Exeter 1 Walsall 1

David Noble's strike 20 seconds from time denied Walsall a deserved FA Cup win at Exeter.

Mark Wilson's first goal for almost three years looked to have secured a first round win for the Saddlers but Noble's 94th minute strike levelled it.

Wilson's free kick – his first strike since a winner for Doncaster in a 2-1 win over Derby in February 2009 – almost avenged the Saddlers' 2-1 defeat to the Grecians last month.

Wilson, on loan from Donny, curled in on 21 minutes to pierce the gloom in Devon after a drab game, before Noble's late leveller forced a replay a week on Wednesday.

Jamie Paterson replaced Richard Taundry after his first senior strike in the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield last weekend.

Adam Chambers returned after a calf injury for Anton Peterlin while Grof retained his place in goal ahead of Jimmy Walker, available after suspension.

Wilson and Daniel Nardiello both fired wide in a lively opening but the tempo quickly died, as the teams demonstrated why they were at the wrong end of League One.

The Grecians are a point and a place ahead of the 20th placed Saddlers in the division after early-season struggles.

Both sides failed to build on bright midfield play with Exeter in particular, powder-puff, going forward.

And, on 21 minutes, the Saddlers took the lead when Paterson's trickery won a free kick 20-yards out.

Wilson's effort curled into the top corner – although it looked to have taken a touch off the wall.

Exeter tried to hit back and Grof was forced to claim Noble's low effort at the second attempt, before the goalkeeper was then forced to punch away the midfielder's free-kick just before the hour.

The hosts began to make the running with the Saddlers struggling to find any attacking rhythm and Grof spilled Liam Sercombe's effort on 37 minutes.

But Walsall finished the half the stronger and Andy Butler almost connected with Manny Smith's header across goal two minutes before the break.

Exete then began to cause problems after the re-start and Grof produced two fine saves from vicious Sercombe efforts on 55 minutes.

The Saddlers had be caught cold twice and they then had to rely on Butler to deny the flying John O'Flynn from threatening.

Wilson then almost embarrassed Lenny Pidgeley but the goalkeeper recovered after rushing off his line to thwart Paterson.

Walsall, more composed than their untidy hosts, were comfortable as Exeter lacked the poise and penetration to threaten.

The lead was a fragile one though and Taundry replaced Claude Gnakpa on 13 minutes from time, as manager Dean Smith looked to secure the lead.

Sercombe fired a wild volley out of the ground on 89 minutes but, 20 seconds from time, Noble found the bottom corner from 30-yards to break Walsall's resistance.