Ten-man City held on for a draw to register their first Pontins League point of the season against Walsall.

Robert Garrett saw red for the Potters after a reckless lunge on David McDermott shortly before half time, in a match that saw Sam Bangoura make his return to action at the Britannia Stadium.

The Guinean international played the whole of the first half, before being replaced by the returning Adam Rooney at the interval.

John Eustace, captain for the night, also stepped up his return to full fitness, playing the full 90 minutes.

Despite naming a strong side, including the likes of Hannes Sigurdsson, Martin Paterson and Robert Duggan, Noel Blake's men were on the back foot early on.

Nathaniel Howell headed McDermott's teasing cross wide of the mark, while Scott Dann tried his luck as the Saddlers started brightly.

But City rallied and Bangoura could have opened the scoring when he scuffed an effort wide of the far post, as the first period ended goalless.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Potters were livelier after the break and Paterson should have done better when he headed into the arms of Rene Gilmartin.

Mark Bradley and Dann again tested Duggan in the City goal, while at the other end Sigurdsson and Paterson tried in vain to break the deadlock.

The stubborn City defence held off a flurry of late Walsall attacks to keep the scoreboard blank and earn a hard fought point of the Potters.

City: Duggan, Robinson, Ho, Eustace, Shotton, Page, Paterson, Garrett, Bangoura (Rooney 45), Sigurdsson, Watson (McGaw 69). Subs: St Louis Hamilton, Doyle.

Walsall: Gilmartin, Doran, Smith, Dann, Sansara, Demoutagnac, McDermott, Deakin, Bradley, Harris, Howell (Schwarz 55). Subs: Quarless, Davies, Davies, McKeown.