Harrogate Town
Walsall FC
Walsall came from behind late on to earn a 2-2 draw at Harrogate Town.
Playing at the Keepmoat Stadium while their stadium is prepared to meet EFL standards, the Sulphurites fell behind to Rory Holden's fourth-minute goal before Aaron Martin equalized.
Jack Muldoon gave Harrogate a 32nd-minute lead and the hosts seemed to be on their way to a second successive victory only to give away a late penalty that was saved, but Josh Gordon converted the rebound in the 81st minute to spare Walsall's blushes.
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Story of the game
Walsall had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute as last week's match-winner Elijah Adebayo met Gordon's cross and let fly with his right foot that Joe Cracknell saved low to his left.
Moments later the visitors were in front through the resulting corner as Holden beat Cracknell in the bottom left corner with a fizzing drive.
Dan Scarr then had a chance to double the lead, but his effort was wide to the left. Harrogate then nearly levelled, Warren Burrell sending in a cross for Martin, whose header clanged off of the post.
Martin had another chance in the 17th minute as Walsall keeper Liam Roberts saved his left-footed shot.
Harrogate began to get on top of the play and they did equalize shortly after the half-hour mark, Ryan Fallowfield's run resulting in a low cross and Martin was quickest to react, stabbing past Roberts to make it 1-1.
Mark Beck then nearly put the hosts in front as his drive from the edge of the area went narrowly over.
He helped set up the Sulphurites second, meeting Connor Hall's deep free-kick and his header found Muldoon, who picked up his third goal in two matches to put Harrogate up 2-1.
Cracknell turned Scarr's header over the bar as the match went to halftime. Shortly after the restart, Gordon played in Adebayo, who smartly rounded Cracknell, but his shot found the outside of the post.
Adebayo again went close as he met Holden's near-post cross, but his call for a penalty was waved away.
Harrogate were holding on and seemed on course for a second consecutive victory, but Hall gave away a penalty after a trip on Holden. Cracknell saved Gordon's spot-kick, but the rebound fell to him and he made no mistake to make it 2-2.
Despite a late sending off for Danny Guthrie for a late lunge on Lloyd Kerry, neither side could find a late winner and the points were shared, each team now on four points.
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Man of the Match: Elijah Adebayo
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, he had several chances, put on early pressure and looks to be Walsall's biggest danger man.
He kept Harrogate's defence on their toes and looks to be in good form to start the season.
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Takeaways
Walsall lucky to escape with a point
While, as detailed above, Adebayo put the Harrogate defense under distress often, Harrogate seemed to be on their way to victory until they gave away a penalty.
The Saddlers had the better of things early on, but the Sulphurites took control midway through the first half. It's a good result for Darrell Clarke's side, but one that also involved an element of luck.
Harrogate will be disappointed to give away a game they had in control
The Sulphurites should be pleased that Muldoon scored again and once they found their footing, they were on top of the play, but they should be discouraging with the sloppiness shown late on to give away an unnecessary penalty.
They'll produce many victories with displays like this, but need to clean up the small details to consistently get all three points.
