Dale Eve and his Stoke City Under 21 teammates snatched what looked an unlikely draw in their opening Final Third Development League Cup Northern Section fixture away at Walsall.
Stoke struggled to break down a resilient Walsall side which contained a number of first team regulars at Chasetown's Scholars Ground.
Substitute Tomi Adeloye capitalized on a defensive mishap in the dying stages of injury time to cancel out a thunderous half-volley from midfielder Liam Kinsella after half-time.
Manager Glyn Hodges made a number of changes following defeat to Blackburn Rovers eleven days earlier with Honduras international Wilson Palacios being the stand out starter for the Group A fixture.
It was an even affair inside the opening stages as both sides looked to implement their passing game on a mild afternoon in Cannock.
The hosts created the first chance on goal on the four minute mark when striker Jordan Cook spun 25-yards out and unleashed a low drive that was comfortably saved by Eve.
City came out the blocks soon after when George Waring was inches away from pouncing on Mohamed Chemalal's low ball toward the 6-yard box, but Walsall defender Dean Holden was on hand to prevent an early lead with a sliding challenge.
Chemalal was involved once more shortly after finding space on the edge of the area, but his left footed effort was always rising over.
The game evened out for a large period with neither team creating any real glances on goal, before a lapse in concentration from defender Matt Preston allowed Kieran Monlouis to pick up possession and forcing Walsall’s goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray to superbly save down low on his right side.
Walsall had a penalty claim rejected on the half hour mark when Kieron Morris looked to have been tripped by Stoke’s skipper Mason Watkins.
The hosts surged into pressure when Amadou Bakayoko had Eve scrambling, but the striker's effort from the edge of the area travelled just over the upright.
Hodges' side were then a lick of paint away from taking the lead on the 40-minute mark when Monlouis' tasty effort with the outside of his boot was deflected onto the post.
Walsall came out the blocks quickest after the interval, with Cook forcing Eve into an excellent stop when the Bermudian stretched down low to palm the ball away, when the strike looked to be going past him.
It was the only glaring effort on goal in the opening stages of the second period before the hosts caused more pressure on goal just before the hour mark.
Murphy's effort toward the top corner was pushed away by Eve before Bakayoko's blushes for firing over were spared when the assistant referee put his flag up for offside.
Stoke struggled to cause MacGillivray any real trouble as the Saddlers continued to look lively.
Luke Delaney's first involvement after coming on for Cook on 67 minutes was to see his cross from the left deflect dangerously toward goal as Eve scrambled to push the ball behind at his near post.
Walsall then took a deserved lead on 75 minutes with a thunderbolt from Liam Kinsella.
City dealt with the initial corner, but there was nothing Eve could do when the Walsall man caught the clearance sweetly with a rasping half-volley that sprung past the Stoke goalkeeper from 25-yards out.
Walsall continued to look sharp after going ahead and did well to prevent Stoke from getting back into the tie with substitute Adeloye's header straight at MavGilivray in the final stages being the best chance of the half for City.
Eve prevented Walsall from doubling their lead in stoppage time when Bakayoko used his strength to pull away from Sam Coulson, but his first time shot was superbly tipped onto the post by the goalkeeper before City were then handed a lifeline in the fifth minute of added on time.
Adeloye pounced on a mistake from Walsall goalkeeper MacGillivray to slot into an empty net and earn Stoke an undeserved draw in their opening Group A fixture.
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