VERDICT: Walsall took a massive step towards securing promotion at Bescot this afternoon courtesy of the 2-0 success over relegation-threatened Macclesfield. With promotion rivals Preston slipping to a lunchtime defeat at home to Blackpool, Saddlers took full advantage thanks to second half goals from strike duo Rob Steiner and Andy Rammell . The home side had looked edgy before the interval but those nerves were eased within 10 minutes of the restart when on-loan Steiner fired home his second goal since joining the club on transfer deadline day. Steiner then turned provider 5 minutes later when he created the opportunity for Rammell to fire home his 20th goal of the season. From that moment on Walsall were in complete control and only the linesman’s flag denied Darren Wrack a third goal.

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Saddlers started the game with news of promotion rivals Preston’s shock 2-1 home defeat against Blackpool filtering through but it was the visitors who posed an early threat inside 2 minutes.

A long ball from Hitchen drifted into the Walsall area and Askey was given half a yard to turn and play towards his goal but his intended lob lacked height was easily held by Walker.

The home side’s first venture forward ended when Rammell was bundled over by Ingram wide on the right. Keates took the resulting free kick but his left footed cross was well claimed by Price.

Henry then started Walsall moving forward again with a sweeping pass out wide to Brissett, he controlled before delivering a cross towards Rammell but Ingram came to his sides rescue with a timely headed clearance.

Macclesfield had started the game the more lively and put the Walsall goal under sustained threat courtesy of three corners in quick succession with Walker doing well to fist the last of those away under pressure from Matias.

The relegation threatened visitors were enjoying the majority of possession and had Walsall back-pedalling again with Viveash and then Keates clearing in quick succession following some neat build up play between Wood and Matias.

Walsall came close to falling behind on 18 minutes when Walker was forced into a full length save to push aside a curling free kick from Durkan.

There was a further alarm 2 minutes later when a deep cross from Ingram found Askey unmarked in the area but his header flew straight at Walker.

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Walsall appeared to be taken by surprise by the urgency with which Macclesfield had started but managed to break forward to good effect when Brissett released Wrack down the inside right channel with the winger’s cross forcing Price into his first serious save of the afternoon, diving low to palm the ball clear.

The Silkmen continued to dominate proceedings, and a surging run from Matias that saw round Marsh easily caused more alarm with his deep cross being headed clear by Pointon.

Walsall won their first corner of the game on 26 minutes after Brissett’s cross had been blocked by Hitchen, but Wrack’s flag kick was easily claimed by the unchallenged Price.

Rammell registered Saddler’s first noteworthy effort of the game after 29 minutes when he neatly controlled Henry’s headed pass into the area before unleashing a right foot volley that flew inches wide of Price’s right hand post.

Saddlers at last appeared to be settling with Steiner the next to threaten hooking wide from just inside the area after Macclesfield had failed to clear Pointon’s long throw.

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The pressure on the visiting goal continued and Walsall were desperately unlucky not to have taken the lead on 33 minutes. Brissett created the opening showing good pace and control to get the better of Hitchen down the left before delivering a teasing cross that was met powerfully by Rammell only for his header to smack against the inside of the post and rebound to safety.

After surviving that near miss Macclesfield responded immediately and should have taken the lead when Askey took advantage of some slack marking to meet Durkan’s cross only to send a free header just wide of the far post.

The open nature of the game continued when some tenacious play from Henry finally earned him the opportunity to cross from out wide on the right with Rammell sending a first time right foot volley over the bar.

Brissett’s pace was causing the visitors plenty of problems down the left and Hitchen became the first player to be cautioned when he pulled the winger back as he threatened to break clear.

There was another nervous moment for the home side five minutes before the interval when Durkan’s corner was allowed to bounce across the 6 yard area towards Ingram who hooked a left foot shot just passed the far post.

Brown then joined team-mate Hitchen in the referee’s book following a crude late challenge on Wrack.

Brissett was looking the man most likely to unlock the visitors’ defence and another mazy run from the winger ended with Ingram heading clear from close to his own goal line.

Half time: Walsall 0 Macclesfield 0

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Walsall started the second half with more urgency which Steiner threatening to break clear after exchanging passes with Rammell, but Hitchen was on hand to race across from the right back position and produce a superb last ditch challenge to clear the danger.

But STEINER was not going to be denied on 54 minutes when he eased the tension by blasting Walsall in front.

The move started with Henry knocking a high ball to Rammell and Steiner muscled in onto his strike partners flick on to hold off a tame challenge and blast home from close range passed Price.

Within 2 minutes Saddlers almost doubled their advantage when a neat build up ended with Marsh racing onto a Wrack pass but Price was alert to the danger and raced quickly from his line to block the full-back’s shot.

The goal had clearly lifted Walsall and Steiner in particular and the on-loan Bradford striker played the lead role in Walsall adding a second on 69 minutes.

Steiner collected the ball midway inside the Macclesfield half before setting off on a powerful run that took him passed two visiting defenders before showing great awareness to pull the ball back to RAMMELL who fired home with the aid of a slight deflection.

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Walsall’s front two of Rammell and Steiner were now causing plenty of problems for the visiting defence and only a smart covering header from Tinson back to his keeper Price defied Steiner as another run on goal followed a flick on from Rammell.

Saddlers were given a warning that the victory was far from secure when Brown brought a diving save from Walker with a long range effort.

Play was held up for a couple of minutes for Viveash to receive treatment but thankfully the Saddlers defender was able to continue.

Walker was forced to race from his line to hack the ball to safety on 71 minutes as Landon threatened to reach Viveash’s under strength back-header.

There was another alarm for the home side when an unfortunate slip from Roper gave Sorvel a brief sight of goal but the midfielder was adjudged to have handled as he attempted to control with Walsall being awarded a free kick on the edge of their own area.

The home side were soon back on the attack when a flighted pass from Viveash set Keates away down the left. He then attempted to find Steiner inside the area, but the striker was unable to control with twice grabbing the loose ball.

Walsall had the ball in the net again 5 minutes from time when Wrack raced in behind a square defence to plant a right foot shot passed Price only to see the effort ruled out for off-side.

Walker then preserved his side’s 2 goal advantage with a superb one-handed save to keep out Brown’s powerful header.