History-making Sheppey United gave League 2 Walsall a first-half scare before their best FA Cup run ended in front of the television cameras on Friday night.

Midfielder James Bessey-Saldanha gave Sheppey hope of what would have been one of the competition’s greatest upsets with a goal-of-the-season contender and, although Douglas James-Taylor equalised for the Saddlers, it remained all square at the break.

But Walsall - four divisions higher in the pyramid than their Isthmian South East hosts - won 4-1 as Tom Knowles, Ross Tierney and Isaac Hutchinson got second-half goals.

The visitors looked to seize the initiative at Holm Park in front of a record crowd of 1,450. But the home contingent were given early encouragement when Bessey-Saldanha, who played with an injured hand, won a corner which was well gathered by Walsall goalkeeper Owen Evans.

Recalled Oisin McEntee then nodded wide a header from a corner at the other end on eight minutes and Tierney blasted wide from distance.

Inspired Ites goalkeeper Aiden Prall was called into his first action of a busy night with 10 minutes played to save from James-Taylor and did likewise from the same player less than 60 seconds later.

Unsurprisingly, the better of the opportunities were falling to the away side, who came into the match on a three-game winless run, and Prall made a fine fingertip save to thwart left-back Liam Gordon after he had burst forward.

Walsall hadn’t taken them, though. But Bessey-Saldanha certainly did as he sent the supporters of the lowest-ranked club left in this season’s competition into dreamland with the opening goal.

He used the overlapping run of left-back Frankie Morgan as a decoy and cut inside after a Jacob Lambert pass before Bessey-Saldanha unleashed a superb 25-yard strike which flew past Evans and into the net on 21 minutes for his first goal this season.

The West Midlands outfit were clearly rattled at this stage, although almost equalised shortly before the half-hour mark. Centre-back Connor Wilkins was in the right place at the right time to clear James-Taylor’s shot off the line after he had found space in the penalty box.

But an uncharacteristic 32nd-minute error by midfielder Josh Wisson brought The Ites down to earth. Looking to retain possession, Wisson played the ball into the path of James-Taylor, who drilled past Prall to find the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

Mat Sadler’s side nearly went ahead two minutes later, too, only for Prall to make a good save from Hutchinson’s 20-yard drive.

The hosts’ keeper was having another excellent night and tipped a long-range strike by Knowles wide - but made an even better save off Ryan Stirk, soon after. Prall plucked an effort which looked destined for the top corner away for a corner as he showed why he’s one of the most highly-rated stoppers in the division.

Star striker Dan Bradshaw had always been an injury doubt and he could only last 44 minutes. Bradshaw was replaced by Alex Willis, who had netted twice for Sheppey in a 3-2 league loss at Merstham last weekend.

A late first-half foray forward gave the Islanders hope they could retake the lead and they certainly didn’t look overawed by the big occasion.

And just two minutes after the restart, Ernie Batten’s Ites again went close. Winger Danny Leonard did well before Morgan crossed for Willis but his shot went wide.

Prall, meanwhile, continued to shine and added another great save to his collection in the early stages of the second half.

The home side were causing real problems of their own, picking and choosing when to counter-attack well. Wilkins managed to miss the target with a gilt-edged chance after Evans had flapped at Sheppey skipper Richie Hamill’s high free-kick.

But the Saddlers went ahead for the first time in the 53rd minute as their dominance in possession started to pay dividends when Knowles found space outside the area and curled beyond Prall.

A blatant handball from Gordon was ignored by referee Tom Reeves on the hour mark. That allowed Gordon to deliver a dangerous cross which fell to Tierney, who dragged wide before Prall made a more simple stop from Hutchinson.

But the contest now appeared all-but over and Walsall added a third in the 63rd minute through Tierney who made no mistake after a through ball from midfield.

Prall saved from Knowles with 12 minutes of normal time to go.

Boss Batten decided to bring teenage attacker Oladipo Durowoju on in the last 10 minutes and went two up-top.

It was a move which backfired somewhat in the 87th minute as Walsall controversially added a fourth. Player-of-the-match Prall looked to have the ball kicked out of his hands but the officials allowed play to go on and Hutchinson got in on the act.

He could have added a fifth in stoppage time, as well, only to shoot over. But that would have been extremely harsh on Sheppey who were still given a massive ovation at the full-time whistle.

The home boss made five changes as Bradshaw, ex-Dartford player Leonard, fellow midfielders Bessey-Saldanha and Lambert, alongside Wilkins, returned.

The Saddlers showed a great deal of respect for their lower-division hosts, making just two switches from their starting line-up which lost 2-1 at Mansfield in the league last weekend.

Defender McEntee and James-Taylor replaced experienced midfielder Brandon Comley and striker Danny Johnson, who both dropped to the bench. Goal-scoring midfielder Hutchinson also started.

Even before the First-Round match, Sheppey had already earned more than £20,000 in prize money, plus additional funds through gate receipts and television money. This was the first time The Ites had ever reached the First-Round proper in the competition.

They return to league action at home to Beckenham on Tuesday while Walsall host Harrogate in League 2 next weekend.

Sheppey: Prall, Morgan, Majoyegbe, Hamill, Leonard (Spencer 67mins), Wilkins (Birch 83mins), Bradshaw (Willis 44mins), Bessey-Saldanha, Lambert (Durowoju 83mins), Diallo, Wisson (Morris 67mins). Subs not used: Graham, Housego, Glock, Marsh.

Walsall: Evans, Okagbue (Comley 77mins), Gordon, McEntee (Menayese 89mins), Daniels, Riley, Hutchinson, Knowles (Thomas 89mins), James-Taylor (Johnson 89mins), Stirk, Tierney. Subs not used: Smith, Matt, Foulkes, Allen, Griffiths.

Referee: Tom Reeves.

Attendance: 1,450 (170 away).