TEN-MAN Walsall battled out a draw with local rivals, Port Vale thanks to Michael Ricketts' last-minute equaliser.

The early action saw a Vale attack break down in the fifth minute as Peter Sweeney - on loan from Stoke City - took the opportunity to break away before delivering a high cross to the far post which was gathered by Joe Anyon in the home goal.

After a Daniel Fox free-kick had been scrambled clear, the home side took a 12th minute lead when Marc Laird was given too much time to line up a shot from outside the area and the ball nestled into the far corner of the net beyond the reach of Clayton Ince.

There was more woe for Richard Money's men on the quarter-hour as skipper, Tommy Mooney was forced out of the action to be replaced by Edrissa Sonko.

The home side were passing the ball around well as The Saddlers looked to get into their stride. Michael Ricketts was booked for a 25th minute foul.

A Vale corner was headed goalwards by Keith Lowe who was up from the back, but Ince made a simple catch before some neat play on the left at the other end saw Sweeney produce a cross that was headed just over by Ricketts.

There was a booking for Daniel Fox after his robust challenge on the touchline was made to appear worse by the reaction of the Vale players and supporters.

It saw an edge starting to creep into the game in the closing stages of the opening period.

Some probing by the experienced Luke Rodgers saw him set up Mark Salmon for a shooting chance that he put wide.

There was a lengthy amount of injury time played at the end of a first half which had seen a number of bookings, injuries -  including a player stretchered off for the hosts - and no fewer than four substitutions made.

The second half started with former Port Vale man, Rhys Weston putting an inviting ball to the far post where Mark Bradley's header lacked the necessary power to trouble Anyon too much.

Troy Deeney became the latest player to see yellow for a foul and it was to be his last action before being replaced by Ishmel Demontagnac.

Just before the hour, Rodgers looked to get in behind the Walsall defence only to see his effort land over the crossbar.

Alex Nicholls was introduced into the action in place of Sweeney after 62 minutes as Calum Willock saw an effort fizz wide of the target after The Saddlers had lost possession at a throw-in.

There was a red-card for Fox as Vale looked to break through on 67 minutes. The foul was adjudged to have been committed right on the edge of the area as the resulting free-kick was slammed into the defensive wall with the rebound blazed well over.

It meant that The Saddlers had to play for the final 20 minutes with ten men, but Ricketts had an excellent chance soon afterwards as a ball in from the right found its wat to him via Demontagnac but his shot flew well over and into the large contingent of travelling supporters behind the goal.

Anthony Gerrard was booked for a foul out wide, whilst Nicholls' shot on the turn on 81 minutes was straight at the grateful Anyon.

An inviting ball across the face of goal by Nicholls carried too much pace which took it beyond Bradley at the far post as we started to think that it wasn't going to be our day.

With time running out, Gerrard had to be alert to clear right in front of goal as the Valiants searched for a second goal to seal the game. Tempers boiled over moments later as the home side reacted angrily to a challenge near the touchline. Once order was restored, Scott Dann was booked.

Deep into injury time at the end, The Saddlers drew level when Weston put over a perfect ball to the far post where Ricketts' determination saw him win the header to beat Anyon from close range. The Vale players sunk to their knees as Walsall celebrated a record-breaking tenth away game without defeat.