Youthful Southam suffer at the hands of Pilkington XXX

Saints could have gone ahead inside ten seconds but home keeper Reece Francis denied Robbie Stephens.

At the other end, Demetri Brown crashed a shot against the bar and, during the period of sustained Pilkington pressure that followed, Odane Barnes shot wide.

The home side took the lead in the eighth minute when, with the Saints defence stretched, Connor Mooney shot into corner beyond Cross.

Brown was denied by the woodwork again when a 13th-minute corner was not cleared and his shot hit the post.

Saints then suffered a blow when Stephens, one of the more experienced players, limped off with a hamstring pull to be replaced by Suki Nijjar.

In the 24th minute, Steve Thomas, who ran himself to a standstill with a committed display, set up Connor Wilson, but Francis saved. Then, Brown outpaced Danny Wylde, but was denied by a good stop by Cross.

Another good move by Pilkington saw Jack McGinn set up Barnes but, thankfully for Saints, he put his effort wide. Then with a minute of added time remaining, Mooney missed a golden opportunity, heading over from close range.

It took only four minutes from the restart for Pilkington to double their lead when Gareth Davis headed in at the far post.

Saints pulled one back in the 57th minute when Thomas set up Ryan Isherwood, who slotted coolly past Francis.

Just two minutes later, Brown at last got the goal he deserved when latching on to a free-kick to head home. Cross made a valiant effort, getting his fingertips to the ball, only to see it drop just under the bar.

Kieran McCalla headed over from a corner before a pivotal moment in the match as Isherwood set up Niall Thoms who, with only the keeper to beat, shot wide.

At 3-2 down, Saints would have had a chance to get something from the match, but it was not to be and, within four minutes, Jack Lodge passed to Mooney to score his second.

Tomorrow, Saints visit Bromsgrove Sporting before travelling to Atherstone Town on Tuesday.

 Unbeaten Racing Club Warwick are closing in on the Midland Floodlit Youth League Southern title after edging to a 2-1 win over Southam at Townsend Meadow.

The sides went in goalless at the break with Racing Club’s Declan Sullivan having had an effort chalked off for offside.

The speedy Sullivan did get his reward in the second half, however, latching on to keeper George Clarke’s long clearance to open the scoring.

A strong challenge from Racers’ Tom Fishwick provoked an ugly melee which saw Fishwick see red alongside Saints’ Kyle Jaynes and Louis Bednall. But despite being down to nine, Southam levelled from the spot through Suki Nijjar.

However, a fifth goal of the season for Troy Stephens gave Racers all three points.