Clarets record big win over league leaders

Last updated : 22 July 2008 By Tony Scholes
James Craggs - scored the first goal
It was made a little easier for us when Walsall lost a player to a red card during the first half but by then we could have so easily been a couple of goals in front. We attacked right from the start and it was only some good defending, a goal line clearance and a bit of misfortune that kept the scores level for as long as they did.

Eventually it looked as though we'd got our chance when a Walsall defender handled on the line to keep the ball out. The referee had no option but to send him off and with Adam Kay having missed from the spot in the recent cup defeat to Hartlepool the responsibility was passed to Wes Fletcher.

Unfortunately for the Clarets the Walsall keeper made an excellent save to his left to keep out the penalty, but the first goal wasn't long in coming. James Craggs was in top form and it was he who gave us the lead whilst shortly afterwards Fletcher doubled the advantage.

That was the score at half time but early in the second half Walsall pulled one back after they got through on their right hand side. The scoreline at that point of 2-1 hardly reflected the game but once we'd settled down again we dominated.

We added just two more goals, both of them coming from Alex MacDonald. The first of them was a shot that took a deflection but our last goal of the afternoon was the pick. Fletcher and MacDonald had linked up well up front throughout the game and Fletcher turned his man well to play in Macca who in turn beat his man before finishing well.

There could have been more and in the closing stages what had been a game played in a really good spirit was spoiled by some of the challenges from Walsall. But the Clarets kept going and could so easily have added more.

It was an enjoyable game to watch and for once Gawthorpe wasn't quite as cold as it can be.

The team was: Jonathan Sergeant, Dean Stott, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Thomas Bradley, Chris Anderson (Matt Lomas), Adam Kay (Oliver Devenney), Alex-Ray Harvey, James Craggs (Dil Chaggar), Alex MacDonald, Wes Fletcher.