THE SADDLERS had to battle hard to earn three points in a 2-1 victory over Gillingham.

Walsall conceded a couple of early free-kicks in dangerous positions, the second of which from Adam Miller was held by Clayton Ince after Ian Roper had fouled Gary Mulligan.

There was a frank exchange between Ince and Anthony Gerrard shortly afterwards when the 'keeper hesitated to collect a through-ball and it required Gerrard to make a last-ditch clearance.

The visitors were seeing plenty of the early ball and not allowing The Saddlers to settle. Stuart Thurgood tried his luck from distance but blasted the ball well over.

A clever ball in from the right by Troy Deeney saw the returning Tommy Mooney sent sprawling to the ground under a heavy challenge. There were loud appeals for a penalty, but the referee waved away the protests.

Paul Boertien recoved well to block from Mulligan after the ball had broke loose to him on the edge of the area following Roper's challenge on Delroy Facey.

At the other end, Lee Holmes embarked upon a positive run in the 16th minute which was brought to an abrupt end by Ian Cox to give Walsall a free-kick in a promising position which was curled goalwards by Holmes himself only for Derek Stillie in The Gills' goal to gather.

An excellent ball in from the by-line by Deeney was perfect for the head of Mooney who made no mistake to open the scoring on 27 minutes.

In the next attack, Holmes' teasing ball in from the right was met with a back-header from Mark Bradley which struck the top of the crossbar with the 'keeper left rooted to the spot.

A Gillingham corner saw Mark Bentley beat Ince to the ball but his header landed just wide before a good ball in by the lively John Nutter was headed away by Gerrard in front of goal.

The Saddlers started the second period on the attack, spearheaded by Mooney , however Deeney was ruled offside.

A breakaway by the visitors on 48 minutes ended with Mulligan firing a low shot narrowly wide before Michael Dobson replaced Bradley.

Moments later Darren Wrack teed up Sonko for a strike that was dragged wide of the target before another Walsall raid ended with Deeney firing over rather than pulling the ball back for Mooney in  space in front of goal.

As the visitors upped the pressure in search of an equaliser, a corner was only half-cleared as Rhys Weston was forced to block in front of goal.

Some good battling play by Holmes on the left ended with him getting in a sweet cross that found its way to the far post where Sonko saw his header saved by Stillie.

The second goal finally came with just under 20 minutes to go as Mooney used his strength to battle through before laying off an intelligent ball to Sonko in space and he fired low into the far corner of the net.

It was to be Mooney's last contribution as he was substituted to a standing ovation with Alex Nicholls taking his place.

The young sub did well to win a free-kick on 81 minutes following a foul by the experienced Nicky Southall, however, Holmes' low delivery was too close to the 'keeper.

Some trickery our wide by Nicholls in the next attack saw him eventually get the ball across into the danger zone where Sonko's strike lacked the power to trouble Stillie too much.

The 'keeper then did well to push out Holmes' sweet strike in the next attack before clawing away Gerrard's header from the resulting corner.

In injury time at the end, The Gills pulled a goal back when Andrew Crofts' screaming shot from distance struck the crossbar and went in off Ince.

There were a few nerves right at the death, but Richard Money's men secured three hard-earned points.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography