Walsall 3-1 Bromley - report: Saddlers storm to thrilling comeback win

Ben Krauhaus fired Bromley into the lead in the 18th-minute, before Michael Cheek had another disallowed for offside just past the hour. 

Daniel Kanu equalised with his eighth goal of the season in the 65th-minute and Ryan Finnigan completed the turnaround with a towering header nine minutes from time. 

Substitute Courtney Clarke put the seal on the win when Albert Adomah squared for him to tap home at the back post.

After back-to-back wins, Walsall returned to the League Two summit, moving five points clear of Bromley.

Walsall named the same team that beat Harrogate Town 2-0 at Wetherby Road last weekend and Bromley were also unchanged.

Bromley boss Andy Woodman claimed pre-match that the pressure would all be on Walsall and they clearly felt it when they fell behind after 18 minutes. 

Admittedly, there had not really been anything to split the two teams during the opening exchanges, and Walsall even had an early chance to score themselves. 

Jamille Matt held the ball up really well and found the overlapping run of Charlie Lakin on the left. His low cross was parried into the danger area, but Finnigan was off balance when he stabbed straight into the midriff of Grant Smith. 

Walsall were the inflictors of their own downfall when a comedy of errors led to them conceding first for the third home game in a row in League Two. 

Finnigan sold Priestley Farquharson short with a poor back pass and the Walsall defender failed to deal with it convincingly. Bromley pounced through Mitch Pinnock on the left and he picked up his head to square for Krauhaus, who drilled an unerring shot into the far bottom corner. 

The visitors almost had a second when Michael Cheek latched on to a neat flick-on, but Myles Roberts produced a smart near post save to deny him. 

It took Walsall time to recover but they came agonisingly close to getting back on level terms when Ashley Charles rescued Bromley with a goal-line clearance just past the half-hour mark. 

Vincent Harper raced down the left and hung a cross into the box which eventually ran through to Okeke at the back post. Matt attempted to help his deflected half-volley over the line but Charles miraculously managed to hook it to safety. 

Sadler made a triple change at the break, introducing Connor Barrett, Brandon Comley and Clarke at the expense of Harper, Warrington and Lakin.

Michael Cheek had a goal ruled out just past the hour-mark for offside when he converted on the rebound, after Idris Odutayo's initial low drive from 30 yards was saved by Roberts. 

Kanu got Walsall back on level terms midway into the second half with his fifth goal in seven games across all competitions. 

Flint rose highest to cushion down Weir's floated free-kick and Kanu brought it down at the back post before squeezing his finish past Smith.

Suddenly, it was very much one-way traffic in favour of the Saddlers, as Okeke forced a near post save from Smith following a driving run into the box. 

Barrett made a difference down the right and Walsall had much more of an attacking threat in the wide areas with Okeke on the left. 

The winner arrived nine minutes from time when Finnigan climbed above his marker to loop his header into the far corner. 

Farquharson made amends for his early mix-up with an excellent header across goal after Weir hung his delivery to the back post. 

A late time stoppage meant additional time ticked into the 11th minute, but Walsall sealed it at the death when Adomah broke and squared for Clarke to score his first goal for the club.

Next, Walsall travel to League One side Stevenage in the EFL Trophy round of 32, before a trip to non-league Gateshead in the FA Cup next Sunday.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Farquharson, Flint, Weir; Warrington (Comley 46); Okeke, Finnigan, Lakin (Clarke 46), Harper (Barrett 46); Kanu (Browne 90 +5), Matt (Adomah 83). 

Not used: Hornby, Roofe.

Bromley (4-1-4-1): Smith; Ifill, Sowumni, Elerewe, Odutayo; Charles; Whitely (Kabamba 83), Krauhaus (Thompson 79), Hondermarck (Arthurs 83), Pinnock; Cheek. 

Not used: Long, Webster, Ilunga, Stephen-Iwumene.  

Other details

Referee: Michael Barlow 

Attendance: 7,228