Forte earns Latics a point

EQUALISER: Jonathan Forte

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WALSALL 1, ATHLETIC 1

JONATHAN Forte struck a late equaliser to earn Athletic a deserved share of the spoils on the opening day.

The substitute volleyed in with his left foot as he raced onto an excellent cross from Jake Cassidy in the 83rd minute to answer Romaine Sawyers' early strike for the Saddlers.

Sawyers had launched himself onto the ball in the eighth minute, taking a touch out of his feet and firing in emphatically to set Darren Kelly's side up against it.

David Dunn began on the bench for Athletic, who fielded on-loan Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Burn from the off with Cassidy getting a start up front.

Cassidy hit a tough chance over the top before the Saddlers took the lead through Sawyers.

Athletic had plenty of the ball, but struggled to open the home side up. Liam Kelly hammered a good effort a foot wide from 30 yards out, but at the other end Burn had to be alert to twice make crucial blocks on shots by Jordan Cook.

Rhys Turner had the visitors' best effort of the first half, lifting the ball wide with his left foot after being slipped in by Mike Jones just before half-time. The striker may reflect he could have done better.

Athletic upped the tempo in the second half and were the better of the sides, penning the Saddlers in their own half.

Joseph Mills struck a 30-yarder that Neil Etheridge could only punch away while at the other end, Coleman had to be alert to stop with his legs and then his hands from Sam Mantom efforts.

Dunn made his debut in the 66th minute and Athletic pressed hard for an opening.

It didn't seem it would quite come, until last season's 15-goal top scorer sent the 991 visiting fans behind the goal he scored in into raptures.