Walsall's Under 18s were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they played host to Wigan Athletic Under 18s in the EFL Youth Alliance (North West).
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Ganley; Mason, Fisher, Kendrick, Vann, Cockerill-Mollett, Cela, Maddocks, Freemantle, Cairns, Shorrock
SUBS | Caswell; Massamba, Harvey, Little, Friel
Graham Biggs has guided his side to second place in the North West division of the Alliance. The young Saddlers have won thirteen of their twenty-one games, drawing four and losing four.
Ahead of kick-off Wigan Athletic were sat in mid-table. The Latics had won eight, drawn eight and lost seven of their twenty-three games and were keen to build upon last week's four-nil victory over Tranmere Rovers.
The Saddlers started the game brightly, forcing a corner within the opening minute or so, but it was the Latics who would ultimately get control of the game and take the lead. Mwiya Malumo was the man alert to head home from a corner with around twenty-eight minutes of the first-half gone.
Wigan would go on to double their lead three minutes before the break as Callum Lanc unleashed a screamer which gave Walsall 'keeper Brandon Ganley very little chance as the Latics went into the break with a comfortable lead.
Walsall started the second-half well as Ethan Freemantle's header forced a save out of the 'keeper, he also saw an effort drift past the post as the Latics defence backed off allowing him space in front of goal.
Walsall would go on to grab a consolation goal in the early part of stoppage time as Little did well to react as the goalkeeper fumbled a cross, a simple tap-in awaited as the Saddlers cut the Latics lead.
There were no further goals as the Saddlers slipped to a disappointing defeat, handing the advantage to their opponents.
EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE (NORTH WEST) | FT
WALSALL 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 2
GOALS | Little (90') - Malumo (28'), Lanc (42')