Walsall began brightly forcing a series of corners in the early exchanges.
The Saddlers failed to really capitalise on their early pressure and it wasn't long before Bournemouth began to come into the game.
A driven run and shot from Cherries man Wes Thomas was fired into the side netting.
Just after Marc Pugh, was sent racing through on goal and as Walker raced out to challenge him, Jimmy went to ground and fell arm first, gaining a booking, whilst the subsequent free kick was smashed wide.
On the 15th minute, some good play saw Walsall take the lead with Richard Taundry putting in some good work down the right hand side and finding Macken in the box who took a touch and slid past the Bournemouth keeper from 8 yards.
Walsall continued to look bright, a few half chances for Taundry ad Paterson and Mat Sadler rattled the cross bar as Bournemouth failed to get a foothold on the game.
Manny Smith prevented Wes Thomas from going clean in on Walkers goal with a beauty of a tackle before the ball went straight up the other end, and a Paterson cross was headed behind for a Walsall corner.
The resulting corner was knocked across by Taundry and Anton Peterlin headed at goal, which was blocked, and Andy Butler was there to head in the rebound to make it 2-0.
HALF TIME: Walsall 2 AFC Bournemouth 0
Bournemouth flew out of the blocks in the second, and it wasn't long before Cherries man Marc Pugh burst into the Walsall area and was brought down illegally by Lee Beevers.
The resulting penalty was duly converted by Micheal Symes.
The game turned into a backs to the walls job for the Saddlers somewhat although Macken's cross onto Nicholls' volley forced a good reaction save from the Bournemouth stopper.
Walsall were giving the ball away cheaply but it appeared they were somehow going to hold out for the three points until, three minutes into the allotted four, disaster struck.
Bournemouth man Simon Francis hooped a cross into the Walsall box and Steve Fletcher towered above the rest to hammer an unstoppable equaliser for the Cherries.
RESULT: Walsall 2 (Macken 15', Butler 44') AFC Bournemouth 2 (Symes PEN 62', Fletcher 90+3')
An excellent first half performance by all for Walsall, but they need to learn to keep it going, and keep possession, as it was given away far too cheaply a lot in the second half.
By: Lee Hale