UNITED RES 1-2 WALSALL RES
(Howson 40), Cederqvist 33, Wright 84)
UNITED: Butcher, Kelly (Fisher 46), Crainey, Einarsson, Grace, Wilkinson, Carole (Ovington 46), Howson, Connor (Elliott 65), Rothery, Rose. Subs not used: Hotchkiss, Cartman.
WALSALL: Bossu, Lyall, Sansara, Davies, Smith, Doran, Wright, Cederqvist, Deeney, Bedeau, McDermott. Subs not used: Quarless, Harris, Schwarz, Ryan, Gilmartin.
United's Reserves ended their Pontin's Holidays Central League campaign with a 2-1 defeat by Walsall in a hard fought game at Elland Road.
Par Cederqvist shocked the home side in the 33rd minute when he headed in from six yards following Tony Bedeau's well-struck right wing cross but United fought back well and were level seven minutes later.
Seb Carole, one of several United players with first team experience, knocked through a perfect pass for Jonny Howson to run on to and the young midfielder, in the clear, surged forward to fire a fine shot past advancing Walsall keeper, Bertrand Bossu and into the net.
The game was settled in Walsall's favour in the 84th minute when Mark Wright set off on a determined run and cut inside from the right before firing in a firm shot from 18 yards which gave the keeper no chance.
It wasn't the way United wanted to bring down the curtain on their season but Academy manager Neil Thompson said: "Result-wise it was disappointing because we gave away a sloppy goal at the death.
"Really, though, we had more than enough chances to have finished the game off but we ended with a very young team out there and it is all about the youngsters learning the game at this level.
"They have done it at Under 18 level this season but the step-up to reserve team football is somewhat different," he added.
United keeper, Lee Butcher, a young Arsenal keeper who played for United's Under 18 side last week-end, made a good stop to keep out an angled shot from Charlton Davies after six minutes in the game's first attack of note.
But teenager Stefan Connor fired wide for United two minutes later before Gavin Rothery shot wide after good work in the build up by Stephen Crainey. Then Connor saw his on-target shot deflected for a corner, from which Howson had a shot blocked by a defender.
United started the second half with Gary Kelly and Carole having been replaced and though Walsall attacked well and hit the woodwork twice, United had several chances to take the lead.
Teenager Tom Elliott couldn't make it count when he found himself in a one-on-one situation with the keeper and Danny Rose, put through on the left by Howson, fired wide of the far post after cutting inside.
United paid for their missed opportunities when, in the 84th minute, Wright struck the winning goal.
