Saints' Under 18s side were held to a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Cobham on Saturday morning.

An entertaining match in Surrey saw Dave Puckett's men recover from going two goals down to claim a point against the FA Youth Cup semi-finalists.

The Blues took the lead after half an hour of play when a shot into the right hand corner of Jack Dovey's goal squeezed in and the hosts doubled their advantage three minutes before half time as an effort from the left squirmed through a wall of bodies and into the back of the net.

The two goals had arrived despite Saints creating plenty of chances from either flank, with Daryl McLean supplying opportunities for Andy Robinson, Jordan Keegan and Callum McNish in the opening 45 minutes.

Saints did, however manage to get a break just before the interval when a shot across the box deflected off a defender past the Chelsea 'keeper to reduce the deficit.

Lifted by the goal, the visitors raised their game once more and were rewarded ten minutes into the new half with a well taken goal from McNish. The midfielder went past two Blues defenders before slotting the ball past the 'keeper to deservedly put Saints back on level terms.

Puckett's side pushed the hosts all the way until the end as time got the better of the game.

"We showed good character, kept possession against a lively side, and we had chances to win it. Maybe if there were four or five more minutes we might have got another," the Under 18s boss sighed.

"But it was positive stuff all round, the lads stood up to a team of internationals and Youth Cup semi finalists, which they were not phased by and could have gone two or three up against early on."

Saints Under-18's: Dovey, B. Martin, Racine, Tafazolli, Argent, McLean, Robinson, McNish, Holder-Spooner, Keegan (Preen 70), Hoskins.