Saints Under 18's fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wolves at Staplewood on Saturday in their second league game of the season…
On a bright day at the club's training ground, it was the visitors who started the strongest, with a couple of early close range efforts which failed to trouble Jack Dovey in the Saints goal.
Just after the quarter hour mark, Wolves took the lead with an incisive break away which culminated in a low shot across Dovey and into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.
In a game that was keenly contested by both teams, Saints tried to hit back straight away as Callum McNish picked up Tony Garrod's cut-back, but saw hit shot tipped over the bar by the Wolves 'keeper.
Jordan Keegan then supplied Daryl McLean with a clever pass towards the end of the first half, but the young winger's low angled shot was kept out by the feet of the visting stopper.
Not long after the break, Keegan worked his way through the Wolves defence once again and, having already taken one challenge in his stride outside of the area, he then appeared to be fouled inside the box, but nothing was given.
The hosts' best chances to equalise came 15 minutes from the end of the game when a Jordan Keegan corner from the right found Andy Robinson, who forced a stunning one-handed save from the 'keeper.
Garyn Preen was also denied by a strong save in the dying minutes as Saints continued to press for an equaliser that never came.
Youth Team Coach Dave Puckett was disappointed with the final result, which he said came on the back of another promising week on the training pitch.
"Wolves started strongly and we took a little while to get going, which I didn't expect after the good week we've had," he said.
"I thought our discipline and control of the ball wasn't up to the standards we have set ourselves but we're looking forward to putting that right next week."
Saints Under-18's: Jack Dovey, Sam Argent, Ben Reeves, Ryan Tafazolli, Aarran Racine, Andy Robinson, Callum McNish, Daryl McLean, Garyn Preen, Tony Garrod (Jordace Holder-Spooner 70), Jordan Keegan (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 77). Subs (not used): Steven Mowthorpe, Ben Martin, Lloyd Foot, Lloyd Isgrove.
