Walsall 2-2 Harrogate: Saddlers salvage a point but drop out of automatic spots
Walsall salvaged a 2-2 draw against Harrogate Town at Bescot but drop out of the automatic promotion spots for the first time since September 7.
Connor Barrett's low strike was diverted into his own net by Harrogate defender Anthony O'Connor after just 16 minutes.
Josh March equalised with a splendid volley from an acute angle and Walsall found themselves on the backfoot when O'Connor hit the post.
They struggled for the first 30 minutes of the second half and were punished for their sloppiness when Ellis Taylor's effort deflected into the bottom corner.
Liam Gordon rescued a point with a low finish into the far bottom corner at the death but Walsall extended their winless run to 11 games.
Mat Sadler made four changes to the team which began their 2-0 defeat at Barrow last weekend.
Harry Williams was restored to the centre of the back-line and David Okagbue and Ryan Stirk were also recalled.
George Hall was handed his first league start since the Saddlers' 1-0 win at Port Vale on December 7 with Donervon Daniels, Oisin McEntee, Brandon Comley and Charlie Lakin dropping out.
Walsall made a bright start with Hall playing an instrumental role by helping create overloads down the flanks.
They made their dominance count when they opened the scoring inside 16 minutes. Matt poked the ball into the feet of Ellis Harrison midway inside the Harrogate half and the MK Dons loanee quickly slotted a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Barrett.
His low drive from inside the box took a telling deflection off Harrogate defender O'Connor who was awarded with the own goal.
The hosts had a chance to double their advantage with almost a carbon copy of the attack that led to the opening goal just moments before. Hall freed Barrett in the inside-right position but his tame effort was struck straight into Belshaw's midriff.
Harrogate equalised against the run of play in the 22nd-minute courtesy of a moment of beauty from March. Daly drove a low effort onto the post and Gordon gave the ball away cheaply, as Tommy Simkin sprung to his feet to deny Taylor on the follow-up.
The angle was tight for March but the Harrogate attacking midfielder unleashed a stunning volley into the far corner.
Walsall looked shaken after conceding and Harrogate came within a lick of paint away from going in front when O'Connor almost scored at the right end after hitting the post from close-range.
They just seemed to lose belief and confidence as nerves clearly began to creep in. No player looked more affected than Liam Gordon, who very nearly gifted Harrogate an opening when he inexplicably allowed a long ball to drop with an attacker breathing down his neck.
Fortunately, Harrogate failed to capitalise but the pendulum had certainly swung heavily in Harrogate's favour.
The Saddlers eventually survived the Sulphurites' storm and were denied a potential penalty before the break after Matt was pulled down inside the box.
After the break, Gordon flashed a low ball across the face of goal which Belshaw could only parry. Matt was first to the rebound but could only direct his finish straight into the gloves of the Harrogate goalkeeper.
They were sloppy after the break and deservedly went behind just past the hour-mark. Walsall failed to deal with a long throw and Taylor was left unmarked on the edge of the box to send a deflected effort beyond the reach of Simkin.
Levi Amantchi replaced Harrison in attack but it was Matt who had two chances in quick succession. First, the 35-year-old glanced a header wide and had another finish blocked by Toby Sims inside the six-yard box.
At the other end, Harrogate came close to a third but Simkin spread himself to deny Sims from point-blank range after the right-back was left unmarked at the back post.
Sadler threw on Nathan Asiimwe, Alfie Chang and Albert Adomah for the final 15 minutes as Walsall piled on the pressure late on.
They reaped the reward when Gordon levelled with just three minutes of normal time left on the clock with a neat finish into the far bottom corner.
Teams
Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Stirk; Barrett (Asiimwe 78), Jellis (Chang 78), Hall (Adomah 78), L Gordon; Harrison (Amantchi 65), Matt.
Unused: Hornby, Daniels, Lakin.
Harrogate (4-2-3-1): Belshaw; Sims, O'Connor, Moon, Bilongo (Asare 90); Morris, Fox; Taylor, March, Daly; Muldoon.
Unused: Oxley, Falkingham, Sanderson, Dooley, Cursons, Gibson.
Attendance: 7,408 (156)
Referee: Scott Simpson
