Carlisle United 1-1 Walsall: Saddlers' lead at the summit cut to two points

The Saddlers hit the front in the seventh-minute when Taylor Allen planted a sumptuous half-volley beyond Gabe Breeze at his near post to extend his season tally to seven goals. 

In a scrappy first half, Aaron Hayden rose highest inside the penalty area to head home an equaliser from Elliott Embleton's corner with 22 minutes on the clock.

Charlie Lakin hit the post on the hour-mark and Jellis' quick free-kick was turned behind by Breeze at his near post but Walsall were unable to find a winner.

Second-place Bradford closed the gap with a 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town at Valley Parade, although Walsall boast a 10-point buffer between themselves and Notts County in fourth.

Mat Sadler made two changes from Walsall's 1-0 defeat against Swindon Town at Bescot on Saturday, which put paid to their 12-match unbeaten home run in League Two. 

Lakin was recalled to the midfield at the expense of Brandon Comley and Albert Adomah was given the nod in attack with Ellis Harrison missing due to illness. 

Since setting a club record nine-match winning streak with a 4-2 triumph over MK Dons on January 18, Walsall have mustered a mere 10 points from the previous 30 available in League Two. 

But Walsall made the perfect start when Allen broke the deadlock with seven minutes on the clock. Jellis' corner was only cleared as far as Stirk on the edge of the box and the former Wales under-21 international was afforded an abyss of space to pick out an unmarked Allen at the far post. 

Allen's eyes lit up at the early opportunity presented to him and he seized it emphatically with a crisp low finish beyond Breeze at his near post on the half-volley.

Carlisle looked sloppy during the opening 20 minutes and were guilty of turning over possession time and time again. 

But Walsall buckled at the first real sign of pressure midway into the first half when Hayden towered above his marker to meet Embleton's corner with a darting header past Simkin.

Embleton went in immediate search of another. After stealing the ball straight from the restart, the ex-Sunderland midfielder checked on to his right foot and blazed over from outside the box. 

Barrett created something out of nothing after beating Kadeem Harris for pace with a darting run down the right. The wing-back squared for Adomah but the 37-year-old could only scuff his finish wide under pressure by a Carlisle defender.

The pendulum swung back and forth as the game descended into somewhat of a scrappy affair. Allen nearly finished the half as he started it when he unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box but Breeze stretched to his right top corner to impressively palm away. 

Tommy Simkin made a double save to prevent Walsall from falling behind soon after the restart. 

Carlisle were able to attack down the left with ease and Simkin could only parry a low cross into the danger area. The Stoke City loanee made amends by springing to his feet to deny Embleton, and then Matthew Dennis on the follow-up. 

At the other end, Lakin beat the offside trap to latch on to Jellis' delightful chipped ball but could only direct his half-volley wide of the near post. 

Lakin came even closer when his venomous effort from the edge of the box crashed off the post after Adomah had cushioned a header down into his path. 

Walsall were starting to knock on the door and Jellis almost caught Breeze out with a whipped free-kick to the near post but the Blues shot-stopper got down just in time to turn behind.

Sadler's men were having their best period of the game but were still not able to restore their lead. Adomah surged into space following an inspired run but his effort from distance was palmed behind by Breeze. 

Allen glided forward from deep, putting together a tidy sequence of passes, before scuffing his effort from distance over the bar. 

Sadler was slow to turn to his bench, introducing Levi Amantchi with 17 minutes left and bringing on Danny Johnson in the final minute of normal time. 

Liam Gordon also cut inside to drag wide with his weaker right foot and Oisin McEntee headed straight at Breeze from point-blank range in stoppage time.

Next, Walsall welcome League Two play-off chasers Grimsby Town to Bescot on Saturday in the early kick-off. 

Teams 

Carlisle United (3-4-2-1): Breeze; Lavelle, Thomas, Hayden; Davies, Guy (Patching 80), Whelan (Vela 67), Harris; Scott, Embleton (Jones 67); Dennis (Wearne 80).

Unused: Lewis, Ellis, Bevan, Hugill.

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Simkin; McEntee, Okagbue, Allen; Stirk; Barrett, Jellis, Lakin, L Gordon; Matt (Johnson 90), Adomah (Amantchi 74).

Unused: Hornby, Williams, Weir, Chang, Comley.

Referee: Paul Marsden 

Attendance: 6,378 (301)