Walsall Under-18s were back in EFL Youth Alliance – North action on Saturday morning as they welcomed Salford City to the Birmingham County FA's headquarters on Ray Hall Lane.The Saddlers have been going through a difficult spell of form as of late, losing four games on the spin, the youngsters were in desperate need of a return to winning ways as they entered the final stages of the 2025/26 campaign.
WALSALL
Harrison Barber, Ellis Harris, Sonny Partridge, Sam Oliver, Jakub Pawlowski, McLloyd Oben, Paul Makavore, Louie Webb, Finn Teesdale, Dylan Thomas, Marley Roberts
Substitutes: Fraser Hamilton-Wright; Jaden Kandemiri, Ethan Khan, Archie Bunn, Levi Wain
It was Walsall that created the opening shot of the contest when Marley Roberts, who would later be forced off through injury, advanced through the Salford City half before finding Finn Teesdale in space. Teesdale seeing an effort saved with little more than five minutes played.
The Saddlers didn't create much more in the way of openings for most of the remaining first half, although goalkeeper Harrison Barber was called into action by the visiting attack – his sheet staying clean via a couple of strong saves.
Looking to make an impact, the Saddlers made a smattering of substitutions in the second half, with Ethan Khan and Archie Bunn replacing Paul Makavore and McLloyd Oben before Jaden Kandemiri came on for Sonny Partridge.
Walsall created a late opening that saw Jaden Kandemiri force the Salford stopper into a save, but the game ultimately ended all square as each of the teams had to settle for a share of the spoils in Great Barr.
| GOALSCORER | GOALSCORER |
| AT | RAY HALL LANE |