BURY’S Under-16s side laid down a marker for the first team after clinching the Football League North West title with a 3-0 win against Walsall.

The victory set up a northern area final against Premier League outfit Hull, with the winners going into a showdown against the southern champions for the national crown.

Academy manager Mark Litherland said two members of the side – Liam Williams and Will Osgathorpe – had already earned youth scholarships, with four more places in the U18s set-up still up for grabs.

“The whole purpose of the education programme within the academy is trying to get players into our first team, but before that to get them scholarships,” he added.

“We’re looking for six scholars this year to promote into our present U18s. We’ve got two at the moment in Liam Williams and Will Osgathorpe, who has just come from Sheffield Wednesday.”

A late Brayden Shaw equaliser preserved the U18s’ six-match unbeaten run in a 1-1 draw at Tranmere, but they dropped to second in the league after Wigan Athletic reclaimed top spot.