Swindon 3 Walsall 3 - Report and pictures

Given how strange this game was, it's probably just as well so little was riding on it.

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Otherwise, Walsall manager Dean Smith and Swindon boss Mark Cooper might have had cause for some sleepless nights after their sides played out an entertaining - if very odd - 3-3 draw.

Cruising thanks to goals from Kieron Morris and Jordy Hiwula, which came as much from the generosity of their hosts than anything else, the Saddlers were pegged back by two Ben Gladwin penalties - the first the result of a thoroughly bizarre decision from referee Iain Williamson which changed the course of the game.

Substitute Romaine Sawyers then restored the visitors' lead, only for Jordan Turnbull to earn Swindon a point with a header nine minutes from time.

By full-time, the Saddlers had mathematically confirmed League One status for another season, while the hosts already very slim hopes of automatic promotion were also over.

For the 6,305 present, it was well worth the money.

Smith sprang a minor surprise in selection by handing a rare start to Mal Benning in place of Andy Taylor at left-back. Sam Mantom replaced Sawyers in the Saddlers only other change.

For all of Cooper's pre-game claims his team were focusing on the play-offs, they started like a train.

They would have been in front inside the opening 10 minutes but for the brilliance of Richard O'Donnell in the Walsall goal.

He first reacted quickly to acrobatically keep out Turnbull's header at a corner, before producing an even better save to deny Gladwin after he met Nathan Byrne's cross 10 yards out.

Having survived those scares, the Saddlers were creeping back into the game - with Cain spurning a good chance by shooting straight at goalkeeper Wes Foderingham from just inside the box - before they were gifted the lead on 18 minutes.

From play-off bound Swindon's point of view, it was probably best their usually-reliable goalkeeper chose this occasion to make such an error.

Even so, it was still a hugely embarrassing moment for Foderingham, who allowed Kieron Morris' 25 yard effort to slip through his hands, with the ball hitting the bar and clearly bouncing down over the line.

The stopper redeemed himself with a smart save down to his left to keep out a Tom Bradshaw shot on the turn, as the Saddlers began to take control.

Hiwula also curled a shot into his arms from the edge of the box, though the hosts might have levelled had Byrne shown composure in stoppage time. Instead, he hammered Harry Toffolo's cross wide of the post.

Mantom pulled a shot across the face of goal early in the second-half, before Hiwula doubled the lead.

Once again it was a gift from the home side as Sam Ricketts dawdled in possession, allowing the on-loan Manchester City man to steal it and slot past Foderingham.

The Saddlers were now in complete control before the hosts were inexplicably handed a route back into the game by referee Williamson.

James O'Connor clearly won the ball, sliding in on substitute Hylton but the striker then got a touch on it to send it out of play before tumbling over the challenge of O'Donnell.

To general amazement, Williamson pointed to the spot and Gladwin hammered the kick into the bottom corner to give the hosts hope.

At least the second spot-kick, eight minutes later, seemed a more reasonable decision as Byrne tumbled under a challenge. Gladwin sent the ball into the same corner to level things up.

Enter Sawyers, who almost scored with his first touch after coming on with 19 minutes to go.

Foderingham pushed his header round the post but could do nothing about the finish soon after, with Sawyers diverting a Ben Purkiss cross into the top corner.

It was the forward's first goal in close to five months but would not prove the winner, as Turnbull headed home to level things up once more.

Foderingham saved well from Jordan Cook and Tom Bradshaw in stoppage time, as the Saddlers came closest to taking all three points.

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