IT WAS a game of two halves at a sunny Aggborough as The Saddlers played out a goalless draw with Kidderminster Harriers.
The first real action came following a slip in defence by the home side as Martin Butler was allowed to set up Carlos Carneiro for a shooting chance which he blazed over.
A high cross by Daniel Fox caused problems for Scott Bevan in the Harriers' goal who had to be at full stretch to clear the ball away from danger as Walsall started to get a grip on the early action.
Danny Sonner was played in with a neat ball from Carneiro only for Bevan to deny him before Brian Smikle crossed invitingly at the other end but no-one was on hand to capitalise.
Fox was involved in the build-up too another Saddlers' chance on 22 minutes as he played a ball into the feet of Carneiro whose lay-off found Butler but his effort was deflected wide of the target.
Former Saddlers' striker, James Constable was forced to limp out of the action with five minutes to go before the interval as the opening period saw real chances at a premium at either end.
The second half started with Fox threading through a smart ball for Butler, who beat the offside trap only to slip at the vital moment and fire well wide.
Edrissa Sonko received a long crossfield ball in the next foray forward before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful drive that fizzed narrowly past the wrong side of the post.
Harriers were looking sharp on the break, but The Saddlers were solid and well-organised defensively, but just lacking that killer ball in advanced positions that would hurt the opposition.
Clayton Ince did well to claim a high ball into the danger zone by Justin Richards and then produced a fine double save as firstly he kept out Michael Blackwood's low drive before somehow recovering to deny Mark Creighton from the rebound.
It was the best chance of the game up to that point as the Trinidad & Tobago International denied a Harriers side who were the better side in the second period.
Tommy Mooney and then Paul Hall entered the action in place of Carneiro and Sonko just past the hour-mark.
There was a great chance for Butler on 66 minutes as he beat the offside trap to face Bevan in a one-on-one situation. However, the giant frame of the home 'keeper came out on top as he blocked well.
After Ishmel Demontagnac had replaced Fox, Blackwood saw a shot deflected over as the resulting corner was cleared by The Saddlers at the second attempt.
A break down the left by Richard Money's men ended with Michael Dobson firing over before Alex Nicholls came on in the closing stages for Butler.
The game ended with the home side looking to snatch a late winner, but their efforts were to no avail as the contest ended goalless.
It was pleasing to see the highly-rated Scott Dann come through a full 90 minutes as he overcomes a slight shin splints problem that has effected him recently.
WALSALL: Ince, Fox (Demontagnac), Sonner, Gerrard, Wrack, Dobson, Butler (Nicholls), Carneiro (Mooney), Dann, Sonko (Hall), Boertien. Subs not used: Roper, Bradley, Deeney, Bossu.
Look out for match reaction on Wednesday. Meanwhile, The Saddlers have two matches on Wednesday, August 1st as we take on Tamworth and Pelsall Villa.
