MINUTE-by-minute match action from the game against Walsall.

22:44: Richards steps up to put Rovers through, he scores and it's 4-5

22:43: Zdrilic for Walsall, 4-4

22:43: mahon for Rovers, 3-4

22:42: Bazeley for Walsall, 3-3

22:42: Dunn for Rovers, 2-3

22:41: Barras for Walsall he misses 2-2

22:40: Grabbi for Rovers 2-2

22:40: Barras for Walsall 2-1

22:39: Curtis for Rovers 1-1

22:39: Walsall to take first at the Blackburn end away from the Walsall fans.

No. 16, Sonner, 1-0

22:33: Times nearly up with only one minute of injury time to be played, Grabbi trys a last gasp shot, but the final whistle goes.

Rovers 2 Walsall 2

Penalties will decide it!

22:30: Gillespie delivers another good cross but it's cut out - Rovers have it again with Dunn who trys to chip the keeper from 25 yards, it just doesn't have enough behind it.

22:28: Gillespie's cross is blocked he appeals for hand ball but gets a corner, which is wasted.

Cramp is starting to kick in as the play slows down.

Just three minutes for either side to claim the winner.

22:26: 5 mins to go and Mahon is called offside in my opinion the linesman was wrong again.

Walsall have it but soon give it away, Rovers continue to push looking for the winner.

22:22: Rovers come again but bad control by Curtis gives possesion back to Walsall.

Rovers 2 Walsall 2

22:21: The Walsall fans try to spur their team on with 10 mins left to play but Rovers get it again and continue to attack.

It's not really Grabbi's night, despite the penalty, he gets the ball again on the edge of the box and again spoons it wide.

22:18: 15 mins to go, Rovers surge forward Mahon passes to Grabbi he runs into the box but he's put off and Walsall come away with it.

Rovers continue to control the play, Grabbi crosses but it's too long for Gillespie, it's kept in and Rovers start again.

22:16: In stopage time of the first period of extra time Rovers equalise.

Mahon's hot is deflected in to silence the Walsall crowd.

Rovers 2 Walsall 2

22:13: Half time of extra time and not only do Walsall deserve to win but I wish the final whistle would go so I can go home to a nice warm bed!

Tonight's attendance is 9, 486.

22:10: Rovers look tired as Walsall run rings around them and it's nearly 3 as Herivelto fires in a screaming shot - Kelly just manages to tip onto the cross bar.

Rovers 1 Walsall 2

22:08: It's a brilliant shot by Zdrilic on the turn - Walsall deserve to win from it.

22:07: Walsall keep up the pressure and Rovers just let them have all the room - as a result Walsall score to make Rovers 1 Walsall 2.

22:04: Gillespie makes a good run down the wing, he gets a corner takes it and gets another go straight away - but the cross is blocked again and Walsall come away with the ball.

22:02: Dunn has an early shot but it's straight into the crowd.

Walsall respond and get a corner - it beats all the defenders and is somehow not knocked in.

Dunn gives the ball away in midfield but does well to make a clean tackle to stop a certain goal scoring opportunity.

22:02: Dunn has an early shot but it's straight into the crowd.

Walsall respond and get a corner - it beats all the defenders and is somehow not knocked in.

Dunn gives the ball away in midfield but does well to make a clean tackle stop a certain goal scoring opportunity.

21:59: Rovers get the 30 mins of extra time underway.

With Burnley having beaten last year's finalists, Spurs, Rovers need to win to not be out done by their East Lancashire rivals.

21:55: Richards returns for Rovers Walsall chance of the extra man is wasted.

Walsall last gasp effort is a spectacular overhead kick but the offside flag is raised.

Full Time Rovers 1 Walsall 1

Extra time will have to be played.

21:51: Only stopage time left and Walsall crowd the Rovers box - Richards is down injured.

Rovers 1 Walsall 1 - three minutes of time to be added.

21:48: Walsall's goal scorer is booked for a challenge on Curtis.

Grabbi is again called offside - unfairly in my view - he protests to the linesman and gets booked for whatever he said.

21:46: Rovers are showing off their recent possesion and control but fail to make the final ball pay.

Walsall push for the winner.

21:45: Rovers attack down the left the ball is played forward for Grabbi to run onto - but the Keeper beats him to it.

7 mins plus stopage to go - Rovers 1 Walsall 1

Walsall are becoming untidy as the second yellow is shown to Leitao for a challenge on Johansson.

Rovers drive forward and Mahon sees yet another chance go wide - it's just his night.

21:41: The first booking of the game goes to Walsall number 13, Herivelto, for diving the ref had a good view.

Rovers make their third change bringing Marc Richards on for Matt Jansen.

21:38: Herivelto once again makes his pressence known, making Kelly pull off a good save from his header.

Rovers 1 Walsall 1 - with 12 mins left it's anyones game.

21:36: Rovers quickly attack after the penatly and had a string of changes either saved or toe-poked wide.

What was turning into a messy affair has suddenly kicked into life.

21:34: Before the penalty Rovers brought on Douglas for Danns and Walsall swaped Junior for Zdrilic and Corica for Herivelto - who had an immediate affect.

21:33: Rovers 1 Walsall 1

Walsall equalise from the second penatly of the game - in almost an identical challenge to that on Gillespie and in virtually the same place number 13 is brought down.

Number 3, Arandale, sets up and slots the ball home.

21:22: 30 mins to go and Walsall have a corner it's taken low and blocked the cross comes in again but the Rovers defence manage to clear the lines.

Walsall look the more likely to score next.

21:20: Walsall attac,k the initial offside appeal is turned down but the cross was - the ball does find it's way into the Rovers goal but it doesn't count.

21:18: Curtis is upended and takes a quick free kick he passes to Dunn, he weaves in and out of the defence and sets up Gillespie - the offside flags stays down, the cross is blocked and Rovers get a corner.

It comes to nothing and it remains 1-0 to Rovers.

21:15: Dunn strings some passes together in the midfield and allow Rovers to keep possesion.

Free-kick to Rovers 25 yards out, Dunn curls it over the ball but the keeper had it covered.

21:13: Rovers 1 Walsall 0

Walsall continue to push are are allowed space down the left to cross but Kelly meets it well.

21:11: Rovers soon look more eager and win a corner - if Gillespie had crossed early he would have found Grabbi unmarked.

21:09: Rovers get the second half underway - no substitution by either team.

Rovers push forward but a bad pass from Dunn is collected by number 7, Wrack, he is allowed to run at the defence and get a good shot in from 20 yards - it flys narrowly wide of a beaten Kelly.

20:50: Half-time - Rovers 1 Walsall 0

Grabbi had luck on his side has he ended up on the deck as the ball hit the back of the net.

In fairness Walsall should be in front as Rovers look dis-jointed.

20:49: Penatly to Rovers

The ball is crossed into Gillespie he collects but makes contact with a high foot.

Grabbi sets up - and scores

Rovers 1 Walsall 0

20:45: Mahon has an another attempt on goall after another Rovers push - but it's poor and swings well wide for a goal kick.

20:44: Walsall continue to push on the brink of half time, Junior is again given too much room and his shoot like Mahon's is only inches wide of a beaten Kelly.

20:42: Curtis and Gillespie have words after Gillespie passes to slowly for Curtis who gets wrong footed.

Rovers regain possession and push forward, but Grabbi is offside again.

20:39: Corica is nearly in on goal for Walsall if not for a demon deflection of a defenders boot.

Danns excitement gets the better of him and clears the ball for a Walsall throw-in.

Rovers 0 Walsall 0

20:36: Leitao and Junior team up again but the Rovers defence holds and Rovers come away the ball.

Gillespie crosses, its headed on by Jansen and falls to Grabbi - he thinks quickly and back heels it to Mahon, who shoots low and misses by inches.

20:33: Rovers make a substitution McEveley comes on for Pelzer, Pelzer's hamstring is clearly still causes hime problems.

Rovers 0 Walsall 0

20:30: Danns gets the ball and darts at the Walsall defence - but he's brought down by number 2 (Bazeley).

Walsall are soon on the attack again and nearly get in on goal but Croica is offside.

20:28: Half an hour gone and it's still Rovers 0 Walsall 0. On paper Rovers should have been dominating the game, but they're not.

20:24: Rovers get a free kick 25 yards out, it's taken by Mahon - but his curling shot over the wall forces a good save out the Walsall keeper (Walker).

20:22: Rovers break with Gillespie down the right wing, he is forced all the way but gets a corner for his efforts.

It's taken by Mahon, but easily cleared.

Walsall counter with Junior breaking free into the box - he shoots low but Kelly manages to get a hand to it.

20:20: Nearly 20 minutes in and Walsall are pushing forward more than Rovers, however they don't look like they're going to score - Rovers do and are most likely to.

20:17: Walsall push deep into the Blackburn with Junior causes most of the problems.

Rovers soon regain possesion and Danns comes away with the ball, showing lots of skill and flair it won't be long before he breaks into the full first team.

Walsall have their first shot on goal but its wide.

20:13: Walsall number 10 (Junior) cuts out a Rovers pass in midfield but Rovers recover and continue to press.

Gillespie plays a cross field ball to Pelzer who makes a darting run up the left but the charge is soon stopped.

20:10: Walsall get a free kick 35 yards out Corica takes it short - the long ball is played in Walsall get a corner - its taken low and easily cleared.

Rovers attack and Mahon is clean in on goal but his shoot is again into row Z.

20:08: Walsall attack and get a good cross but Pelzer clears.

Rovers counter and Grabbi comes close only to be denied by the keepers feet - but the ball remains Rovers and Gillespie crosses again, this time Mahon shhots but it goes over.

20:06: Grabbi is free but the Walsall line holds and the offside flag is waved.

20:04: Ref, N Barry, gets the match under with Walsall kicking off.

Both teams start bright with the Rovers young guns looking to impress.

20:03: Worthington Cup 3rd Round - Rovers V Walsall

Wednesday 6th November 2002

Teams

Rovers - Kelly, Todd, Dunn, Jansen, Grabbi, Johansson, Mahon, Curtis, Gillespie (c), Pelzer, Danns. Subs: Ostenstad, Douglas, McEveley, Richards, Robinson (gk).

Walsall - Walker, Bazeley, Arandale, Hay, Roper, Wrack, Leitao, Corica, Sonner, Junior, Simpson. Subs: Herivelto, Zdrilic, Barras, Wright, Ward (gk)

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