A SWEET strike from Michael Standing gave The Saddlers a share of the spoils at a wet and windy Bescot Stadium as we played out a 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers.

Our first action of 2005 began with an early let-off for The Saddlers when Neil Roberts' looping effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Joe Murphy as Walsall failed to clear a corner. As the ball fell out to central defender, Steve Foster he put his effort wide from close range.

There was a good chance at the other end on nine minutes as Joe Broad picked up a loose ball in the middle before releasing Jorge Leitao whose effort on goal was kept out by Andy Warrington before Tim Ryan cleared the loose ball under pressure from Marvin Robinson. The resulting corner was headed just over by Julian Bennett, who was playing in a left-back role.

It wasn't long before the visitors took the lead as Walsall failed to clear their lines under pressure and as the ball was crossed back into the danger zone by the lively Michael McIndoe, Bennett found his own net as he attempted to clear with his head.

The Saddlers were looking disjointed and uncomfortable in defence in the opening exchanges against a Rovers side that started with real purpose.

With 23 minutes on the clock a deep cross by Mark Wright found Robinson whose ball back across the six-yard box was cleared from right in front of his own goal by Foster as he beat Leitao to the ball. As the resulting corner came in, Rovers failed to deal with the danger properly and the ball fell out to Standing who rifled home with a screaming shot that beat Warrington all ends up.

Just past the half-hour mark a teasing Merson corner just fizzed past Robinson as Warrington came racing out of his goal to meet the ball, whilst at the other end, a low drive by Neil Roberts was touched wide by Murphy diving low down to his left.

As the corner came swinging in it caused an almighty panic for The Saddlers as the ball bounced down off the crossbar before being pushed out right on the line by Murphy and eventually scrambled to safety.

The blustery wet conditions were not making it easy for either side and the half ended evenly balanced at one goal apiece.

The second half started with Joe Broad booked for dissent after a late challenge by Bennett. It meant that the resulting free-kick was moved forward to cause a real dangerous situation for The Saddlers and Paul Green's curling free-kick was well saved by Murphy as he tipped the ball over the crossbar.

A quick throw-in by Leitao with 55 minutes gone saw him find strike partner Robinson inside the area, but as he delayed his shot it gave Rovers chance to crowd him out and clear the ball only as far as Merson whose cross was overhit.

Just past the hour a dangerous ball by Green on the right-hand side flashed straight across goal with Simon Johnson and Neil Roberts both unable to capitalise.

A change was needed and it soon came as Matty Fryatt, back from a knee injury, replaced Robinson and he was straight into the action chasing the ball down and earning himself a lecture from the referee following a late challenge on Mark Albrighton.

There was an excellent triple save by Murphy to keep Walsall in it on 65 minutes as firstly he cleared under pressure from McIndoe then got across to push out a Johnson drive before blocking the follow-up effort.

With time running out, a clever ball by Simon Osborn set Fryatt racing away but he was denied by Warrington. Fryatt was involved in our next attack five minutes later as he made progress out on the left before crossing to Standing who in turn set up Broad for a shooting chance that he put wide.

Fryatt was then booked on 85 minutes after a couple of loud appeals for a penalty were waved away in quick succession.

There was some desperate defending by the visitors as the clock continued to tick down. As Walsall attacked down the right, John Doolan managed to clear for a corner which was teasingly delivered by Merson and forced out for another flag kick. This time the ball was scrambled clear after Bennett and Warrington had clashed in an aerial dual that forced the Rovers 'keeper to leave the field on a stretcher and the young Saddlers defender to be replaced by Zigor Aranalde as he gingerly exited the action with blood pouring from a head wound.

With the visiting defence looking nervous as The Saddlers pressed in the five minutes of injury time that was played, our only real chance of claiming all three points came when Fryatt flashed a low ball across the face of goal but no-one was on hand to turn the ball home and with it went our hopes of starting the New Year with a victory.

* Both teams will be donating all bonuses earned from this game to the Tsunami Earthquake Fund.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography