Flynn hits out over ‘criminal’ equaliser

MICHAEL Flynn described Walsall’s game management as “criminal” as they conceded a last-gasp equaliser at Harrogate.

The hosts had gone behind to Conor Wilkinson’s fifth goal in six games, converted from the penalty spot, on the hour.

But on-loan Middlesbrough teenager Calum Kavanagh,

18, headed in his first senior goal in the fourth minute of added-on time to secure a 1-1 draw for the Sulphurites.

“We gave the points away,” Flynn fumed. “It boiled down to game management and not seeing the game out was criminal.

“It’s not rocket science. We had a free-kick on the halfway line and I was shouting to put it in the corner, but we didn’t.

“It was a poor free-kick and, then, two of our players ran into each other because there was no communication, which led to an easy cross into our box that we didn’t stop and the smallest striker on the pitch headed in an equaliser because he was hungry to score.

“That’s not good enough.”

Earlier, Ryan Fallowfield flashed a shot across the face of goal after Manny Monthe had given away possession.

Saddlers keeper Carl Rushworth spilled an Alex Pattison drive, but recovered to save Jack Muldoon’s follow-up.

At the other end, Wilkinson fired past Mark Oxley’s near post from 25 yards late in the first half.

But the former Dagenham and Leyton Orient forward was in no mood to pass up a second opportunity to score his tenth goal of the season when Oxley grabbed Walsall sub Devante Rodney following Donervon Daniels’ long throw from the right.

Wilkinson directed the spot-kick down the middle as Oxley dived to his right.

In the 90th minute, Kavanagh laid on a chance for fellow sub Simon Power that he hit weakly at Rushworth.

Kavanagh made no mistake when his looping header from Diamond’s left-wing cross sailed over Rushworth from eight yards out.

Town boss Simon Weaver said: “I am so pleased for young Calum. It was a real breakthrough moment for him and stopped the rot for us. It was a valuable point.

“I was really pleased that the players heads didn’t drop and that they kept going.”