Saints U18s 2 - Ipswich U18s 1

SAINTS Under-18s clinched the FA Premier Academy League South Group A title with five games to spare.

It capped a great week for Saints after their FA Youth Cup quarter-final win at West Ham last Tuesday.

In reality, Georges Prost's youngsters have been certainties to top their group for some time as they have dropped just five points in 23 matches.

When their league programme is over, they will compete in the national play-off semi-finals - last season some of the current team helped Saints win the national Under-19 title.

Prost rested several key players from his Youth Cup line-up at Staplewood and Saints were trailing at half-time. But they hit back to win their 21st league match out of 23 with second half goals from substitutes Nathan Dyer, who has just won his first England Under-18 call-up, and Tim Sparv.

Prost enthused: "We are in the semi-final of the play-offs and the FA Youth Cup and I hope we will reach the finals.

"The FA Youth Cup is more important, but if we win both it will be perfect!

"It was a good performance against Ipswich. It's always difficult after a good performance in the FA Youth Cup."

The day's only dampener was an injury scare for £2m-rated 15-year-old Theo Walcott, who was carried off in the first half with an ankle injury.

But x-rays have revealed no fracture and it is hoped that the ligament swelling will subside in time for the winger to join his England under 17s colleagues this week in preparation for their European Championship qualifiers at the end of this month.

Jamie Hatch's 86th-minute winner gave Saints Under-16s a 3-2 victory over Ipswich at Staplewood.

Saints took the lead in style when Craig Reid's deep cross was met by Jamie White's header in the 31st minute.

After Ipswich levelled, Totti restored Saints' lead with a close-range lob.

The Tractor Boys levelled again before Hatch pounced after a goalmouth scramble to sidefoot home.

The Under 16s have now beaten every team at least once that they have played this season and coach Andy Ritchie was particularly pleased with the performance of Reid and fellow Under-14s Chris Mason and Kane McKlaggon.