Walsall Web Fans looks back on a memorable game v. Plymouth Argyle at  the Bescot Stadium in the first round of the Coca Cola Cup on Tuesday 16th August, 1994 which had four goals,plenty of good football and two players sent off.

Its a pity that only 2,810 were present as Walsall served up some sparkling football and this display was generally regarded as one of Walsall’s best displays under manager Kenny Hibbitt in his four year reign which came to an end just a couple of weeks after this game.

 

The star performer was midfielder Martin O’Connor who had been signed on a permanent deal from Crystal Palace for £40,000. Another player to shine was Kevin Wilson signed on a free transfer from Notts County. The teams went in all square at half time but Wilson stamped his goal poaching ability on the game with goals in the 53rd and 74th minutes to get Walsall moving on to a win their football deserved. Kyle Lightbourne made it 3-0 two minutes later leaving O’ Connor to put the icing on the cake five minutes before the end when he dummied goal keeper Martin Hodge and slotted home.

 

The Argyle shot stopper certainly played his part in reducing the Saddlers to just the four goals making two excellent saves from Lightbourne to deny him a hat-trick, two fine saves from Wilson and from a fierce drive from David Mehew in such a one-sided game. The visitors had two men sent off. Former Aston Villa centre back Andy Comyn for a crude tackle on Lightbourne and Martin Barlow for petulance after being booked earlier in the game. There had been a directive that summer for referees to clamp down but Plymouth manager Peter Shilton described this purge as “A joke.”

 

The starting line ups for this game were….

 

WALSALL……Wood, Evans, Rogers, Watkiss, Marsh, Palmer, O’Connor, Ntamark, Lightbourne, Wilson, Methew.

 

PLYMOUTH….Hodge, Payne, Edworthy, Comyn, Swann, Hill, Barlow, Burnett, Nugent, Evans, Skinner.