Walsall reserves reach cup final

Walsall assistant manager Jon Whitney has hailed hat-trick hero George Bowerman after the striker's treble for the reserves downed Scunthorpe.

The 19-year-old has just returned from a loan spell at non-league Redditch but fired the Saddlers into the League Cup final - where they will face Preston or Sunderland - as they routed the Iron 5-1 yesterday.

Bowerman has yet to make his first team debut after signing professional terms last year and Whitney admitted his time in the Blue Square North has worked wonders.

He said: "It's made him realise you don't want to be at that level and he knows what it takes to push on.

"It's not a kick up the backside because that means his attitude wasn't right before, but it's made him realise now what you need to make it.

"The big thing is commitment. Even at that level, with the bigger sides he was getting beaten by, the commitment was a lot different to the lower teams. At any level we know if your commitment isn't right you don't stand a chance.

"George did really well, I went to watch him at Redditch a couple of times where he played a lot deeper but he was another big plus.

"He got his goals because he worked his socks off."

Matt Godden fired Scunthorpe ahead after eight minutes but that was as good as it good for the below par visitors.

Richard Taundry – playing at right-back – levelled with a stunning free kick before Bowerman bagged his first from close range.

The Saddlers took control and Bowerman headed a third three minutes before the break, givingformer Albion and Walsall goalkeeper Joe Murphy no chance.

Paterson put the result beyond doubt with a low drive from 18 yards ten minutes after the restart.

Murphy was beaten again on 80 minutes when Paterson's strike deflected off Bowerman and flew in via the post.

Taundry almost added a sixth but his free-kick rattled the bar late on.