Port Vale, Walsall share spoils

Port Vale and Walsall drew 1-1 to share the spoils in their opening match of the 2014-15 League One campaign at Vale Park.

The first ten minutes proved quiet, but soon the game opened up and saw both sides spring forward.

Carl Dickinson and Mark Marshall marauded down the left flank for Vale in the 17th minute, but the latter's cross came to nothing.

Just eight minutes later, however, Marshall sent another cross into the area which, courtesy of some haphazard Saddlers defending, allowed Tom Pope to place the ball into the net for the Valiants' opening goal.

With not long to go in the half, Romaine Sawyers attempted to feed Tom Bradshaw in the box, but Frederic Veseli thwarted the danger.

Just a minute later, another Marshall cross fell to Louis Dodds, but he poked the ball wide.

Port Vale would come to regret that missed chance, because Tom Bradshaw struck back for the Saddlers to make it 1-1 just before the hour mark.

The away side came into the game more and more as it went on, with goalkeeper Sam Johnson having to pull off a great save to deny Walsall with just 12 minutes to go.

However, no further goals were to be scored as both teams had to make do with a point apiece at the final whistle.