Team manager Neil McDonald was able to name club record signing Joe Garner in his playing squad for the trip to the Banks's Stadium after emergency loan clearance was granted ahead of the big kick off.

Simon Hackney kept his place in the midfield diamond, lining up with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who was making his return from a niggling injury.

A frantic opening witnessed both sets of midfield players chasing every pass but it was the nervousness of keeper Clayton Ince that almost opened the door for United. Twice he scuffed his clearances within the space of the opening 3 minutes but, luckily for him, he found the United forwards on their heels on both occasions.

Simon Hackney used quick feet in the 3rd minute to release Kev Gall through the middle, and he seemed to have done everything right with a neat first touch. However, Gerrard was on hand to challenge, and the Cumbrians forward lost his balance as he broke in to the box.

Good, battling football from United in the 8th minute took them in to the Walsall half in numbers, and Bridge-Wilkinson showed his strength when he won it off Sonner on the edge of the area. Raven and Gall then exchanged passes, allowing Smith the opening to pump a cross in to the area. That was cleared, but Hackney worked his way down the left wing, eventually winning a corner.

Carlisle had settled well, letting nothing get past them in defence, and another patient but incisive build up in the 11th minute brought them their first shot on target. Aranalde and Gall stayed close, and the latter cut inside to direct a low 19 yard shot towards the waiting Ince.

Gall then created space for himself in the same area, on the left hand edge of the box, on 14 minutes but, despite getting much more power in to his effort, could not find the route past the keeper, who plucked it from beneath the bar.

The Saddlers came up with their first real effort of any note on 17 minutes when Carneiro jinked his way in to the Carlisle area. Finding himself in a cul-de-sac he fed it wide to Hall, who delivered a teasing first time cross towards the back post. Danny Fox was there to greet it, but his header drifted harmlessly wide as he tried to place it in to the bottom corner.

The visitors had been threatening to make the breakthrough in a controlled opening display of calm and assured football, and they were rewarded for their endeavour in the 19th minute when Hackney pounced on yet another poor goal kick from Ince. The Carlisle midfielder spotted Gall in acres of space, and coolly lobbed a wonderful pass in to his path. Kevin Gall then had time to draw the keeper, and smashed an unstoppable volley in to the back of the net to send the Blue Army wild.

Bridge-Wilkinson then thumped a rising 24 yarder over the bar when Smith picked him out in the 23rd minute as United continued to dictate the pace of the game.

Walsall were showing brief flashes of what they were capable of, with Paul Hall working hard down the right flank, but it was comfortable stuff for a United defence that was largely untroubled.

Peter Murphy showed his class in the 34th minute when he clipped a spinning 30 yard pass through the wall of white shirts in front of him. It was inch perfect for Graham, who won the corner as he came up against Dobson.

Murphy was then clattered on the ankle in his very next challenge, and eventually had to be replaced by Arnison as he struggled to shake off the knock.

Walsall took more of the possession whilst Murphy did his best to rid himself of the injury, but they couldn't find a route to goal at all as Thirlwell dropped deeper. Scott Dann managed a weak downward header that bounced up nicely for Westwood, but it was frustrating for the home fans as they had to watch their side consistently give the ball away.

The introduction of Arnison meant a move in to the centre of the back four for Raven, and the new Carlisle right back produced the moment of the half with some unbelievable skill tight on the touchline that took him away from 3 defenders. Using the space he had created to full effect, he swung a ball in to the box that dipped over Ince, and Wrack had to head it wide as Gall lurked in waiting.

Half Time: Saddlers 0 - 1 United

The Saddlers were back on level terms within 2 minutes of the restart when Tommy Mooney shielded the ball from Livesey 18 yards out. Using his strength he held off the challenges and wrapped his left foot around a shot that crept its way beyond the despairing dive of Westwood, and bounced in to the net off the base of the upright.

It was the lift that the home side needed and they pressed forward again in the 50th minute, using Boertien on the overlap. His low cross was blocked by Raven, but it spilled out in to the path of Mooney, just 10 yards from the target. Livesey was quick to intervene, blocking what would have been a certain goal.

The ball was only half cleared and Hall whisked another deep cross to the far post. Mooney met it on the full, forcing a parried save from Westwood, and the big Carlisle keeper had to be at his best to get himself in the way of Mooney's blistering follow up shot.

Joe Garner made his 19th appearance for the club when he came on for Hackney in the 57th minute, and immediately won a free kick with his presence down by the bye line. Aranalde picked up the loose clearance from that, finding Livesey, but his flick left plenty for Gall to do, and he could only guide it back towards Ince.

Fast thinking from Garner in the middle of the pitch in the 63rd minute released Aranalde on the left, and he played the ball out wide for Jeff Smith on the overlap. His cross took the central defenders out of the equation, and Graham was unlucky to see his header drop nicely for the keeper.

Walsall should have done better when Westwood missed a flighted corner moments later, especially with the numbers they had in the box, but Arnison recovered the situation with an excellent clearance. A long ball forward needed a good first touch from Gall, and he managed an early volley that Ince was well placed to claim.

Darren Wrack ran himself in to trouble in the 71st minute when he raced from defence, only to give it away in midfield. Garner took it on, spraying it out wide, and Kev Gall was surprised to see the Smith cross evade everyone and land at his feet. Gerrard was able to clear it as the United forward tried to find his balance.

At the other end Fox spotted a great run from Carneiro and looped a long cross towards the big forward. He rose well, but couldn't find any power and put it right at Westwood.

Jeff Smith then took everyone by surprise with a 30 yard screamer in the 76th minute that Ince had to back pedal to get to, before using both hands to push it over the bar.

Danny Carlton made his Football League debut with 9 minutes left on the clock, and just as the game was becoming a battle in midfield.

Mooney tired to squeeze another header beyond the keeper as he found himself at a tight angle in the 87th minute, but it was honours even at the end of a very entertaining season curtain raiser.

Goals

Walsall - Mooney (47)

United - Gall (19)

Bookings

United - Garner (80)

Teams  

Walsall: Ince, Fox, Sonner, Gerrard, Wrack, Dobson, Mooney, Hall (Nicholls 69), Carneiro (Deeney 82), Dann, Boertien. Subs - Roper, Bossu, Bradley.

United: Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy (Arnison 41), Aranalde, Thirlwell, Smith, Gall, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney (Garner 57), Graham (Carlton 86). Subs - Howarth, McDermott. 

Away fans - 1391