Stockport 1 Walsall 2 - analysis

Injury time descended on Edgeley Park during a game which made up with commitment what it lacked in quality.

Jabo Ibehre swung in a cross from the right, Tommy Rowe and goalkeeper Conrad Logan clashed, with a little help from Mark Bradley, and the ball nestled in the net.

Cue delirium from the pocket of travelling fans, while the Walsall bench remained stoic, unsure if the goal would stand.

The Stockport bench were convinced it was a foul but their protestations counted for little, as Logan's miserable afternoon was complete.

The on-loan Leicester goalkeeper had been at fault for Anthony Gerrard's 12th-minute opener when he punched Sofiene Zaaboub's corner straight to the defender, who lashed the ball in.

It was a lead the Saddlers looked like holding against a side who hadn't scored in their previous five games.

That was especially so after Rowe slammed a second-half penalty over after Ibehre had hand-balled.

Then Greg Tansey curled in a 25-yard free-kick to restore parity and claim Stockport's first goal for 550 minutes.

Suddenly the game sounds epic. It wasn't. A humdrum affair between two mid-table teams was merely punctured by those four moments.

They were evenly matched, traded chances and will meet again next season.

Quality was at a premium, although the sides deserve credit for at least trying to play football on a shocking surface.

The pitch, ravaged by both County and their tenants Sale Sharks, represented the beach both teams are undoubtedly dreaming about when the summer comes.

Both sides were marooned in mid-table – a desert island would be a more preferable castaway spot – and every fan needed their reserves to lift the excitement levels.

Ahead of the game they were treated to a quick operatic performance by two enthusiastic County fans, trying to raise money for the struggling Hatters.

Crisis-club Stockport named just three players on the bench as a mark of how critical their financial situation was.

Having just paid the taxman £125,000, the Hatters still owe at chunk of cash standing near £500,000.

Walsall fans can complain at any perceived lack of ambition at the Banks's Stadium, but at least the finances are stable.

Troy Deeney was handed an immediate recall after being relegated to the bench for the 1-0 defeat by Tranmere at the weekend, while Alex Nicholls was given a chance to rest his weary legs.

Dwayne Mattis was returned after illness for the luckless Bradley.

With Deeney lining up alongside Ibehre up front it allowed Michael Ricketts to roam free in the hole behind the duo.

It was refreshing to see a break from the norm. With three games remaining and the season drifting away, the need to tinker and test keeps things interesting.

The flexibility of the thin Walsall squad has always been lauded and they adapted well to the change.

But they counted themselves lucky after County squandered three top-drawer chances in the first 10 minutes.

Chris O'Grady won a flick to Oli Johnson who rattled the post with a classy volley from 20 yards before O'Grady fired at Rene Gilmartin, who had suddenly become overworked.

Soon after the stopper was rounded by Peter Thompson, who crossed for James Vincent free in space, but the midfielder dallied and Chris Palmer hacked clear.

The Saddlers were rocking but, having already forced two corners, won a third after 12 minutes.

Zaaboub swung the ball in from the left, Logan flapped and Gerrard fired home.

Five minutes later, Deeney glanced over from Zaaboub's sweet cross as the Saddlers begun to take control.

Ibehre dragged an effort across goal after 23 minutes before Deeney was denied by Josh Thompson after Gerrard's raking cross fieldball had found Rhys Weston.

But it wasn't all one-way traffic and the Saddlers were guilty of switching off as the first half closed when Johnson picked out Matty Mainwaring, who skimmed the side netting from seven yards.

The midfielder was left appallingly unmarked and should have scored, but his miss only highlighted County's lack of confidence in front of goal.

They could have drawn level four minutes after the break when Thompson supplied O'Grady, who was denied by a smart stop by Gilmartin, while Zaaboub skipped up the other end only to see his shot palmed away by Logan.

It was a welcome start to the second period after a dull end to the first but it quickly went downhill as the teams scrapped away but did little to enhance the quality of the game.

But, with 62 minutes gone, Stockport's goal drought looked set to end after an unbelievable error from Ibehre. Palmer conceded a free-kick on the left and when Tansey tossed the ball in, the Saddlers' striker stuck out an arm to leave the underworked officials with little choice.

Rowe lined up the spot-kick but blasted over. It was a kick worthy of a three-point conversion, but someone forgot to tell Rowe he wasn't playing for Sale.

Ibehre, relieved, went on the offensive and was foiled by Logan and then Ricketts headed over Zaaboub's corner, before County levelled with 15 minutes remaining.

Tansey was fouled by Mattis 25 yards out and the midfielder picked himself up to curl around the wall into the bottom corner.

It was County's first goal since March 10 and owed much to the suspect positioning of the defensive wall, with the goalscorer having to do little to find the gap.

The hosts had their tails up and Vincent, scorer of their previous goal, flashed a cross just over. Then there was the late drama.

Ibehre crossed and as Rowe, Logan and Bradley converged, the ball bounced in, leaving Logan with the dubious honour of the own goal.

By Nick Mashiter