearly half the length of the pitch to get in to the area and smash his shot into the bottom right hand corner. one nil to Walsall.
Forest were still reeling from Leitao's effort when Leitao back heeled the ball on the edge of the box to open up a goal scoring opportunity for Junior which he stuck away with ease, just two minutes after Walsall had scored their first.
Walsall were dominating the possession, as Forest struggled to cope with Walsall's movement when when coming forward. Just after the half our mark Danny Hay saw a header sail just over the bar, as Walsall looked to further increase their tally and finish the game off. Towards the end of the half, Hjelde and Reid had chances, but they failed to take advantage of them, and Walsall went in 2 goals up.
Half Time: Walsall 2 -0 Forest
As expected Forest came out all guns blazing after the break, with a string of successive corners putting Walsall under some intense pressure. Walsall were struggling to make it in to the opposition half, let alone there penalty box in the opening 15 minutes.
Forest were throwing everything forward, but Walsall defended bravely as Walker managed pluck countless number of balls out of the air, while Roper, Hay and co were managing to contain the lively Johnson and Harewood. Forest were having chances, Williams went close with a header on the hour mark as Forest tried to get back in to the game.
With about 20 minutes left, Junior found himself with a goal scoring opportunity, and a chance to put the game beyond doubt, but he misplaced his effort and it fly off wide of the target. Walsall knew that if Forest were to score they would rue there missed chances, and on 78 minutes David Johnson's head met a Scimecha free kick to pull a goal back for Forest, and put Walsall firmly on the back foot.
With Forest throwing men forward, Walsall were going to get chances to hit them on the break, and with five minutes left Gary Birch found himself clear through on goal, but his goal bound effort from edge of the area somehow went rolling past the post, and out for a goal kick.
It looked like Forest would find a way to send the game in to extra time, but Jimmy Walker was performing his usual miracles, with him saving a 3 yard drive from Reid in the last minute. Walsall saw out the 4 minutes of injury time, and insured they were in the hat for the third round draw.
Full Time: Walsall 2-1 Forest
The link up play between our Forwards ripped Forest apart at times, The movement and passing was outstanding and created a countless number of chances. The defending was solid, Harewood and Johnson are proven First division goal forwards and Roper and Hay dealt kept them quiet. The fact that we had to defend a two goal lead during the second half meant that we were bound to come under pressure, and eventually concede. Junior should have walked away with the match ball, but did well enough to get his first Saddlers goal. Jimmy Walker snatched the Man of the Match award away from Junior with a match winning save in the last minute. Negatives, Roper went of with a knock, and Junior tired. Positives, we won, played well, and didn't crumble under pressure.