THE SADDLERS' youth team were in seventh heaven with a stunning opening to their League campaign at Stockport County.

"We started brightly with excellent passing and good movement," said Head of Youth, Dean Smith. "We had an early goal ruled out for offside as Connor Deards headed home, but we kept our heads up and Jack Cresswell lobbed home from 30 yards to open the scoring.

"We were able to double our advantage before the break when a good team move ended with Will Mellors-Blair crossing invitingly for Jake Jones to volley home.

"The second period was one-way traffic as Connor Deards helped himself to four goals. His first came after a neat one-two with Aaron Forde, the second took a deflection on its way into the net, his third was a 40-yard effort after he spotted the 'keeper off his line, and his fourth came after Forde set him up.

"The scoring was complete when Tom Hayes made it 7-0 with a strike that went in off the underside of the bar.

"It was a good, all-round team effort and we were full value for our 7-0 win.Obviously I was pleased with the start that we have made; we have set the standard now."

WALSALL: Wren, Faulkner (Wellings), Haynes, Hayes, D. Cresswell, Mellors-Blair (Tank), Jones, Forde (Dobson), J. Cresswell, Deards, Butlin.