THE SADDLERS made progress into the next round of the LDV Vans Trophy as Matty Fryatt's goal gave us a deserved victory over AFC Bournemouth.

A good move by The Saddlers on four minutes saw Eric Skora, Jorge Leitao and Dario Larrosa link up well before picking out Ishmel Demontagnac in a wide position but his low cross was cleared for a corner which Neil Moss in the visitors' goal gathered comfortably.

With seven minutes on the clock, a curling effort by Matty Fryatt from just outside the area struck the post with the 'keeper beaten.

The visitors went close soon afterwards when a stooping header by the bustling Steve Fletcher was cleared in front of goal following a corner before James Hayter tried his luck in the 14th minute with a powerful effort that flew over.

There was a scramble in front of The Cherries' goal on the quarter-hour mark after Ian Roper headed a corner into the danger zone, but after some frantic defending Moss managed to claim the ball.

A low drive by James O'Connor on 23 minutes landed inches wide from distance after Joe Murphy had done well moments earlier to save at the feet of one-time Saddler, Dani Rodrigues who was running through.

Five minutes later and Murphy's goal was threatened again as Hayter stole in from a corner to plant a dipping header just over.

Some excellent play by Leitao just past the half-hour mark saw him tee up Larrosa in front of goal, but he made a poor connection and the chance was lost.

A foul on Leitao on the edge of the penalty area presented Skora with a free-kick from a dangerous position which brought out a fine save from Moss as he pushed the ball over the crossbar.

The last action of the half saw Skora have an effort blocked on its way to goal after being picked out by Fryatt as the half ended goalless.

There was a change during the interval as Steve Staunton replaced Chris Westwood.

The game was in need of a lift in the early stages of the second period and it almost came on 55 minutes when Leitao burst through the middle in a bid to raise the temperature but was brought crashing down by Neil Young.

With 57 minutes on the clock, Skora set Fryatt through but as Moss spilled his effort, the Frenchman teed him up again with the loose ball but this time he fired well wide from the angle.

At the other end Rodrigues broke the offside trap but was wayward with his effort.

There was another change for The Saddlers as Daryl Taylor replaced Larrosa and we finally took the lead on 66 minutes when Taylor did well out wide on the right before picking out Fryatt in front of goal. His initial effort was blocked but as Demontagnac headed the ball back into the danger zone, Fryatt was on hand to head home through a crowd of players.

A shot by Skora from outside the area on 75 minutes was on target but claimed by the 'keeper before the Frenchman curled a free-kick just over from a tight angle moments later.

James Constable was introduced for his Saddlers' debut on 80 minutes as he replaced Demontagnac, but it was The Cherries who went close to getting back on level terms when Fletcher used his strength to hold off his marker before getting in a low effort that sailed wide.

Late on Roper got his head on the end of a deep cross from the right and the ball fell at the feet of Fryatt who put his effort agonisingly wide from right in front of goal.

There was time for new-boy Constable to have a header ruled out for offside as the assistant referee's flag halted his celebrations before they had even started.

It mattered not in the end as The Saddlers made progress into the next round on a chilly night in front opf a crowd of 2,031.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography.