Walsall came from behind to pick up a point against Grimsby Town at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Abu Eisa’s second half firecracker gave the visitors the lead but Ryan Stirk scored his first goal for the Saddlers to level the match with nine minutes of normal time to go.
Tom Knowles came in for his first start of the season after making a scoring return from injury off the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion Under 21s in midweek, with Joe Foulkes dropping to the bench.
Otherwise, it was as you were from the team that started at Crewe Alexandra last weekend.
The Saddlers made a bright start and were on the front foot in the early exchanges. Ross Tierney and Isaac Hutchinson had a couple of early attempts but they didn’t give Jake Eastwood too much to worry about.
Tierney looked a threat with his runs in behind and was found again, this time by Stirk but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
The visitors started to enjoy more possession but as the half progressed, the tempo of the game faded after a lively start.
Knowles forced Eastwood into a save when his cross-shot from the left was tipped over by the Mariners goalkeeper and that proved to be the last opportunity of the opening period.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Mariners opened the scoring with a rocket from Eisa who thrashed the ball past Owen Evans and into the net.
The Saddlers looked to respond quickly and Hutchinson tested Eastwood with a powerful shot but the Grimsby goalkeeper parried the ball away.
Mat Sadler made two alterations midway through the second half as he introduced Aramide Oteh and Joe Riley in place of Danny Johnson and Knowles.
The hosts levelled the contest when Tierney’s shot ricocheted into the path of Stirk who tucked the ball past Eastwood from close range.
The game was finely poised going into stoppage time but the Saddlers had to battle for the majority of the six minutes added on with 10 men after Chris Hussey received a second yellow card.
Walsall held on though and the points were shared.
Evans; Knowles (Riley 75’), McEntee, Daniels, Hussey, Gordon; Tierney, Stirk, Hutchinson; Draper (Matt 90’), Johnson (Oteh 71’)
Subs: Smith (GK), Foulkes, Williams, Allen
Attendance: 5314 (675 away)