THE SADDLERS were denied victory in our final game of 2006 as Bristol Rovers grabbed a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 in an entertaining encounter at a rain-soaked Bescot Stadium.

Walsall survived an early scare when the visitors broke the offside trap but in the end, Daniel Fox blocked well in front of goal before Mark Wright came away with the ball to ease the pressure.

It was Mark Wright who linked up well with Hector Sam to launch The Saddlers' first attack in the seventh minute and after holding off the attentions of Steve Elliott, Sam then found Fox who managed to force a corner which Rovers cleared.

The Saddlers were starting to play their way into the game and Sam once more held off his marker before getting in a low strike that crept narrowly wide.

With Ian Roper lying injured just outside the area, the game continued with a dangerous ball driven in from the Rovers' left that was almost deflected into his own goal by Scott Dann, however Clayton Ince was alert to gather on his line.

Just before the half-hour, Martin Butler did well out wide to deliver an inviting ball into the path of strike partner, Sam but his effort was bravely blocked by the face of Steve Phillips in the visitors' goal.

As the rain continued to lash down, a Rovers corner fell out to Stuart Campbell who hit a powerful drive from distance that was deflected over.

With the half coming to a close, Phillips had to be alert to clear ahead of Butler after the ball spun out to him from Sam.

Then in stoppage time at the end of the first half, Fox tried his luck with a long-range drive that was straight at the 'keeper.

The Saddlers took the lead within 15 seconds of the restart when the ball fell to Sam just outside the area and he rifled a low shot home.

It was a bright and purposeful start to the second period for Richard Money's men and a cross from the right by Wright caused problems for Phillips but Sam was unable to pick out a tea-mate as the loose ball fell to his feet.

A foul by Roper gave Rovers a free-kick in a dngerous position just outside the area which Craig Hinton firstly fired into the defensive wall before seeing his follow-up effort deflected wide.

Chris Westwood's cross to the far post on the hour-mark was well defended by Hinton who got there area of Sam to clear the danger.

The visitors were back on level terms on 64 minutes when a free-kick curled into the area was not properly cleared and Elliott was able to poke home the loose ball.

Fox was booked for a foul shortly afterwards before a Walsall raid saw Sam do well to pick out Butler's run and his shot was blocked by Phillips as the loose ball fell just out of Wright's reach.

Rovers went close on 82 minutes when a deft header at the near post from a corner went into the side-netting, whilst at the other end, a foul from behind on Sam gave The Saddlers a free-kick in a promising position which was wasted by Dobson.

The Saddlers regained the lead with just three minutes to go when a sharp break saw Wright's low ball in search of Butler cleared for a corner, which Wright delivered onto the head of man of the match Dann whose effort found its way into the back of the net to send the majority of the 5,941 crowd wild with delight.

The lead was short-lived as the visitors hauled themselves level in the last minute as another free-kick was pumped into the danger zone and not cleared, allowing Elliott to notch his second.

After Westwood was booked for a trip, the resulting free-kick was deflected over as the subsequent corner required The Saddlers to scramble off the line following a goalmouth melee.

It was hearts in the mouth time for Walsall but in the end honours were even.  

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography