Earlier today, Neil Woods' undefeated Walsall Under 18s side played host to Blackpool Under 18s in the latest Football League Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season. You can see the team news, and read our match report below.
WALSALL U18s v BLACKPOOL U18s - THE TEAMS
WALSALL | Jezeph, Tonks, Cockerill-Mollett, Sangha, Vann, Roberts, Oliver, Owen, Peters, Kouhyar, Shorrock
SUBS | Caswell; Smith, Hayes-Docherty, Maddocks, King
-V-
BLACKPOOL | Boney, Wilson, Richards, Cato, Williams, Roscoe, Robinson, Doyle, Pond, Gregory, Badu
SUBS | N'Guessan, Sims, Roache, Chea
SUBS | Caswell; Smith, Hayes-Docherty, Maddocks, King
-V-
BLACKPOOL | Boney, Wilson, Richards, Cato, Williams, Roscoe, Robinson, Doyle, Pond, Gregory, Badu
SUBS | N'Guessan, Sims, Roache, Chea
Walsall got the game underway, but it was Saddlers stopper Dan Jezeph who made the first meaningful save of the match, as Blackpool's Ben Badu hit a strong shot from the left of the area, well held by a confident Jezeph.
The visitors opened the scoring halfway through the half, as Tangerines midfielder James Doyle gained possession in midfield and slammed home into the top corner, not much Jezeph could have done about that one.
Walsall saw a Jordon Sangha shot blocked at the thirty-minute mark, a good ball from Maz Kouhyar finding the captain in space, but Sam Roscoe did well to get in the way of the effort.
With under ten minutes until the break, Blackpool 'keeper Myles Boney was forced into action, as Saddlers midfielder Nathan Owen unleashed a powerful effort from distance, a fine save from the young 'keeper.
The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, as Walsall's Callum Cockerill-Mollett was adjudged to have fouled his man inside the area. Blackpool's Macauley Wilson stepped up and slotted home taking his side two goals ahead as half time was called.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE - HALF TIME
WALSALL 0 - 2 BLACKPOOL
Blackpool kicked off the second half, but, as in the first half, it was the other side that had the first real chance of the period. Walsall's Maz Kouhyar sent a powerful drive off the underside of Blackpool's crossbar, as the Saddlers looked to get back into the match.
Kyle King was the Saddlers' first change, as the striker replaced Will Shorrock. Kyle, who returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines to grab a brace last weekend, looking to help his side notch their first goal of the game.
Blackpool 'keeper Boney was forced into action soon after, as the heavily-involved Kouhyar brought the best out of the young stopper.
As the game reached the seventy minute mark, Walsall fell further behind, Elliot Pond slipping the ball past Dan Jezeph.
With just over fifteen minutes of the game remaining, Walsall replaced Rory Oliver with Tobias Hayles-Docherty, and continued to look for their opening goal.
As the clock ticked down, the visitors made a few changes as they sought to, and succeeded in holding their lead and putting an end to the Saddlers' unbeaten start.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE - RESULT
WALSALL 0 - 3 BLACKPOOL
GOALS | Doyle (22'), Wilson (PEN 45'), Pond (70')