Walsall 2-1 Notts County (League Two) Sat 25 Nov Well it was inevitable really... I was hoping it was going to be a spectacular 30-yard bicycle kick - but one can only dream! Yes, I’m being slightly over-dramatic, but our phenomenal record of nine consecutive clean-sheets at home in League Two was something to be proud of.
 | | Mark Kinsella |
A lot of credit has to go to Clayton Ince but ironically he was to blame for County’s goal. However, we got the three points and I’m relieved that our feat has passed without too much fuss. Tommy Wright had a superb debut in the not-so-famous red shirt – showing passion as well as ability – but special mentions have to go to the kings of Hereford. Mark Kinsella and Chris Westwood especially were absolutely tremendous. We’ve got over a week off until we make our midweek jaunt to beautiful Bury so, hopefully, the break will give the squad time to recharge their batteries and allow them to continue where they left off. Walsall 0-1 Macclesfield (FAC R1 Replay) Tue 21 Nov In the words of the legendary Chuckle Brothers: oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Apparently a result like this has been on the wall for sometime but on the back of Saturday’s brilliant away win at Hereford this has come as a real shock. Macclesfield deserved to go through, there’s no doubting that. We were second all over the park – something which has been very rarely seen this season under the stewardship of Richard Money. Saying that, the performance was genuinely quite worrying! But perhaps it was just one of those games; I’m certainly not pressing any panic buttons at the moment. Although, whichever way you look at it, I’d definitely describe it as ‘a kick to the old testicles’! Good teams bounce back - and this is a good team. Hereford United 0-1 Walsall (League Two) Sat 18 Nov And the gap grows... Six points clear at the top of the table after this win – what a win this has turned out to be. Nearest rivals Lincoln slipped up at home to a revitalised Darlington, while third-placed Wycombe only managed to take a point off struggling Grimsby. I wasn’t expecting us to win this one given Hereford’s formidable home record coupled with their recent upsurge in form. So to come away with three points is simply magic! The travelling faithful created an amazing atmosphere: the stuff which makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. It was a proper blood-and-thunder clash that you’ll only find in the lower reaches of this country’s football pyramid. It was great to see Mark Kinsella and Chris Westwood finally return to the starting line-up. The former set-up the latter for the only goal of the game and they were both excellent throughout. Macclesfield, still searching for that elusive first victory, visit Bescot in our FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday night. You’d be a brave man to back Paul Ince’s side but as a Walsall fan you can’t take anything for granted! Macclesfield Town 0-0 Walsall (FA Cup R1) Mon 13 Nov If there was ever to be a game to define the expression 'bore-draw' this could well have been it. This was a match low on opportunities, low on quality and low on entertainment. It was always going to be a tight affair with Macclesfield Town, who have recently appointed former Wolves skipper Paul Ince as their new boss, but I didn't expect to watch such a monotonous 90 minutes of football. We never looked liked scoring or conceding, and nor did our equally as woeful opponents. Craig Pead was deservedly given his marching orders late on for a shin-high tackle on Lee Bullock and he now faces a three-match ban. I wasn't upset with the decision whatsoever, but the way in which the referee decided to halt play several seconds after the incident simply because Macclesfield protested made my blood reach boiling point. Mr Joslin you were atrocious - have you been taking tips off Graham Poll? And to think that our first round clash with the Silkmen was picked for live television coverage makes it even more laughable. I also believed I would never have to see my ultimate hero (Jeff Stelling) and my ultimate villain (Paul Merson) together on the same screen! Cheers Sky. Although there was one piece of sheer brilliance at Moss Road which is destined to feature on Question Of Sport's popular 'What Happens Next?' round one day. Hats off to the guy or gal who organised this prank: about quarter of an hour into the second-half at least 20 footballs were launched over the Star Lane End and onto the pitch to the bemusement of everyone concerned! Genius. Walsall 1-0 Torquay (League Two) Sat 4 Nov Idiots – that’s the polite term to describe those who booed at half-time for the second week running. Despite going in level at the break, some felt this was so unacceptable that they once again jeered the team as they left the field of play.
 | | Ian Roper |
I imagine Richard Money was fuming at half-timeand who could blame him? The club he took over in the summer were heading for the Conference but, since his arrival, Walsall are media darlings and many supporter’s second team – flying high in League Two, undefeated at home and playing football that would not look out of place in the Championship. However, 0-0 against struggling Torquay is simply not good enough for some. Do they realise matches last 90 minutes not 45? Yes, it was a forgettable first-half and at times it was about as pretty as Anne Widdecombe but surely if Money was dissatisfied with the performance he would use the interval to tell the players in no uncertain terms. Sure enough the second-half was barely three minutes old when Ian Roper rose highest to head us into the lead from Dean Keates’ corner. At home it’s all about patience – and the minority I’m ranting at don’t have a shred of it. Torquay had a game plan to frustrate us and it worked wonderfully – fair play to them – but we found a breakthrough, like we will again and again in the months ahead. Let’s hope this is the last we hear from this senseless and ungrateful set of so-called fans. | 
![Soldier's coffin [Pic: MoD]](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46057000/jpg/_46057010_007648566-1.jpg){kind=small}
