Match Report
The table gap was wide: 32 points between Preston North End U18 (1st, 59 pts) and Walsall U18 (20th, 27 pts). Walsall U18 had been under-performing their position — 37th on five-round form against 20th in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Preston North End U18 2.1 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, Walsall U18 1.4 and 2.27, with the league averaging 1.9.
Walsall U18 had been beaten in three straight games, having scored in 6 consecutive games.
The head-to-head ledger counts 5 games: 4 Preston North End U18 wins, 0 for Walsall U18, 1 draw, at 3.6 goals per meeting. Only 40% of these meetings ended in a home win. Goals tend to flow: 80% of the meetings produced three or more, and both sides scored in 60%.




