Walsall closed their 2012-3 season with a 0-2 defeat at Crewe in a party atmosphere. With the prospect of not making the play offs known before hand it was an occassion for the 1,903 travelling fans to thank the team and manager Dean Smith for the best season enjoyed in several seasons. The home side fielded a team full of players who had come up through the ranks at Gresty Road. Walsall created several good first half chances including a Jamie Paterson shot that went just over the bar.
Both Crewe's goals had an element of doubt about them. The penalty decision in which keeper Sam Johnstone was judged to have brought down Byron Moore was really harsh which Luke Murphy converted only just - as Johnstone got a hand to it but the pace of the shot beat him. The second goal looked a mile offside as Aneke finished off the move laste on. Walsall had earlier hit the post through Febian Brandy. The result in the end did not really matter. It was all about turning up to applaud the players and manager Dean Smith for one of the best seasons for several years.
