Blues stunned by Saddlers comeback (From This Is Local London)

Blues stunned by Saddlers comeback

4:55pm Saturday 31st October 2009 in

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Wycombe 2, Walsall 3.

WANDERERS blew a two goal lead as Walsall came back from the dead to keep the Blues pinned to the foot of the table.

Wanderers looked set to record their first win under new chief Gary Waddock after a champagne first half performance put them two-up but they hadn't reckoned on a sterling Saddlers comeback.

But while it was a bitter pill to swallow for Waddock as he suffered his first defeat after two draws, he will be able to draw comfort from a first half showing which if Blues can repeat and stretch to the full 90 minutes will bring them their fair share of points.

Defeat was particularly tough on Scott Davies, the on-loan Reading player who looked to have given Wanderers platform for victory with two cracking goals.

A brilliant piece of opportunitism from the midfielder put Wanderers ahead after 12 minutes.

He spotted Saddlers keeper Clayton Ince yards off his line from a 30-yard free kick and chipped the ball over him to give Wycombe a fully-deserved lead.

His moment of ingenuity was typical of Wanderers in a blistering first half in which they shook off the defensive shackles that had so stifled them under previous boss Peter Taylor.

They had five shots in the first five minutes as they rampaged forward with purpose and menace.

After the stagnant start to the season, it was like watching Wanderers on the fast forward button as they created chances at will.

Chris Zebroski, restored to the side after his midweek goal for the reserves, dragged two efforts just wide while Matt Harrold had a shot saved and then headed wide as Wycombe purred through the gears.

Wanderers' overwhelming first half dominance was rewarded again on 36 minutes with another Davies goal of the highest quality.

Again it came from a set piece, a brilliantly worked corner, brilliantly finished by the midfielder.

Woodman and Phillips worked a short corner and just as Phillips' body shape suggested a curling cross to the back post he rolled the ball back to the edge of the box from where Davies slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Davies was on fire and he was denied what would have been a first half hat-trick by a brave double block by Mark Bradley and then Mark Hughes.

Wanderers were given a richly deserved standing ovation at half time but the challenge remained to keep it going into the second period and they came up horribly short as Walsall hit them on the break to knock the stuffing out of them.

They were given an early warning that there was still plenty of work to do when Darren Byfield fired the first shot of the half over Scott Shearer's crossbar.

It was a rare and presentable chance for the visitors, who had clearly had a half time rocket from their boss Chris Hutchings.

And they wasted another good chance minutes later when Richard Taundry made a poor effort of Darren Byfield's cross, heading the ball wide.

But Wycombe did not heed the warning and allowed the Saddlers to halve the deficit with a sloppy goal.

Matt Richards was allowed room down Blues' right flank and then centre half and skipper Michael Duberry was caught napping as Steve Jones ghosted in behind him to slide the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Suddenly it was not looking quite so clever as the red shirts began to win the 50-50 challenges and Blues had to show their defensive teeth.

Waddock reacted by introducing Matt Bloomfield for Chris Zebroski and the new man was quickly in the action turning sharply to cross to Harrold who, under pressure, couldn't keep his shot down.

Waddock spun the dice again on 75 minutes with striker Jon-Paul Pittman coming on in a straight swap with Harrold as Wycombe began to reassert themselves again.

Phillips hammered over the Walsall bar and Kevin Betsy wasn't quite tall enough to head in Craig Woodman's cross as more Wycombe chances came and then went begging.

But the Blues clearly believed attack was the best form of defence.

The hat-trick hunting Davies was denied from distance by a smart Ince save before Pittman screwed wide from close range after good work from Phillips.

Just when it looked as though Wanderers would comfortably see the game out and maybe rattle in a killer third, Walsall pulled it out of the fire with two goals in five minutes.

The equaliser came when Blues cleared an initial effort from a corner but then allowed Saddlers skipper Mark Hughes time to weigh up his options 15 yards out before steering his shot through a crowded goalmouth and into the back of the net.

Gutted Wanderers came roaring back and dangerman Davies fired just over the top but the drama wasn't finished as Blues were hit with the knockout sucker punch.

Walsall raced forward. Jones ran at the defence before slipping the ball in behind Craig Woodman where Alex Nicholls drilled in a sickening 86th minute winner.

Wanderers tried to rally. Pittman and Davies had efforts but it was Walsall who were celebrating a win even they couldn't believe at the end.

And as Blues retreated in shock to their dressing room they were left to reflect on how they had failed to win a match in which they had had 24 shots on goal, while their jubilant visitors had mustered just a mere but deadly handful.