Yeovil and Walsall battled out to a 1-1 draw in horrendous conditions at Huish Park this afternoon.
Yeovil had the best of the first half, restricting Walsall to only one good chance and creating chances with their flowing football.
However the Saddlers dominated Yeovil throughout the second half and could have gained three points in the opening game of the season.
Yeovil boss, Russell Slade was satisfied with the result but bemoaned the weather conditions that denied his side the win.
"The conditions were much worse in the second half, the wind was much stronger, so it was difficult to get the ball forward easily. It was very unusual for the first game of the season!"
"Walsall on reflection deservedly came back into it and got a goal, albeit with gifted it to them."
The first chance for Yeovil fell to veteran striker Paul Warne who struck his shot straight at Saddlers' keeper Clayton Ince.
Aidan Downes calmly took on two Walsall players before slotting the ball through for Warne.
The Glovers then took the lead in the 9th minute, through new signing Gavin Tomlin.
Danny Schofield's through ball was poorly dealt with by Walsall's Stephen Roberts whose interception deflected the ball to Paul Warne.
Warne's shot was saved well by Ince, who could only palm the ball into the path of Tomlin to bundle into a gaping net.
Yeovil were denied a second by an acrobatic save from Ince after Darren Way's cross was diverted goal wards by Paul Warne's diving header.
Walsall's first chance fell to Michael Ricketts who rose above the Glovers defence to head Sofiene Zaaboub's corner wide of the goal.
Aidan Downes came close to grabbing a second goal for Yeovil in the 33rd minute when the former Everton trainee flashed a left footed shot just wide.
Searching for an equaliser, Walsall's Jabo Ibehre fired a speculative effort from 25 yards in the 38th minute, that skipper Terry Skiverton diverted wide of Asmir Begovic's goal.
Yeovil were unfortunate not to go into the break with a second goal after Chris Palmer almost put the ball past his own keeper in the 45th minute.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Walsall 0
The second half almost started the worst way possible for Russell Slade's men as Ricketts found himself clean through on goal. Fortunately for Yeovil, the Canadian giant Begovic made an excellent save with his feet.
Begovic was called into action again minutes later when Zaaboub struck a cross that was flying towards the top corner.
Walsall's powerful front line caused major problems for the Glovers in the 61st minute. Both Ricketts and Ibehre created chaos in the six yard box around Begovic from a corner as the Canadian failed to grasp the ball.
Walsall's heavy pressure eventually paid off in the 76th minute with Jabo Ibehre grabbing an equaliser for the Saddlers after a mistake by Terry Skiverton.
The ever-present captain's poor backpass fell straight to the powerful forward who snuck the ball under the on-rushing Begovic.
Slade was however pleased with his skipper Skiverton, despite the mistake that led to Walsall's equaliser. "Skivo's a good pro, he's put his hand up. He won't do that again and he's disappointed that's happened."
Substitute Lloyd Owusu could have put the Glovers back in the lead almost immediately after, but last season's top scorer fired a weak left footed effort that was comfortably by Ince.
As the game drew to a close Walsall pushed on looking to grab a late winner but the Glovers resilient defence kept the Saddlers at bay.
You can view or purchase action photographs from this match by going to www.ytfcpictures.com
Ian Perkins
