for want of a home report here's Walsall's-fair

<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Walsall 1 <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> 2

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Date : Sat 06 May 2006<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>Kick Off : 15:00<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Venue : Bescot Stadium<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>Attendance : 7195<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Comp : Coca-Cola Football League One<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>Referee : R Beeby<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Click Here For Detailed Match Stats<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Red Cards :

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Roper 78<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Goals :

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Keates 59 (pen)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Richards 31<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Nardiello 83 (pen)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span>

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Match Report

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">THE 2005/06 season ended with The Saddlers slipping to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> in what was an entertaining game played in front of a crowd of over 7,000.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">After a cagey opening, the first chance fell to the visitors as Andy Oakes pushed out a low drive. The loose ball landed at the feet of Daniel Nardiello whose effort from close range was well saved by Oakes as Craig Pead bravely completed the clearance

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">It gave the visitors confidence as they pressed hard for an opening goal, backed by a large following who had made the journey from Yorkshire hoping to see them cement their play-off place.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">A poor back header by Anthony Gerrard on 17 minutes almost let the visitors in, but Gerrard redeemed himself as he got back to block Nardiello's tame effort as he rounded Oakes.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Former Saddlers' loanee, Chris Shuker delivered an inviting low ball into the danger zone on 25 minutes as somehow The Saddlers scrambled clear under pressure from Marc Richards and Nardiello in front of goal.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Walsall were not posing too many problems for The Tykes' back-line but on 28 minutes an inviting cross from Mark Wright on the by-line looked for Kevin James who was beaten to it and the ball cleared.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">The visitors took the lead on the half-hour when a free-kick from the right was delivered long and Richards found himself unmarked at the far post to head home.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Wright was replaced by Ishmel Demontagnac with seven minutes to go until the interval and the Young Player of the Season was soon involved in the action as he cut inside from the by-line before hitting a curling effort that was on target, but lacked the necessary power to give Nick Colgan too many problems.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">With Daryl Taylor on in place of namesake Kris at half-time, the visitors started the second period on the attack, however Richards's effort hit the scoreboard.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Oakes then did well to save at the feet of Nardiello before at the other end, Demontagnac's inviting cross was met by a deft touch from Barrowman as the ball sailed agonisingly wide.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">On 51 minutes Keates tried his luck from distance as a free-kick from Daniel Fox came out to him on the edge of the area, but his effort landed just wide before Barrowman missed out in the next attack as he chased a long ball forward only to be beaten to it by the alert Colgan.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">The Saddlers won a penalty on 56 minutes when some neat build-up play saw James find Keates with a nice touch and he in turn fed Pablo Mills who was brought crashing down as he closed in on goal. Skipper Keates stepped up a coolly slotted home to level the scores.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">A Keates free-kick on the hour was flicked on by Barrowman as <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> scrambled clear under pressure. The Saddlers' crowd were really getting behind the players as Mills hit a screaming effort narrowly wide.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">Barrowman was replaced by James Constable just before Ian Roper saw yellow for a strong challenge.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">With 15 minutes to go, Oakes had to be alert to push out a ball that was driven into the box and took a deflection on its way towards goal. The resulting corner came to nothing as <place w:st="on">Walsall</place> got men back.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">There was a break by James out wide as Fox did well to set him racing away. The on-loan <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Nottingham</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Forest</placetype></place> man cut inside before hitting a curling shot that Colgan did well to push out.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">It was developing into an enthralling contest with action at both ends of the field. In the next attack, Nardiello fired wide as he found space before a flashpoint on the half-way line ended with Roper shown a red card.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">The referee then went on to award The Tykes a penalty with nine minutes to go which Nardiello converted.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">It wasn't long before there were loud appeals for a spot-kick at the other end as Demontagnac was brought crashing down as he looked to cause more problems with his trickery. The referee waved away the protests as both benches became involved in an ugly skirmish as the referee battled to regain control of the proceedings.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">In the closing stages Constable was booked for a foul just after <place w:st="on">Barnsley</place> hit struck the post as they looked to seal the game and their place in the play-offs.

</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"">The last action saw James put a free-kick in a dangerous position over the crossbar as the full-time whistle sounded to end what has been a bitterly disappointing season here at Bescot Stadium......

</span></p>