Late goals from Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw have given Walsall a 2-0 victory over Preston North End in the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final at Deepdale.
Preston looked set to break the deadlock in just the ninth minute when Jermaine Beckford met a cross with a powerful header from six yards out, but Richard O'Donnell produced an impressive save to deny the striker.
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O'Donnell would be forced into action again later in the first half when the lively Beckford tested the Walsall goalkeeper with another header.
Walsall improved as the game progressed, and they were unlucky not to take the lead when Andy Taylor's free kick struck the post before bouncing to safety.
Michael Cain was inches away from putting Walsall in front after the break with a powerful strike which drifted inches over the crossbar.
Both sides continued their attempts to get onto the front foot, with the influential Paul Gallagher sending a free kick just past the top corner midway through the second half.
However, it was Walsall who claimed the advantage when Forde stepped up to curl home a free kick from 25 yards.
There was still time for the visitors to add to their vital opener as Tom Bradshaw capitalised on a poor back-pass from Scott Wiseman to double his side's aggregate lead at the halfway stage of the tie.
Callum Mulvihill
