George Bennett analysis: Late blow floors Walsall on gloomy day up north

But Walsall struggled to match the electricity of the crowd in the opening exchanges and found themselves unable to deal with Morecambe’s speed on the counter-attack.

Tom Bloxham and Adam Mayor proved particularly dangerous out wide, while JJ McKiernan served as the Shrimps chief creator.

The trio played a defining role in the opening goal when 18-year-old Mayor slotted a confident finish under Owen Evans.

Bloxham cushioned down Donald Love’s throw-in down the right and knocked the ball inside to McKiernan. He opened up the pitch by finding Eli King in space and the Cardiff City loanee fed Mayor at the far post for the teenager to deliver the deadlock-breaking strike in the 24th minute.

Morecambe had a chance prior to taking the lead when Bloxham stung the palms of Evans from range.

Walsall overcame a chaotic first 30 minutes and finally began to impose themselves on the game.

Joe Riley surged inside with a couple of driving runs and Ryan Stirk began to orchestrate the play in the centre of the park.

Love attempted to launch a throw down the line just as he did for Morecambe’s opener, but Stirk snuffed out the danger to intercept.

Yann Songo’o steamed into a challenge inside the Walsall half on the left touchline, although Stirk was able to release his pass before being hacked down.

Danny Johnson chased the ball and outfoxed Morecambe defender Jacob Bedeau to find himself one-on-one with Stuart Moore.

The Shrimps goalkeeper stormed off his line and Johnson applied an astute finish into the bottom corner to level proceedings after 38 minutes.

Johnson scored a hat-trick on his debut in the 4-0 victory over Hartlepool on the opening game last season, and once again got off the mark on his second Saddlers ‘debut’.

Walsall then finished the first half the stronger side as Donervon Daniels flashed a volley across the face of goal.

Stirk continued to pull the strings for Walsall in attack after the break and combined effectively with Chris Hussey down the left to carve out a chance for Liam Gordon.

Gordon blazed his effort wide of the mark but the visitors had the early impetus in the second period.

Boss Mat Sadler started five summer signings for the opening match, which included a professional debut for centre-back Harry Williams.

Priestley Farquharson was denied his debut due to a groin injury, which is not expected to be serious.

Tom Knowles was also unavailable after failing to fully recover from the injury which kept him out of the final pre-season victory over Solihull Moors.

Joe Riley was given the nod at right wing-back in his absence, and Knowles could possibly be on the sidelines for the upcoming matches against Blackburn Rovers and Stockport County.

Sadler made his first change with just over 20 minutes remaining. Douglas James-Taylor was introduced at the expense of Oteh and almost made an immediate impact when he nodded Riley’s cross over the woodwork.

Although Walsall had the better of the play for much of the second half, Morecambe fired two warning signs before dealing them a devastating hammer blow.

McKiernan stretched every sinew to meet Michael Mellon’s cross but was unable to guide his header goal wards, before Mellon drew a comfortable stop from Evans.

But it was Walsall who did most of the pushing heading into the final 10 minutes.

Debutant Williams ventured into opposition territory and opened up the Morecambe back line with a threaded pass. The ball deflected into the path of Johnson but his low shot was tipped onto the post.

Moore was the grateful recipient of the loose ball as a golden chance went begging for the Saddlers.

The crowd roared with excitement and bemusement when the fourth official held up the board to indicate eight minutes of additional time.

But it was the hosts who would capitalise at the death with Farrend Rawson scoring a late winner.

Mayor swung an inviting free-kick from the left into the box, which was headed towards goal by ex-Walsall midfielder Songo’o.

Evans clawed his effort onto the crossbar but Rawson pounced on the follow-up to convert with a close-range header.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Sadler, as the 38-year-old started his permanent tenure with defeat.