Walsall hold off Notts County after Taylor Allen scores direct from corner

Walsall defender Taylor Allen scored direct from a corner as the Saddlers beat Notts County 3-2 to move within a point of League Two leaders Port Vale.

All five goals came in a frantic second half as Walsall set up a huge clash between the top two at Vale Park this weekend.

A quiet first half yielded few chances but County were bright after the break as Alassana Jatta forced a smart save from Tommy Simkin, who then touched David McGoldrick’s curler wide.

Against the run of play, Walsall went ahead as Allen’s 57th-minute inswinging corner evaded everyone in a packed goalmouth.

They doubled their lead on 64 minutes as Nathan Lowe teed up George Hall to find the bottom corner with a measured low strike from 18 yards.

County pulled one back on 74 minutes as Harry Williams barged Lewis Macari over and McGoldrick tucked home from the spot.

Walsall added a third on 86 minutes as substitute Albert Adomah smartly squared for Lowe to slot into an empty net.

Jack Hinchy’s smart half-volley in stoppage time gave the Magpies hope but it proved too late.