FIRST HALF - LEVEL PEGGING
The visitors made a confident start in an even opening, as our first-team coaching staff, including Michael Carrick, fresh from his press conference duties, watched on.
Adam Lallana's side wasted a couple of set-piece opportunities but carved out the first real attempt on goal, when William Merry volleyed over the bar from a promising position, with 15 minutes on the clock.
That came just after Jack Fletcher was unable to gather a clever pass by twin brother Tyler, with the wind not helping the situation, and most of the pushing came from United as the half wore on.
Jim Thwaites mustered our first shot on target, forcing a pretty comfortable diving save out of keeper Hugo Fisher, just past the hour mark.
A lightning break forward by Habeeb Ogunneye looked like providing the spark for the opener, and Jack Fletcher's delivery from the full-back's pass was perfect, but Victor Musa saw his shot blocked inside the area as the Saints ended up defending the danger well.
Jack Fletcher won the ball high up the field to force another stop out of Fisher, who pushed it away for a corner, and Saints skipper Dobson-Ventura made one timely block, when Jack Moorhouse tried to wriggle his way through.
With the blustery conditions causing problems, it remained goalless at the interval.