THE SADDLERS started 2008 with a 1-1 draw in an entertaining clash with fellow high-flyers, Doncaster Rovers.
A neat touch by Mark Bradley in the second minute found Richard Taundry who had the confidence to hit the ball first time but his low effort sailed wide.
Shortly afterwards, Scott Dann came up from the back to try his luck with a low strike that was easy for the experienced Neil Sullivan in the visitors' goal to gather.
Anthony Gerrard was winning a lot of early headers for The Saddlers as both teams attempted to pass the ball around at every opportunity.
When James Coppinger finally did get the better of Gerrard on the quarter-hour mark, his shot was well off target.
A good break out of defence by Rhys Weston saw him deliver an inviting ball into the penalty area that the visitors managed to clear at the far post.
With 27 minutes on the clock, Gareth Roberts linked up with Jason Price but his attempt had the sting took out of it by Weston as Ince was able to gather.
There was a booking for Edrissa Sonko for a foul on Paul Green as he looked to launch a counter-attack for Rovers after a Walsall corner broke down.
Some good battling play by Ishmel Demontagnac saw him find Michael Ricketts whose cross was headed clear by James O'Connor.
Taundry did well just outside the area before putting in a ball which picked out Demontagnac but his effort landed just wide of the target.
A loose ball fell to Ricketts outside the area but he pulled his shot just the wrong side of the post before Ricketts was again involved in the action as he did well to keep the ball in and then crossed into the danger zone where Sonko's glancing header fell narrowly wide.
A Daniel Fox corner was then flicked on o Bradley who put his far post header over the crossbar as the half-time interval approached.
Some excellent defending at the far post by Fox saw him deny Price who looked to get onto the end of Coppinger's intelligent ball across the face of goal.
Price managed to give his side the lead in injury time at the end of the half when Ince firstly blocked his effort but he was on hand to deflect the ball home from close range.
Ince was called into early action at the start of the second half as he saved low down.
On 52 minutes a free-kick from Taundry was headed on by Dann but Sullivan was alert to claim.
It was to be Taundry's last involvement before being replaced by Alex Nicholls.
With an hour gone, Dann's long ball forwarf found Nicholls who teed up Sonko for a shot into the side-netting.
At the other end, Brian Stock's curling drive from distance was well pushed over by Ince.
There was another change as Troy Deeney replaced Sonko before Bradley's header from a Fox cross was easily gathered by Sullivan.
A postive run by Demontagnac on 70 minutes was brought to a crashing halt by Steve Roberts to give The Saddlers a gree-kick in a dangerous position which Ricketts fired into the defensive wall.
Four minutes later, a corner from the right was curled onto the head of Dann who made no mistake for his second goal in as many games to level matters.
There were loud appeals for a penalty in the next attack when a high ball into the box from the right saw Mark McCammon clearly hold on to Ricketts to prevent him from reaching the ball. The referee was unimpressed and waved away the protests.
Deeney was booked for a foul as the game had an action-packed ending with both sides capable of winning it.
Paul Hall replaced Demontagnac with five minutes to go as Stock dragged an effort wide for the visitors.
With just three minutes to go, Bradley pulled the ball back in search of Nicholls but Rovers had plenty of men back behind the ball to clear the danger.
There was a scare in added on time at the end as Ince failed to properly claim a ball into his six-yard box but the loose ball was fired wide as honours ended even in what was an entertaining contest.
PHOTOS: David Linney Photography
