Youth Alliance: Blackpool 4 Walsall 0

The youngsters got their season underway with an away clash with Blackpool.

Walsall Under-18s got their 2023/24 EFL Youth Alliance campaign underway on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to Longridge Town's Recycling Lives Ground in Preston where they took on Blackpool.

Competing in the North West section of the system, Walsall were hoping for a positive start to the season as they look to improve upon a dismal 2022/23, which saw them finish at the foot of the table after winning just three of their twenty-six games.

Sadly for the young Saddlers, their season started in all-too-familiar fashion as the home side built a comfortable first-half lead as they reached the break with a three-goal advantage, and were able to build upon their lead in the second forty-five by adding another - goals.

Not the way Academy boss Rob Williams will have wanted to open the new campaign as he and his raft of coaching colleagues look to help the next generation of Saddlers make their way in the beautiful game.

FULL-TIME

BLACKPOOL	4-0	WALSALL