On Saturday afternoon, Walsall's Under 18s side played host to Preston North End in the latest EFL Youth Alliance (North West) fixture of the season. A brief goal report is below.
The Saddlers arrived at the game at the top of the league, having won seven of their nine games, drawing one and losing the remaining clash.
Their opponents were sat in eleventh place ahead of kick-off, with the side struggling to close out games as they had drawn six of their ten fixtures.
Walsall started the game in superb fashion as they took the lead with just three minutes on the clock as Callum Cockerill-Mollett found space and sent the ball low past Callum Roberts in the North End goal.
The Saddlers doubled their lead just two minutes later as Dan O'Sullivan was the one in space, he slipped the ball home with the defence unable to do anything to prevent it.
Preston grabbed a goal of their own with five minutes of the half remaining as Melle Meulensteen slotted home from the penalty spot. A questionable decision from the match official.
The second half saw a couple of solid goal-scoring opportunities for both sides, and the visitors equalised with twenty minutes of the match remaining with Cameron Day flicking on from a corner, unlucky for Brandon Ganley in the Walsall goal.
The game continued to be a competitive affair, with both sides creating chances, and the visitors rode their luck from time-to-time, but there were no further goals as the points were shared.
Walsall started the game in superb fashion as they took the lead with just three minutes on the clock as Callum Cockerill-Mollett found space and sent the ball low past Callum Roberts in the North End goal.
The Saddlers doubled their lead just two minutes later as Dan O'Sullivan was the one in space, he slipped the ball home with the defence unable to do anything to prevent it.
Preston grabbed a goal of their own with five minutes of the half remaining as Melle Meulensteen slotted home from the penalty spot. A questionable decision from the match official.
The second half saw a couple of solid goal-scoring opportunities for both sides, and the visitors equalised with twenty minutes of the match remaining with Cameron Day flicking on from a corner, unlucky for Brandon Ganley in the Walsall goal.
The game continued to be a competitive affair, with both sides creating chances, and the visitors rode their luck from time-to-time, but there were no further goals as the points were shared.
WALSALL TEAM | Ganley, Tonks (Fisher 77'), Cockerill-Mollett, Cela, Vann, Kendrick, Hayles-Docherty (Mason 65'), Maddocks, Peters (Cairns 84'), O'Sullivan, Freemantle
SUBS NOT USED | Caswell; Candlin
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST) | RESULT
WALSALL 2 PRESTON NORTH END 2
HT | 2-1
GOALS | Cockerill-Mollett (3'), O'Sullivan (5') - Meulensteen (PEN 40'), Day (70')
REFEREE | Mr. Scott Chalkley (Birmingham)
GOALS | Cockerill-Mollett (3'), O'Sullivan (5') - Meulensteen (PEN 40'), Day (70')
REFEREE | Mr. Scott Chalkley (Birmingham)