Walsall 2 Oldham 0 - Report and pictures
Tom Bradshaw scored a first-half brace to reach 20 goals for the season and fire Walsall past Oldham in League One.
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The prolific striker opened the scoring when he finished past visiting goalkeeper Joel Coleman.
And he became the second Saddlers man to hit 20 goals in three seasons soon after when he drilled home from the spot, after Latics skipper Liam Kelly had fouled Mal Benning.
Walsall handed a first start to 22-year-old goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, but he was rarely tested as the visitors failed to register a shot on target.
MacGillivray came in for No.1 Richard O'Donnell, who was left out for the first time since joining the club in 2013.
The Saddlers No 1, who has kept 21 clean sheets this term, is out of contract at the end of the season and yet to indicate his plans for the future.
With victory, the Saddlers recorded three straight home wins and jumped up to 11th in League One ahead of next week's final game at Bristol City.
Goals: Bradshaw 18, pen 24.
Walsall (4-3-3): MacGillivray, Purkiss, J Chambers, O'Connor, Benning, Mantom, A Chambers (Flanagan 46), Cain (Sawyers 79), Morris, Bradshaw (Cook 84), Hiwula.
Substitutes not used: O'Donnell (GK) Taylor, Downing, Forde.
Oldham (4-4-1-1): Coleman, Brown, J Wilson, Lockwood, Mellor, Poleon (Bove 61), Dieng (Winchester 46), Kelly, Jones, Philliskirk, Turner (Murphy 70).
Substitutes not used: Kean (GK), Elokobi, B Wilson, Truelove.
Referee: Darren Sheldrake (Middlesex)
Attendance: 4,699.[/breakout]
Bradshaw had the first big chance of the game after exchanging passes with Adam Chambers, but his scuffed shot was pushed away by Oldham shot-stopper Coleman.
But the Saddlers top scorer only had to wait until the 18th minute to bag his 19th of the season.
The hosts broke with pace and Bradshaw raced on to Jordy Hiwula's through ball, before dinking a finish over the onrushing Coleman.
There was, admittedly, a suggestion the striker might have been in an offside position when the final pass was played.
There was unquestionably controversy about the penalty award, which allowed him to reach 20 for the season six minutes later.
Kelly seemed to win the ball when he challenged Benning but referee Darren Sheldrake pointed to the spot - handing the Saddlers their first penalty at the Banks's in more than 14 months.
Bradshaw made no mistake with it, blasting the ball down the middle as Coleman dived to his left.
The Saddlers were looking dangerous every time they broke and Coleman prevented Hiwula from making it three, after the striker had been played in by a weighted Benning through pass.
Oldham were sloppy but began the second half with greater purpose and Mike Jones hammered a shot over from 20 yards out.
The hosts continued to look dangerous on the break and only a perfectly-timed Kelly block denied Hiwula, after he had evaded a couple of challenges in the box.
Mantom also dragged a shot wide as the Saddlers continued to look the most likely to score again. Hiwula should have added a third in stoppage time but chipped his finish straight at Coleman.
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