Although Indies had already knocked out Rangers to reach this match, nobody could have expected the two sides to go in level at half-time and then for Indies to force the game into penalties after it remained a stalemate at 90 minutes.
But Wall, who had made a crucial and, it must be said, rare save on the evening very late on to deny Leighton Woodhead, then came into his own, diving to save the first three Indies kicks of the shoot-out and although Elliot Gallienne did so once for Indies, Saints came through 3-0 winners on spot kicks.
It was Indies who made the first real chance of the evening on 10 minutes, Jordan Le Poidevin meeting Zach Masterton-Pipet’s near-post corner from close range, but he headed over.
And within seconds Saints had carved their best opportunity. Wing back Max Hamon got in behind the defence on the Saints right and chose to strike a bouncing ball early. Gallienne got his hands to it and the ball bounced on to the top of the crossbar and out to the left, where the onrushing Josh Pemberton side-footed an effort towards goal that bounced off the far post.
On 25min. Saints again came close, George Mason marauding forward from the back and slipping in Pemberton behind the full back, but Gallienne got plenty on the shot and Miles Pengelley swept the bobbling ball off the line.
Saints were unable to break down the stubborn Indies back line nor to penetrate the penalty box beyond a string of long throws and free kicks which caused occasional moments of concern.
They had a penalty shout when Mason believed he had been kicked in a scramble after a corner but George Jennings was not interested, and Glenn Le Tissier was narrowly over the bar with a late free kick.
But arguably the best chance of the second half fell to Woodhead, who raced past the last defender to latch on to Janick Radford’s clearance, but Wall, retreating to the edge of his area, blocked the finish with his leg, and then from the penalty spot, there was no beating him.
TEAMS
St Martin’s: Wall; Hamon, Johnson, Mason, Davison; Rowe, Guimaraes, Roussel; Pemberton, Le Boutillier.
Subs: Le Tissier, Geall, Bowditch, Cooper, Smith, Domaille, Williams.
CF Independant: Gallienne; Pengelley, Boardman, S Falla, Guilbert; Le Poidevin, S White, Bentley; Woodhead, Masterton-Pipet, Patient.
Subs: Kirk, Masterton, R Falla, Radford, J White, Burroughs.
