United's youth team were edged out 2-0 at Walsall on Tuesday afternoon.
The Iron's youth team will learn that the most important part of football is taking your chances after creating so many but having not scored in the game played at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, former home of the FA before they moved to St George's Park.On seven minutes, James Dean Atkinson slid the ball through to put Noel Burdett clean through on goal but although his lob beat the Saddlers goalkeeper the ball bounced back off the crossbar and Jack Dyche put the follow up wide.
It was Dyche shooting narrowly wide seconds later after he had worked hard to win the ball back.
Burdett and Dyche were causing the home team problems with their movements and it was no surprise when Dyche threatened again.
United hit the post before Dean Atkinson rattled Walsall's crossbar on 40 minutes. The home team built play and caught the Iron out on 42 minutes when they took the lead from virtually their first shot on target when a Walsall midfielder got the final touch on a cross.
The Iron went in at half time trailing when perhaps more clinical play would have seen them score and have a solid lead.
At half time and just before the hour mark, both teams made numerous changes to give the rest of the squad valuable playing time and opportunity.
Walsall scored in the second half with a strike from long range.
After the game academy manager Tony Daws said: "We like to play Walsall as we don't play them in our league programme and also because they have a respected academy system and always give you a tough game and that is what we got today.
"We thought that at times we played some very good football and that the boys are taking on board the information that Paul Harsley and I have been giving them.
"The first half went particularly well but the boys must learn fast that as a group we have to be more clinical in front of goal. Although there are lots of positives to take, the boys were disappointed at the end."