Colchester 2 Walsall 1
Battling Walsall were left cursing their luck after they were left with nothing despite a gutsy performance at Colchester.
Kevin Lisbie's 61st minute penalty, after Mark Hughes felled Josh Payne, won it for United – but the Saddlers were the better team for much of the game.
Darren Byfield had equalised just 90 seconds, after Lisbie's 26th minute opener.
The Saddlers were forced into a change before kick-off when Jamie Vincent was injured in the warm-up and Netan Sansara, making his first appearance of the season, replaced him.
Steve Jones failed to recover from a virus, with Peter Till coming in, and goalkeeper Clayton Ince replaced the crocked Rene Gilmartin.
New Hull loanee shotstopper Mark Oxley made the bench with fit again Clayton McDonald, but there was no place for Sam Parkin.
Payne and Anthony Wordsworth had two early sighters for the hosts, before Mark Bradley glanced a header wide after seven minutes.
Kayode Odejayi had a close range effort disallowed for offside ,but it was an excellent start from the Saddlers who played expansive and sharp football.
The hosts looked dangerous on the break ,but continued to get caught offside and Matt Lockwood had to make a last-ditch challenge on Byfield to prevent the striker squeezing through.
The Saddlers were dominating but after 26 minutes they fell behind.Clive Platt latched onto a bouncing ball to fire in a cross shot from the edge of the box and Lisbie stole in unmarked to net.
But just 90 seconds later they were level, Byfield turning the United defence to finish high pastgoalkeeper Ben Williams.
It was justice for Walsall who were on top before going behind.
The game quickly reverted to type – with the Saddlers on top – and Till had a shot deflect wide before Dwayne Mattis put a header over in first half injury time.
Matt Richards almost put the visitors ahead after 54 minutes, but guided Till's cross over.
Odejayi then tested Ince but couldn't find the power and a minute later the goalkeeper produced an excellent parry from Lisbie's stinging volley.
But, just after the hour, Hughes felled Payne in the area and Lisbie dispatched the penalty.
It was cruel on the Saddlers and Hughes, who looked to have won the ball, but Payne was going nowhere and it was a dangerous challenge to make.
Platt then had the ball in the net after 66 minutes, but was penalised for a foul on Ince. The Saddlers were rocking yet Richards forced Williams to tip his rising drive over after 76 minutes.
Steven Gillespie hit the woodwork late on and Richards' injury time cross was tipped over by Williams, as Walsall couldn't find a deserved leveller.
