Harrogate Town players left 'gutted' in dressing room after Walsall draw, reveals Ryan Fallowfield

The League Two newcomers recovered from falling a goal behind after just four minutes to take a 2-1 lead into half-time courtesy of close-range strikes from Aaron Martin and Jack Muldoon.

And they held on to that advantage until the 81st minute, when, following an extended period in the ascendancy, the visitors were awarded a penalty.

Joe Cracknell did well to save Josh Gordon's spot-kick, though the Saddlers attacker got lucky with the rebound and was able to slot home at the second attempt.

And, despite conceding that Walsall were the better side in the second half, Fallowfield said that he and his team-mates will head home unhappy on Saturday evening having failed to see the game out.

"Being in the lead at half-time, we didn't come out in the second half. It wasn't good enough and everyone in the changing room is disappointed with a draw," the 24-year-old full-back told the Harrogate Advertiser.

"Walsall were on top in the second half, and you hold your hands up and admit that, but everyone's absolutely gutted. It feels like a defeat. Yes, it is another point on the board but we want to try and win every single game.

"It says a lot about the mentality. The mentality is to go out and try and win every single game and so obviously everyone is disappointed today.

"I keep emphasising the disappointment because we really are disappointed. The lads are down in the changing room because we've not got three points from being in a winning position."

Town seemed to tire as the second half progressed, however Fallowfield believes that their inability to keep hold of the ball after the interval ultimately proved to be their undoing.

"You could say the lads looked tired, I just don't think we got our game going. Walsall came out a lot sharper second half and put us under a lot of pressure," he added.

"We didn't keep the ball well enough. We could have passed it more. We gave it away quite cheaply and didn't create enough chances after half-time.

"We've got to keep passing the ball rather than making three passes then going long. We need to find space and create space for ourselves and not panic when we've got the ball.

"It's just one of them halves of football where we've struggled and Walsall have come out and been the better team."

Saturday's draw against the Saddlers follows a 4-0 rout of Southend United on the opening weekend, leaving Town third in the League Two standings with four points to their name.

"I'd have taken four points before a ball was kicked, though I'm now disappointed that we've not taken six from where we were at half-time," Fallowfield added.

"We'll take four points from two games, but we'd have loved to have had all six."