Walsall 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

James Hardy scored a late equaliser on his English Football League debut to earn Walsall a 1-1 draw at home to Forest Green.

Hardy, a summer signing from AFC Fylde, hooked home from close range in the 86th minute as Rovers appealed in vain for offside after Josh Gordon's overhead kick came back off a post.

A point was the least Walsall deserved, having dominated the game, only to be denied by several fine saves from visiting goalkeeper Lewis Thomas.

After Gordon wasted a good early chance for the Saddlers by scuffing wide from 15 yards, Thomas tipped over Cameron Norman's 25-yard free-kick and superbly foiled Liam Kinsella's deflected effort from outside the penalty box.

Forest Green took the lead against the run of play in first-half stoppage time as James Clarke's error in trying to shepherd a ball out and then hauling down Aaron Collins was punished by Joseph Mills' cool penalty.

After the break, Thomas made another fine stop to deny Hardy, who also blazed over from 15 yards, but the 23-year-old made no mistake late on to earn his side a point.

Report supplied by PA Media.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Walsall

• 1Roberts
• 5J Clarke
• 6ScarrBooked at 75mins
• 4SadlerSubstituted forHardyat 57'minutesSubstituted forat 79'minutes
• 26LiddleSubstituted forHoldenat 57'minutes
• 2NormanBooked at 53minsSubstituted forLaveryat 74'minutes
• 8Kinsella
• 7Sinclair
• 3Pring
• 11Adebayo
• 10Gordon

Substitutes

• 9Lavery
• 13Rose
• 15Holden
• 17Hardy
• 20Bates
• 21Cockerill-Mollett
• 33Jules

Forest Green

• 24Thomas
• 6RawsonSubstituted forKitchingat 45+5'minutes
• 5MillsBooked at 71mins
• 19McGinley
• 3Bernard
• 15MortonSubstituted forAdamsat 77'minutes
• 18Dawson
• 23MillsBooked at 45mins
• 7Winchester
• 10CollinsBooked at 28minsSubstituted forStevensat 68'minutes
• 21McCoulsky

Substitutes

• 8Grubb
• 9Stevens
• 12Allen
• 13Wollacott
• 14Adams
• 20Kitching
• 25Mondal

Referee:

Seb Stockbridge

Attendance:

5,205

Match Stats

Home TeamWalsallAway TeamForest Green

Possession

Home51%

Away49%

Shots

Home17

Away3

Shots on Target

Home5

Away1

Corners

Home7

Away2

Fouls

Home24

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Walsall 1, Forest Green Rovers 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Walsall 1, Forest Green Rovers 1.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Josh Gordon (Walsall).

Posted at 90'+4'

Ebou Adams (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Liam Kinsella (Walsall).

Posted at 90'+2'

Carl Winchester (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Hand ball by Shawn McCoulsky (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by James Hardy (Walsall).

Posted at 90'+1'

Kevin Dawson (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Stuart Sinclair (Walsall).

Posted at 90'

Shawn McCoulsky (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

James Clarke (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Shawn McCoulsky (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 89'

Foul by James Clarke (Walsall).

Posted at 89'

Shawn McCoulsky (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Liam Kinsella (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Matt Stevens (Forest Green Rovers).

Goal!

Posted at 86'

Goal! Walsall 1, Forest Green Rovers 1. James Hardy (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.

Posted at 86'

Josh Gordon (Walsall) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Rory Holden with a cross.

Posted at 86'

Stuart Sinclair (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Matt Stevens (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 83'

Ebou Adams (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Rory Holden (Walsall).

Posted at 82'

Attempt blocked. James Hardy (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Matt Stevens (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 81'

Stuart Sinclair (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Lewis Thomas.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Caolan Lavery (Walsall) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rory Holden.

Posted at 79'

Mat Sadler went off injured after Walsall had used all subs.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Caolan Lavery (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Ebou Adams replaces James Morton.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Kevin Dawson (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 76'

James Hardy (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Booking

Posted at 75'

Dan Scarr (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 75'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Walsall. Caolan Lavery replaces Cameron Norman.

Posted at 74'

Delay in match because of an injury Lewis Thomas (Forest Green Rovers).

Posted at 73'

Lewis Thomas (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Dangerous play by Dan Scarr (Walsall).

Posted at 73'

Foul by Matt Stevens (Forest Green Rovers).

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