THE SADDLERS chalked up a solid 2-0 victory at Northampton Town.

It was the home side who made the better start on a bitterly cold afternoon with the giant frame of Poul Hubertz giving early cause for concern. He saw a shot blocked bravely by Anthony Gerrard in the fifth minute.

Shortly afterwards, central defender, Guy Branston made his presence felt following a corner for Northampton and his strike inside the area was deflected wide.

After Holt had headed wide at the far post from another Cobblers' corner, Walsall lauched a positive move which saw Tommy Mooney find debut boy, Peter Sweeney who in turn fed Michael Ricketts whose strike flew just over.

At the other end, Colin Larkin dragged a low shot wide of the far post before Darren Wrack was booked on 24 minutes for a reckless challenge out wide. The resulting free-kick was cleared in commanding fashion by Clayton Ince.

Some good interplay by the home side on 26 minutes saw Branston pick out Larkin who in turn did well to carve out an opening for Hubertz but his strike was well held by Ince.

There was a booking for Daniel Fox for what appeared to be a hard-but-fair challenge. Fox was then involved in the next action as he set Ricketts away with an intelligent long ball. However, Mark Bunn in the home goal was alert to the danger and cleared.

With half-time approaching, Burnell went close for Northampton whilst Wrack was denied by Bunn at the other end after Mooney worked hard on the left as his ball into the danger zone was cleared only as far as the edge of the area.

The opening goal duly arrived a minute before the break when Ricketts carved open the home defnce and Wrack saw his ball fall nicely into the path of Mark Bradley who made no mistake.

The Saddlers made a purposeful start to the second period and in the 49th minute, Edrissa Sonko set Bradley off towards goal. He was pushed out wide but still managed to get in an angled strike that Bunn gathered at the second attempt.

There was a chance for the home side when Johnson's effort landed on the roof of the net, but there could have been big embarrassment for home 'keeper Bunn when he sliced a back-pass from Branston. Luckily for him, the ball went out for a corner as Richard Money's men incrased the pressure with a series of flag-kicks.

It required The Cobblers to work hard defensively as Walsall searched for a second goal. With an hour gone, Sonko put in an inviting ball which caused Bunn problems as he came under pressure from Ricketts but the ball was scrambled to safety.

Ishmel Demontagnac came on in place of Ricketts as Richard Money looked to inject some pace into attack.

On 78 minutes there was a real scare when a corner was met with a towering header from Branston that was cleared off the line at the far post by Rhys Weston. The Northampton players and supporters claimed a goal but the officials were having none of it as Walsall got the loose ball away from danger.

As the home side upped the pressure, Mooney conceded a foul out on the left which was pumped into the danger zone as Hughes got his head to the ball only to see his effort land agonisingly wide of the mark.

The home side were caught out with a classic counter-attack with just five minutes to go when Bradley broke away before playing a perfect ball across the area into the path of Demontagnac who coolly slotted home to send the travelling faithful wild with delight and hoards of home supporters heading for the exit.

With Paul Hall on in place of Sonko, a handball by Branston deep into injury time presented Walsall with a free-kick right on the edge of the area which Wrack curled just over.

It didn't matter as the full-time whistle sounded to give Richard Money's side three good points.

We will be back at the Sixfields Stadium in seven days' time as the two sides go head-to-head in the FA Cup second round.