Walsall have already secured their place in the fourth tier for at least another year but were looking to end the season with a win ahead of what will no doubt be a busy summer break in WS1.
Carlisle United got the final game of the season underway and created the first chance of the match just four minutes in, as some good work from captain, Nick Anderton, and Omari Patrick played Joe Riley in, but the midfielder was unable to keep his effort on target, as the ball sailed wide of the upright.
The hosts continued to enjoy a good early spell, winning a free-kick in the seventh minute, which eventually fell to Anderton who headed goal-wards, but could not beat Walsall shot-stopper, Jack Rose, who was well placed to make the save.
Walsall began to see more of the ball as the game continued, but Tom Leak headed their first half-chance of the match well wide in the eleventh minute.
The Saddlers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, and seventeen minutes in created an opportunity to open the scoring, with a lovely ball from Sam Perry finding Tyreik Wright, whose low cross into the box just evaded Caolan Lavery who looked likely to score had he been able to get a touch on it.
The visiting side won the first corner of the game some twenty-three minutes in, as Carlisle goalkeeper, Paul Farman parried a Lavery effort onto the head of George Tanner who headed the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the flag-kick though, as Callum Anthony Guy headed clear.
Back at the other end just two minutes later, the hosts saw probably the best chance of the game denied by Rose, who did well to prevent a headed effort from Jack Armer finding the target.
The Saddlers wasted no time in working the ball back up to the other end, where Max Melbourne picked out Josh Gordon with a neat cross, but after beating his man, the striker was unable to find the target with a curling effort which sailed narrowly wide of the far post.
As we reached the half-hour mark, Carlisle won their first corner of the game, as Melbourne got involved at the other end to turn the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the opportunity as the Saddlers defences stood firm and cleared the danger.
United were unlucky not to open the scoring in the thirty-seventh minute, as a super save from Rose denied Gime Toure before Jon Mellish fired the rebound high over the crossbar when he really should have done better.
The hosts continued to enjoy a brighter spell as we raced towards the break, with Joshua Kayode seeing an effort from just outside the box blocked in the thirty-ninth minute, and five minutes later, Tanner fired an effort straight into the waiting arms of the Walsall shot-stopper.
One additional minute was added to end the first half, but neither side was able to create any further chances of note and the teams headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with the game still goalless.
HT
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CUFC
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0-0
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WFC
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The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the second-half underway. The Saddlers began the half brightly, winning a free-kick in a dangerous spot just a minute after play resumed, but Leak was unable to head Emmanuel Osadebe's cross home, with the ball sailing harmlessly wide of the upright.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-second minute, allowing Armer to receive treatment for a head injury. He was soon back on his feet though and able to continue.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with the long season beginning to tell. Both sides enjoyed spells on the ball, but neither were able to make use of it.
With fifty-nine minutes on the clock, Carlisle opted to make the first change of the afternoon, with Joe Riley making way for Cedwyn Scott.
In the sixty-seventh minute, both sides chose to make changes to their teams. Walsall replacing Josh Gordon with Wes McDonald, as Carlisle's Gime Toure made way for Lewis Alessandra.
The Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous spot moments after the change, which Osadbe swung onto the head of Melbourne, who was unable to keep his effort on target as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Twenty minutes from time, the hosts were presented with a chance to open the scoring, as Anderton worked some magic to get the ball to Scott on the edge of the area, but the latter's effort from a tight angle sailed high over the bar, without troubling Rose in the Walsall goal.
Carlisle continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position in the seventy-third minute, but the Saddlers defences stood firm to clear the initial effort before Armer fired over.
The game again settled into something of a midfield battle, with both sides struggling to create anything to test their opposition, though seventy-seven minutes in, Lavery did force a save from Farman, who made light work of gathering the weak effort.
With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, Carlisle opted to make a double change to their line-up, with both Omari Patrick and Jon Mellish making way as Josh Dixon and Taylor Charters took their respective places.
Five minutes from time, the Saddlers also chose to make a double substitution; Tyreik Wright and Hayden White the men to make way as Cameron Norman and Jack Nolan were given an opportunity to stretch their legs.
There was little further action of note, as the season slowly drew to an end, and after three additional minutes were played, during which time Emmanuel Osadebe and Liam Kinsella were replaced by Joe Willis and Stuart Sinclair, the game was brought to an end with the sides sharing the spoils.
At the end of another campaign, this match may have been referred to as anti-climactic, but after what we have witnessed from the Saddlers over the past nine months, a "bore draw" was probably a fitting end to the season.
FT
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CUFC
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0-0
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WFC
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VENUE
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Brunton Park
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REFEREE
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Marc Edwards
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