Walsall had the first chance of the game after two minutes when Jon Macken's weak shot from a loose ball in the box was easily taken by United goalkeeper Adam Collin. Reuben Reid for the Saddlers then in the 13th minute slicing a 30-yard strike well wide, before the Cumbrians were denied a spot-kick by referee Brendan Malone after Gary Madine looked to have his heels clipped in the penalty area by Andy Butler.
Alex Nicholls then had a shot saved by Collin in a quiet period in the match before after 24 minutes Butler's header from a long Walsall free-kick up was caught comfortably by Collin. Carlisle then, slightly against the run of play, taking the lead two minutes afterwards when a good move involving James Berrett, Ben Marshall, Tom Taiwo and Francois Zoko ended with Simek's drive on goal being very well saved by Walker only for Grella to lash home the loose ball.
Zoko then had a swerving shot saved by Walker at the second attempt but the Saddlers found an equalising goal after 36 minutes following a Lubomir Michalik foul on Jon Macken 25 yards out, Richards then stepping up to plant a cracking finish into the top corner of Collin's net. Macken was then booked for dissent shortly afterwards before on 39 minutes Madine headed wide of Walker's far-post from a Berrett corner.
A couple of minutes on and Macken chested down for Richards but the Saddlers goalscorer was only able to slice his left-footed half-volley wide of the target. Marshall then for Carlisle shooting straight into the arms of Walker from range before a minute into injury time a Nicholls free-kick in deflected inches wide of Collin's goal via a combination of first Macken and then Cumbrians centre-half James Chester.
Walsall came out as the better side after the break and very early on Richards had a shot blocked by Michalik, before they took the lead after 53 minutes following a poor pass by Tom Cruise and then a silly foul by Berrett earned the Saddlers a central free-kick 25 yards out. Richard Taundry then touching the ball off for that man Richards to take a quick touch before firing another well hit strike beyond the reach of Collin.
Just after the hour mark and Carlisle boss Greg Abbott made a change upfront as the ineffective Zoko was replaced by Matt Robson with Grella then being pushed upfront. United then going very close to grabbing an equaliser after 64 minutes when Grella's header from a Robson cross was deflected behind. Berrett's corner in then seeing Michalik's header down find Madine only for the Blues striker to hook a close range effort onto Walker's crossbar.
Walsall nearly made it 3-1 midway through the half though when Darryl Westlake's deep free-kick up was headed inches wide by Butler with Collin seemingly well beaten. Carlisle then attacking once more after 72 minutes when Madine fed Marshall for a cross-shot in from the right which was well palmed away by Walker, with the resultant Westlake clearance then falling to Grella for a long range drive that was never going to test the Saddlers goalkeeper.
The Cumbrians then made their second change of the match when Craig Curran came on for Arsenal-loanee left-back Cruise as the Blues went to a 3-4-3 formation, before Marshall saw his shot on goal deflected away from the target by a good Butler block. The Saddlers then making two substitutions in quick succession as they looked to see out their lead in the closing stages as Macken and Reid were taken off and replaced by Liam Dickinson and Will Grigg respectively.
With time running out Michalik very hopefully hammered a free-kick from his own half wide of Walker's goal before Simek picked up a yellow card for dissent a minute into injury time. Carlisle not really threatening at all to get a late leveller in the five minutes added on as the Saddlers looked dangerous on the break and a low Dickinson cross in just evaded the running in Grigg as the final whistle loomed.