Swindon lined up in front of a boistrous sellout crowd at the sunny County Ground with Jack Smith recalled in place of Ashley Westwood and Barry Corr replaced Everton-bound Lucas Jutkiewicz. Walsall arrived already assured of promotion but Town knew their task was to secure at least a point to join them in League One next season.

Walsall kicked off towards the Town End with around 3500 of their supporters having made the relatively short trip and after a lively start, Town had their first corner in the 5^th minute but Christian Roberts's cross was easily caught by Walsall keeper Ince.

Jack Smith went close with a deflected shot which narrowly evaded Barry Corr but the ball went out for a corner and when Roberts sent the ball over, Jerel Ifil sent a powerful header goalwards which was caught under the crossbar by Ince.

Walsall had their first corner in the 12^th minute when Zaaboub conceded a free-kick on the right and when that was taken by Keates, Phil Smith did well to push the ball out under pressure from Trevor Benjamin. The ball was cleared from the cross to Harper but his shot was deflected for another corner which was cleared.

At the other end Ifil and Blair Sturrock went close to prodding the ball home from close range but Ince dived bravely between the two Town players to snatch possession of the ball.

News of Accrington Stanley taking the lead at MK Dons echoed from the stands and lifted the noise volumes all around the County Ground because Swindon's goal difference was already better by 4 than their Buckinghamshire based rivals who started the day three points behind Town.

Town fans crank up the noise

Jack Smith had to leave the field after taking a knock and was replaced by Ashley Westwood in the 19^th minute and the Town right back looked dejected at having to leave the field with so much at stake.

Town had a free-kick from the left wing taken by Zaaboub and his cross struck a defender and rebounded out for Town's second corner of the afternoon and although the Walsall defence cleared the ball, it ran to Roberts ten yards outside the area and his powerful shot forced Ince to make a low save.

Walsall had two corners in the space of a minute as the match entered the 30^th minute after a good spell of possession but the danger passed when Antony Gerrard was penalised for pushing.

One minute later Jerel Ifil and Phil Smith almost gifted a goal to Benjamin when they got into a tangle with the ball running towards goal and neither took responsibility for the ball which ran free to Benjamin but thankfully Ifil trapped the ball between his shins allowing Smith to take possession.

Kevin Harper tried his luck with a low shot from 25 yards but it was always going wide of the far post although it served to remind Town that the visitors also had plenty to play for.

Christian Roberts needlessly fouled Butler on Town's right wing some 30 yards from goal and was cautioned in the 37^th minute but even worse had gifted a free-kick to Walsall in a dangerous position but Jamie Vincent was able to cut out the resulting cross.

The visitors were doing the majority of the attacking but Town had a corner when Zaaboub's cross was deflected and there was pandemonium in the Walsall goal from Roberts's cross when Ince dropped the ball and although Corr prodded the ball goalwards, it was deflected for a corner. Andy Nicholas did well to ghost in behind the defence to get on the end of Roberts's corner but his header lacked direction and that proved the last action of the half.

The Town players left the pitch to a rapturous round of applause with the job half done but the visitors were also looking determined to consolidate their place at the top of League Two.

Half Time:

Swindon Town 0 Walsall 0

Town started the second half on fire with Barry Corr pressuring Pead into conceding a corner and Lee Peacock went agonisingly close from Zaaboub's corner with a fine header but the ball struck a defender and was cleared. Town had another corner shortly afterwards as they chased the opening goal but the visiting defence eventually cleared long downfield.

Blair Sturrock was having a good game upfront and gained Town another corner with some tricky footwork in the Walsall penalty box which was to lead to Town taking a 54^th minute lead when Jerel Ifil sent a fantastic bullet header into the net from Zaaboub's corner which was his first League goal in almost 150 appearances for the Robins.

Ifil heads Town in front

Ifil's goal proved the cue for wild celebrations from the Town fans in the season's best crowd of 14731 at the County Ground and even a yellow card for Pook for a foul did nothing to quell the noise.

There was even more drama in the 58^th minute when the referee appeared to be going to caution Pook for another foul but his nearby assistant had already flagged for a throw-in and after some confusion, the referee consulted his assistant and did the right thing in awarding a throw-in. However the Walsall manager Richard Money carried on protesting and shortly afterwards was sent to the stands by the referee after some delay.

Barry Corr and Dean Keates were cautioned after tangling near the halfway line in the 59^th minute as the match threatened to boil over temporarily but the yellow cards seemed to restore order.

Lee Peacock also fizzed a powerful header narrowly over the bar from 10 yards as Town tried to double their lead from another Zaaboub cross.

Antony Gerrard became the latest player to see the yellow card for a cynical challenge which halted a run by Christian Roberts on the right wing with the crowd calling for a red card midway through the half. Unfortunately Town were unable to threaten from the resulting free-kick and the chance was gone but they continued to look dangerous in attack and Sturrock did well to gain some space on the edge of the box before firing in a low shot at the near post which nearly caught Ince out but managed to scramble down to smother the ball.

Roberts and Zaaboub combined to mount another good attack down the right wing but unfortunately Zaaboub wasted the chance when he chose to sidefoot the ball across the area instead of passing to the unmarked Corr at the backpost.

The massed ranks of Walsall fans on the Stratton Bank started celebrating wildly when news of Bristol Rovers equalising at Hartlepool filtered through because it improved their chances of holding onto first place in League Two.

The best move of the afternoon so far saw Roberts sprint 50 yards down the wing before sending a superb cross to Zaaboub on the other side of the pitch and his cross towards Lee Peacock was only just caught by Ince with eight minutes remaining.

Two minutes later Walsall again threatened through Michael Dobson who unleashed a venomous shot from the left side of the pitch which was always rising and the ball went over the bar.

Superlatives are often overused in football but a save by Phil Smith from a close range Martin Butler shot really was absolutely fantastic as the Town keeper somehow dived low to his right to push the ball away when a goal seemed to be the definite outcome considering the power of Butler's shot.

Lucas Jutkiewicz made an emotional entrance for Town in place of Barry Corr with two minutes remaining on this his last appearance as a Swindon player at the County Ground before he leaves for Everton next season. The young striker received a tremendous ovation in recognition of his efforts this season including one in the reverse fixture at Walsall last December which was just one of the five he had scored for Town before this match.

Thanks Lucas!

On an afternoon of high emotion there was even more drama when Dean Keates scored a scorching goal from 20 yards but there was little time for any other scares at either end of the pitch before the final whistle was blown on another mementous season to trigger fantastic celebrations around the whole ground with both sides having something  to celebrate!

The result means that Swindon Town finish with superior goal difference and one more point than MK Dons who miss out on automatic promotion and Hartlepool's defeat by Bristol Rovers ensured that Walsall are League Two champions for 2006/7 so the County Ground was positively rocking with celebrations all round!

Both sets off players including those who did not play in this game but contributed throughout the season returned to the pitch to take the congratulations of their supporters on a truly memorable afternoon in Wiltshire and all those present will have left the County Ground absolutely jubilant after an entertaining match played on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

Town are going up !

Paul Sturrock will reflect with satisfaction on achieving another promotion after steadying the Town ship and no doubt there will be time for a good rest before starting planning for Town's campaign in League One for season 2007/8.

Full Time:

Swindon Town 1 Walsall 1