Late drama saw Walsall grab an equaliser from the penalty spot against Rochdale in their final EFL Youth Alliance game of the season.
The game started with a quick tempo from both sides, Walsall won an early corner but were countered by the visitors who forced a good save from goalkeeper Jenson Kilroy.
A cross come shot almost gave Rochdale the lead moments later.
It wouldn't be too long before the visitors scored the first goal of the game as Walsall pondered on the ball and failed to clear, costing themselves a free kick on the edge of the box.
Dale's Zak Greenwell struck the ball low and hard beating a jumping wall as the ball nestled into the bottom right corner.
A fairly quiet opening half hour sparked into life as Rochdale almost doubled their lead, when Kobe Wilkes was pick pocketed by travelling striker Jadel Yaduat. After squaring the ball, Yaduat found Greenwell who was unable to add to his tally for the game as the ball sailed past the upright.
The home side had an opportunity to draw level just before the end of the half when they were given an indirect free-kick after Dale's keeper, Ellis Craven, desperately handled a back pass under pressure.
With every Rochdale player behind the ball, Tom Owen was unable to score on the first attempt. Piers Juliff then had two further rebound attempts with the latter flying over for a goal kick.
Walsall had the brightest moment of the second half, in the 70th minute, when substitute Jaiy Leydon played a terrific pass through to Dylan Thomas.
The midfielder wasn't able to convert the chance as his chipped effort went over the crossbar.
Leydon came close a second time five minutes later with a volley from outside the box, narrowly going past the post.
Will Uchenna gave Walsall a last chance from the spot as he was brought down in the box from a throw in.
Juliff stepped up to take the kick and slotted the ball into the bottom left sending Craven the wrong way to level the scores.
A much improved second half saw Walsall create enough chances to win the game. But the Saddlers had to settle for a draw in their final league match of the season.
Academy Manager Rob Williams felt the Saddlers were the better team in the second half but was disappointed with how much the team created in terms of chances.
“On reflection, I'm probably a little bit disappointed,” he said.
“I think that we gave them a goal, yes there was a deflection but the part leading up to the goal was a mistake from us.
“The players need to make better decisions in our third of the pitch sometimes. Then I think I was a bit disappointed by the fact we didn't create enough, the past two or three games we've created a lot in the final third through quick combinations, one and two touch football and early crossing, but it just lacked that bit of intensity in the final third, particularly in the second half.
“I think first half they were the better side, but definitely second half we had lots of the ball, but just couldn't create enough when we got into good areas.”