DESPITE dominating for long periods, The Saddlers were denied what would have been a precious three points by a controversial late equaliser from Port Vale.

A crossfield ball by Michael Leary on seven minutes found Grant Smith who set up a shooting chance for Steve Claridge which he hit with the outside of his foot and as the ball curled goalwards, Mark Goodlad got down well to save.

With 18 minutes on the clock, a foul by Leary gave Vale a free-kick in a dangerous position, but the twice-taken set-piece saw Dean Keates in determined mood to clear.

Passes were going astray from both teams as The Saddlers looked to stamp their authority on this crucial encounter.

The Saddlers did well to break out of defence on 25 minutes as Chris Westwood set Craig Pead racing away out wide on the right and his early cross landed just behind both Claridge and James Constable as Smith slipped as he looked to pick up the loose ball.

The visitors' first real effort on goal came with nine minutes to go until the interval when Craig James' inviting cross found the head of Sam Togwell but his effort was always rising.

With time running out at the end of the first half, Leary's long range effort went well over the crossbar.

Walsall came out of the blocks in positive fashion at the start of the second period and on 48 minutes a curling cross from Smith was headed over by Constable.

Within a minute The Saddlers had the lead as Keates won the ball to set Smith away on the left and he drilled a low ball into the danger zone that was only half-cleared to Constable who slotted home from close range.

At the other end, a powerful drive from distance by Michael Cummins was on target but straight at Oakes.

Just before the hour, Leary combined well with Osborn who crossed high first time but Goodlad in the visitors' goal was able to gather under pressure.

The Saddlers were enjoying the majority of possession and looking the most likely side, however a deep free-kick from the visitors' left was met by the head of Cummins at the fra post only for Oakes to use his giant frame to good effect to claim the ball.

The ever-willing Keates did well to find Constable on 74 minutes and his low teasing cross was cleared as Claridge loitered with intent.

Leary was replaced by Michael Standing with a quarter-of-an-hour to go and Standing was soon involved in the action as he embarked upon a positive run that took him into the penalty area where the ball was only partially cleared as Goodlad saved at the feet of Smith.

As the clock ticked down, Walsall were looking good value for their lead and Constable did well to hold the ball up before running at the Valiants' defence. He then linked up with Claridge whose low shot was gathered by Goodlad.

The Saddlers were hit with a cruel sucker-punch four minutes from the end when the visitors broke forward and substitute Clayton Fortune slotted home as there looked like a suspicion of offside in the build-up.

It knocked the stuffing out of Kevan Broadhurst's side and although Andrew Barrowman was introduced in place of Simon Osborn, we just couldn't find a way through.

There was a booking for Constable right at the death for a foul on former Saddler, Danny Sonner to complete a bitterly disappointing end to the game.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography.