Walsall book JPT area final spot

Walsall beat Tranmere 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time to seal their place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final.

The Saddlers were 2-0 down at half-time but forced penalties and, although Ashley Grimes' spot-kick was saved, Liam Ridehalgh hit the crossbar for Rovers before Marc Laird missed to allow Paul Downing to send Dean Smith's men through to the Northern Area final courtesy of a 5-4 success. In normal time, Tranmere had led through first-half goals from Max Power and Kayode Odejayi, only to be pegged back in the second period thanks to strikes from Anthony Forde and Michael Cain as the game ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. The hosts would score twice in six first-half minutes prior to the interval to grab hold of the tie. Power broke the deadlock with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box in the 37th minute and the goalscorer turned provider as his corner was flicked into the far corner by Odejayi's head two minutes before the break. In a second half set against the backdrop of driving rain, Danny Holmes fired into the side netting while Janoi Donacien's goalbound header was somehow kept out by Saddlers stopper Richard O'Donnell. Power had a third Tranmere goal ruled out for offside before the visitors halved the deficit. Ben Purkiss' ball inside Ridehalgh found Forde and after cutting back on to his left foot, the substitute fired under Owain Fon Williams to raise Walsall's hopes with 27 minutes to go. And they completed the comeback 10 minutes from time when Cain blasted home a venomous drive from the edge of the area. However, Micky Adams' men stirred into life again as Romaine Sawyers brilliantly cleared Donacien's header off the line before Odejayi had the ball in the net again only to be ruled offside. In a pulsating finish both Bradshaw and Laird fluffed decent chances as the game headed for penalties. In the shoot-out, Grimes' penalty was saved by Fon Williams yet Ridehalgh rattled the crossbar when he had the chance to send Rovers through. And after Laird's try was saved by O'Donnell, Downing kept his cool to settle the contest.