Earlier today, Walsall Football Club's Under 18s side played host to Preston North End Under 18s in the latest Football League Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season.
The Saddlers, who sat second in the Youth Alliance table behind Rochdale, went into the match on the back of a 3-0 league defeat to Bury, which was followed up by an FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of Burton Albion.
Preston, who sat seventh in the table ahead of kick-off, didn't play last weekend, but also went out of the Youth Cup, they drew 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra, but were defeated 3-0 on penalties.
The match, which took place at the young Saddlers' usual home of Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr, kicked off at 11:00am, and was a good attacking affair, with both sides creating scoring opportunities.
Walsall took the lead early in the second half, thanks to a goal from midfielder Brendan Pooni.
The second half continued in similar vein to the first, with both sides pressing, though as the minutes ticked away, North End upped the pressure and grabbed an equaliser upon the eighty-eighth minute mark, a Sam Livsey header, which was ultimately enough to secure a point for the travelling side.
F/T: WALSALL U18 1 PRESTON NORTH END U18 1
WALSALL Jezeph; Owen, Lewis, Sangha, K.Rowley, R.Smith, Delaney, Pooni, L.Rowley, Shakespeare, Henry
PRESTON NORTH END Dalton; Quigley, Whelan, Roscoe, Sampson, Hagen, AJa.Robinson, AJo.Robinson, Livsey, Boyd, Lunney
Preston, who sat seventh in the table ahead of kick-off, didn't play last weekend, but also went out of the Youth Cup, they drew 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra, but were defeated 3-0 on penalties.
The match, which took place at the young Saddlers' usual home of Ray Hall Lane in Great Barr, kicked off at 11:00am, and was a good attacking affair, with both sides creating scoring opportunities.
Walsall took the lead early in the second half, thanks to a goal from midfielder Brendan Pooni.
The second half continued in similar vein to the first, with both sides pressing, though as the minutes ticked away, North End upped the pressure and grabbed an equaliser upon the eighty-eighth minute mark, a Sam Livsey header, which was ultimately enough to secure a point for the travelling side.
F/T: WALSALL U18 1 PRESTON NORTH END U18 1
WALSALL Jezeph; Owen, Lewis, Sangha, K.Rowley, R.Smith, Delaney, Pooni, L.Rowley, Shakespeare, Henry
PRESTON NORTH END Dalton; Quigley, Whelan, Roscoe, Sampson, Hagen, AJa.Robinson, AJo.Robinson, Livsey, Boyd, Lunney