A LAST-gasp Paul Hall goal earned The Saddlers a sweet success at Hartlepool United.

Some early pressure by Richard Money's men saw Troy Deeney find Edrissa Sonko whose powerful drive was blocked in front of goal.

From the resulting corner, the ball found its way across to the far post where Deeney's effort was blocked on the line.

It was a let-off for the hosts and their first opportunity came in the ninth minute when they won a free-kick in a dangerous position which the experienced Richie Humphries curled just wide of the target.

Both sides were cancelling each other out as the half went on. Just past the half-hour mark, Darren Wrack combined well with Sonko on the right to cross onto the head of Tommy Mooney, but he failed to get the necessary power to beat Jan Budtz.

The Saddlers were frustrating the home side, but Clayton Ince had to be alert to beat James Brown to the ball just outside the area and clear to safety.

With time running out in the first half, Wrack was booked for a foul as the home side won a free-kick in a threatening position which Humphries managed to put around the wall only for Ince to make the save.

After a change of referee early in the second period, Hartlepool went close when Barker saw his close range header kept out by Ince.

The home side were attempting to turn the screw but Walsall were working hard for each other to keep them at bay.

Gary Liddell's shot through a crowd of players was well pushed out by Ince on 64 minutes as he dived low to his right. Then Ince held on to a fierce drive from Joel Porter.

Moments later, Porter fired well over when the ball rather kindly fell into his path following an unfortunate deflection off Daniel Fox.

There was a change as Paul Hall replaced Deeney before David McDermott was introduced in place of the now-hairless Ishmel Demontagnac.

With 15 minutes to go, Mooney linked up well with McDermott who cut inside before unleashing a shot that Budtz managed to keep out.

There was a third and final change when debut boy, Dwayne Mattis was replaced by Mark Bradley.

A teasing ball into the danger zone by Sonko was met by Mooney who was denied by Budtz's block as the home side managed to scramble the loose ball clear.

The Saddlers were looking full of confidence and good value for at least a point when Hall grabbed a crucial last-minute winner as he latched onto a through-ball before confidently stroking the ball home to send the loyal travelling faithful wild with delight on a sunny afternoon in the north-east.