THE SADDLERS shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Port Vale, which proved to be a good work-out for Chris Hutchings' side with just seven days to go until the start of the new season.

The Saddlers started the brighter of the two teams and posed all of the early questions. The opening goal duly arrived on ten minutes when Alex Nicholls cut inside from the left and found the back of the net with a low strike.

As the half progressed, Walsall were looking solid and keeping the home side at bay to go in at the break deservedly in front.

Vale equalised early in the second period when Gary Roberts set up Anthony Griffith who beat David Bevan, although the ball appeared to take a slight deflection off new-boy, Ryan McGivern on its way into the net.

As the clock ticked down, Walsall looked like the more likely side and Oliver Lancashire was unlucky as his header was well saved by the home 'keeper.

The closing stages saw Darren Byfield also denied by Stuart Tomlinson in The Valiants' goal as he did well to push his powerful strike over the crossbar.