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Walsall 1-3 Town
Walsall 1-3 Town
Tuesday, 16th Mar 2004 22:55

A second half Darren Bent hat-trick gave Town their first away win of 2004 as Walsall were defeated 3-1 at the Bescot Stadium. Bent struck just after the break, again 12 minutes later and then in injury time, the Saddlers' only reply a late freekick from Keith Andrews.

New loanee Matt Elliott, handed the number six shirt, came straight into the side alongside Richard Naylor at the back, while Dean Bowditch was given his first league start alongside Darren Bent up front. Kelvin Davis recovered from a stomach bug to take his place between the sticks.

Shefki Kuqi dropped to the bench, where he was the only player to have made a senior start, such are Town's current injury woes. Sitting alongside the Finn were Scotts Mitchell and Barron, Lewis Price and Aidan Collins.

Walsall had the first real chance of the game in the sixth minute, Gary Birch seizing on a loose ball after Kelvin Davis had blocked his effort at the edge of the area, but putting the ball well wide.

The game had started scrappily but the home side were having the best of the chances. The closest the half would come to a goal was in the 14th minute when Paul Ritchie headed a corner towards goal, Matt Elliott nodding off the line and away.

Chances were few and far between at both ends. Town's first semi-chance came just after the half hour when Darren Bent had a header blocked. Dean Bowditch followed up twice, but each time found a defender in the way.

Tommy Miller went closer with a 25-yard shot a couple of minutes later, keeper Jimmy Walker tipping his effort round his right post. From the subsequent corner, Ian Westlake played the ball back in after it had been cleared and Matt Elliott headed straight at Walker.

The half had been somewhat less than eventful with neither side playing too much quality football. For Town, the highlights were probably a Dean Bowditch flick and an important last-ditch challenge from Fabian Wilnis just before the break.

Town began the second half with a bang, Darren Bent scoring within three minutes of the restart. Dean Bowditch played the ball inside from the left to Jermaine Wright. The midfielder shot across goal, Walker tipping the ball away, Darren Bent following up and putting the Blues ahead.


Walsall called for a penalty in the 50th minute when Fabian Wilnis got in a tangle with Birch on the Town right. The Dutchman tried to get himself out of the way of the on-running midfielder but only succeeded in falling over, the Walsall man following him on to the turf, referee Boyeson ruling that there had been no foul.

Six minutes later, Ian Westlake shot over from the edge of the area after a corner. Soon after, Zigor Aranalde struck a goalbound 25-yarder which caught Fabian Wilnis and went for a corner. On 58 Steve Corica shot wide after he had made himself some space on the edge of the area.

In the 59th minute the Blues went two in front. Walsall had pushed more men forward since going behind and were caught on the break by Bowditch and Bent. Bowditch took the ball into the Saddlers' half before slipping the ball through to Bent who beat Walker from the edge of the area.

From there is was virtually all Town possession, Walsall largely left chasing shadows as the Town midfield taught them a passing lesson.

Bent almost added a third only three minutes after his second after being played in by Matt Richards on the Town left, his low shot just beating Walker's left post.

There was a scare for the Blues on 65 when they were caught on the break having committed too many men forward. Birch crossed from the left to the far post where Paul Merson stabbed the ball into the side net.

Tommy Miller came close to the third goal in the 71st minute, the ex-Hartlepool man belting a 20-yard shot off Walker's crossbar. Miller even managed to get to the rebound, his second strike coming off a defender and going for a corner. Matt Elliott headed the resultant Jim Magilton corner into Jimmy Walker's hands.

Miller looked very keen on getting his name on the scoresheet, and in the 75th minute he forced Walker to make a fine save to his left with a shot from the Town left.

Dean Bowditch was close to a goal with 11 minutes left, the youngster almost latching on a Darren Bent header but Walker getting in a toe, Walsall surprisingly awarded a goalkick.

With a minute left Paul Merson was replaced, the former England international having made little significant impact on the game.

Town had passed the home side off the park in the second half, but this time had got goals as their reward. The first half performance had been stuttering and lacking in confidence but the goals had made a big difference. By the end, the home crowd were singing ‘what a load of rubbish' and leaving in droves.

Despite Town's domination, the third goal of the game went to Walsall, Steve Andrews beating Davis with a freekick from just outside the area. The Wolves loan player had clearly been spurred on by a PA announcement a few moments earlier proclaiming him the Saddlers' man of the match.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Shefki Kuqi replaced Bowditch, who had given the home defence problems with his pace, had been involved in two goals and probably did enough to keep his place in the side.

After a couple of shaky moments including a dubiously awarded Walsall corner, the Blues scored their third goal. Bent broke quickly after Town had cleared from a busy penalty area. The Blues slowed the play up and exchanged passes before Bent played the ball to Westlake on the left.

The Clacton-born player took a couple of touches before cutting the ball back to Bent on the edge of the six-yard box where he slipped the ball past Walker for his first senior hat-trick and Town's first since Pablo Couñago's against Avenir Beggen in the UEFA Cup last year. Marcus Stewart's triumvirate against Southampton in 2000/01 was the Blues' last league three-goal haul.

The final whistle went soon after, Bent getting the congratulations from his team-mates. It had been an excellent second half display, the Blues passing the ball round for fun and for once scoring the goals which turned their domination into points.

Matt Elliott had a debut, winning a lot in the air and helping prevent Kelvin Davis from having too much to do. The failure to keep a clean sheet was a shame on one of the more cheerful evenings to be following Town of late.

The pace of Bent and Bowditch caused the Walsall backline a lot of trouble and they look likely to remain the Town front two when Watford visit Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, Elliott, Magilton, Miller, Wright, Westlake, Bent, Bowditch (Kuqi 89).


Photo: Action Images



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