Walsall Under 18s showed class and resilience as they saw off Salford City at Ray Hall Lane in a 3-2 thriller on Saturday.
The first chance of the game came within seconds as Salford were able to work their way into the box from kick off only to be denied by Jenson Kilroy in goal.
Showing good shape and organisation, the Saddlers built a good platform to stop Salford playing forward freely.
15 minutes in, the home side got their first chance of the game with Kilroy playing a ball over the top and with the away defence beaten by the bounce, Jaiy Leydon found the ball falling into his path.
He rounded the keeper with composure and slotted home his sixth goal in three games to give Walsall the lead.
Moments later, Zak Poskitt saw his shot go narrowly wide as Walsall looked to build on their momentum.
With Salford caught napping from a Walsall throw, Will Uchenna provided Leydon with his second of the game from six yards out.
Leydon came close to a first half hat-trick after a superb deep cross from Piers Juliff on the right was met by his head, only to see the ball sail over the crossbar.
Salford countered on Walsall's missed chances with a goal of their own from the right side as striker Ethan Smith scored with a powerful shot across Kilroy.
Walsall replied quickly to regain their two-goal advantage. The move started with a wonderful forward pass from Marley Roberts to find Leydon on the left.
The winger beat his man and sent a pin point cross to Juliff coming in from the right and the latter met the ball with power and precision to direct it back past the keeper's left.
Game management was the key for Walsall as the second half played out.
With Salford searching for a goal to get themselves back in the game, The Saddlers had to hold their shape and dig in to keep their advantage to two.
At the halfway point of the second half, Walsall had their first effort, as Dylan Thomas found Leydon in the box, the latter controlled the ball in search of his third goal and forced a good stop from the Salford keeper Shea Callister.
Salford then halved the home side’s advantage as the pressure mounted on the Saddlers.
After a failed clearance, a goal line scramble led to a half clearance straight to Miguel Da Costa, who easily slotted the ball home.
Walsall regathered their shape and dig in to the final whistle to secure all three points.
Another brace for Leydon helped guide Walsall to their first points in the league and a second win in two games in what has been a very positive few weeks for the whole squad.