Accrington Stanley 1 Walsall 3: Saddlers surge to the top of League Two with latest win

All four goals arrived in the second half as Mat Sadler's men delivered a professional performance in Lancashire in only Walsall's second victory at Stanley in six attempts.

Aden Flint, Walsall's ball-magnet in defence, opened the scoring with a first goal for the club and Aaron Pressley looked to have made things safe with 15 minutes left.

Charlie Caton briefly halved the deficit into stoppage time but substitute Albert Adomah lobbed in the 102nd goal of his career with a memorable late third to send the away end into raptures.

Defeats for Gillingham and Salford elsewhere were enough to send Sadler's troops top of the pile as a sparkling run of form continued. Improving Stanley headed into the Wham Stadium clash off back-to-back wins but Walsall were too clinical and were deserved winners.

It was Walsall's first win at Accrington since Richard Money's men en route to the fourth tier title in 2006/07.

The visitors made some decent early running as Daniel Kanu shot first-time at goalkeeper Ollie Wright with his left foot from Evan Weir's pass from deep.

Walsall stepped up the intensity as right wing-back Connor Barrett mishit after cutting inside, the ball dropped to Charlie Lakin on the edge of the box and he curled a first-time strike over the top and into the away end.

Stanley had muted calls for a penalty after Flint and Ryan Finnigan made blocks from a set-piece but the latter was judged not guilty.

Barrett, a threat from his flank, then lashed wide of the near post from 20 yards.

But the final 15 or 20 minutes of the opening belonged to the home side and in particular dangerous left-sided Everton loanee Isaac Heath, who proved a lively and tricky customer for Barrett and Harrison Burke.

Saddlers shot-stopper Myles Roberts was drawn into a low near post save after Heath evaded the offside flag before a wonderful double save before the interval kept Walsall level.

Roberts first made a parried save to deny captain Seamus Conneely from range before the keeper got up to turn Heath's rebound around the post.

Both sides went close in the early stages of the second period. In-form Saddlers frontman Kanu found himself through on goal after hesitant Stanley defending with only Wright to beat.

A retreating defence tries to recover but the onrushing Wright made himself big and denied Kanu with a low save.

Moments later Accy midfielder Joe Bauress had a low free-kick zip wide at the near post via a deflection on its way through the Walsall wall.

Sadler opted to change things before the hour and refresh his midfield as Brandom Comley and Courtney Clarke were introduced for Finnigan and Lewis Warrington.

By the 62nd minute, the deadlock had been broken.

Clarke had an instant impact. His corner from the left was met by Flint at the back post. His head had been a magnet defensively and this time he soared to head over Wright and into the left corner.

Stanley went close to an equaliser with 18 minutes left as forward Charlie Caton sent a low snapshot from the edge of the box just wide of the bottom left corner.

But three minutes later Walsall and Pressley ensured the points were safe. A free-kick went uncleared and was helped back in by Comley and towards goal by Kanu. His effort looped over defenders and keeper Wright and Pressley was on hand to turn in from barely a couple of yards out.

There was still time for more late drama as Caton nodded home to ruin a clean sheet on 90 minutes and make things tense for a minute or two.

But the Saddlers and wily old fox Adomah responded moments later as the 37-year-old sub raced through on goal and lobbed Wright with a glorious finish to take the acclaim from the away end and confirm top spot.

Walsall (3-5-2): Roberts; Burke, Flint (c), Weir; Barrett, Lakin (Richards, 88), Finnigan (Clarke, 59), Warrington (Comley, 59), Harper; Kanu (Matt, 88), Pressley (Adomah, 80).

Subs not used: Hornby, Farquharson. 

Stanley (3-4-1-2): Wright; Smith, Ward, Matthews; Brown, Conneely (c) (Coyle, 76), Bauress (Popoola, 76), Heath; Sinclair; Caton, Woods (Henderson, 76).

Subs not used: Kelly, Love, Grant, Martin.

Attendance: 2,448 (696 Walsall fans)

Referee: Ross Joyce