FOR all the world it looked to be a sensational 48 hours for Accrington Stanley.

As Robbie Williams jumped joyously into the away end to celebrate his strike with Stanley's fans, the Reds were sitting on a weekend sent from heaven.

On Friday, they successfully escaped a points deduction for fielding ineligible players, emphatically boosting their hopes of League Two survival.

So when Williams slammed Stanley into a deserved lead with 25 minutes left on the clock, it seemed the final weekend of March was to prove the most significant of all in determining the fate of John Coleman's men.

But when has football ever been that predictable? As Jimmy Greaves once said, it's a funny old game.

And so it transpired, as Walsall, for long periods chasing Stanley shadows, came from behind to win this five-goal thriller.

Their route to victory was aided only by a curiously awarded penalty from referee Mick Russell, for nothing more than a fair-and-square collision between Phil Edwards and striker Martin Butler.

Dean Keates' expertly taken penalty, coming just 10 minutes after Williams planted the Reds ahead, galvanised a previously subdued home crowd, before Butler flicked a late winner.

So while justice was served at Football League headquarters, there was an overwhelming sense of injustice as Stanley headed back north empty-handed.

But on this evidence, one thing is for certain. Six more high-quality performances on similar lines and Accrington will definitely be safe from relegation.

"It was a good team performance and for 90 minutes we were the better side," said Stanley star man Paul Mullin.

The striker - who just gets better with age - deserved to be on the winning side after spearheading a terrific attacking display, especially in an enthralling first-half.

Walsall had previously conceded a mere 10 league goals in 19 home games this season.

But from the opening whistle, Stanley showed real intent, orchestrating good football and causing the Saddlers untold trouble.

Shaun Whalley and Andy Todd held the upper hand over full-backs Craig Pead and Danny Fox, Rommy Boco and Andy Proctor were fruitful in their passing and tough in the tackle, while Andy Mangan kept Walsall double-guessing with his intelligent runs.

But at the heart of Stanley's best moves was Mullin. The 33-year-old provided a master-class in the art of the target-man - peerless in possession and cool in his finishing.

There was little time to take breath from start to finish - and it was evident from the opening exchanges that a gripping contest was brewing.

Stanley began bright, Mullin lashing over from 10 yards and Whalley firing in a succession of dangerous free-kicks.

But just as the visitors built ahead of steam, they fell for the Saddlers sucker-punch.

Out of absolutely nothing, Butler's slide-rule pass dissected Williams and Godwin Antwi to send Harper clear on goal.

The on-loan Stoke man finished with aplomb, neatly side-footing the ball past goalkeeper Martin's left hand and into the bottom corner.

It was harsh on the Reds who were in control during the opening 20 minutes.

But they picked their heads up and responded emphatically, equalising within three minutes through the irrepressible Mullin.

In similar fashion to the Saddlers opener, Mullin profited from another decisive throughball down the centre of the pitch.

Procter's 40-yard ball over the top was placed to perfection. Centre-backs Anthony Gerrard and Chris Westwood dawdled and goalkeeper Clayton Ince back-peddled in confusion as the ball held in the wind.

But there was no confusion from opportunist Mullin, who raced through on goal before tucking the ball through Ince's legs.

There was more great play down the right flank from Mullin, his whipped cross expertly finding Mangan, but the Liverpudlian's clipped volley went straight at Ince.

Then, following Boco's outstanding tackle on Harper, another free-flowing raid from right to left sent Whalley on his way. The winger sold Pead a dummy, but from his by-line cutback, Mullin was unable to convert.

It was impossible to say Stanley were a bottom six outfit - or indeed Walsall a top-two team - as the visitors grabbed the ascendancy.

Kevin Cooper thumped a stinging 25-yard free-kick on goal, which Martin neatly tipped over, but Stanley hit back with Peter Cavanagh denied by Ince following a neat one-two with Mullin, and Stanley's captain bombed forward to lash another effort off-target.

The second-half struggled to match the intensity of the opening 45 minutes. But the Reds continued to impinge their authority, and Williams was on target to head Stanley into a deserved lead.

Edwards' mis-hit shot flew wide to Whalley and his inch-perfect cross was bulleted home by Williams at the back post, for his second league goal of the season.

With 25 minutes left, a sensational victory looked on the cards, and very likely too with Martin very rarely tested.

But the Saddlers still carried a threat, and equalised after Edwards was adjudged to have clattered Butler inside the penalty box. It was a harsh call, as both players collided together.

Keates blasted home from 12 yards, raising the decibel level inside the Bescot Stadium for the finale.

At this stage, Stanley would have settled for a point, but it was not to be. With five minutes to go, Pead's cross found its way to unmarked Butler, whose left-foot effort beat Martin.