'I've been waiting for this for so long' - Clarke

Courtney Clarke has made 23 appearances in all competitions since moving to Walsall in June

Walsall midfielder Courtney Clarke said he had to show Bromley what they had missed out on as he scored his first league goal against his former suitors.

The 23-year-old was a target for Bromley last summer before Walsall secured his move from Eastbourne.

Clarke said he was spurred on by a message from Bromley boss Andy Woodman before coming on as a second-half substitute to seal a 3-1 win against their League Two promotion rivals.

"When I was at Eastbourne, the Bromley manager did want me, but then they didn't want me anymore," Clarke told BBC Radio WM.

"Even when I came on, the manager said to me, 'Just make sure you don't have a good game'.

"I could tell he knew that I was a threat, so I had to show them what they missed out on."

Clarke has appeared in all of Walsall's 18 league matches this season, two-thirds of them off the bench, and admitted his surprise at how much game time he has had.

The League Two leaders were pushed all the way by fifth-placed Bromley, and only wrapped up their 11th win of the season when Albert Adomah teed up Clarke for his landmark moment, 10 minutes into stoppage time.

"I have no words to describe it. I've been waiting for this day for so long, and God made it happen for me, and I just loved every moment," Clarke said.

"My mum, my sister, my uncle, my family were there today. They were crying. We've been praying for it for so long, and they were there to witness it.

"I'm just forever grateful to them for all the sacrifices they've done for this day, and I've just got to make them prouder."