Matthew Le Tissier successfully came through 90 minutes as Saints reserves went down 2-1 to a last-minute goal in their re-arranged game at Arsenal.

After more than three months on the sidelines with a knee injury and then a hamstring tweak, Le Tissier showed no sign of problems in his first competetive match since October.

Although his touch and timing were rusty on occasions he helped set up the Saints goal on the half hour combining well with Trond Soltvedt before sliding in Adrian Caceres to slot home left-footed.

That cancelled out an opener ten minutes earlier by Nwankwo Kanu who brought down a high ball on his chest and gave a neat shimmy before planting the ball past Neil Moss.

Kanu also got the winner in the final minute when a corner cleared everyone in the goalmouth and fell to him beyond the far post. He shaped to shoot, dragged the ball inside and tucked it home.

Just moments earlier Soltvedt had the keeper on the floor, took the ball to one side but saw his shot blocked.

Coach Dennis Rofe said: "It was a bit of a sickener to lose in the last minute when we were so close but in all honesty I can't complain at the result. They had a very strong side out and probably had 70 per cent of the play while our attacks were sporadic.

"The main thing for us was to get a game in and it was good for Matt to get a full game and to come through unscathed."

The game was due to be played on Monday but was called off because the Borehamwood pitch was waterlogged.

The clubs got special dispensation from the FA Premier Reserve League to play behind closed doors at Arsenal's Colney training ground.

Saints Reserves: Moss, Baird, Ashford (booked 80 foul), Soltvedt, Warner, Gray, Bleidelis, Gibbens, Rosler, Caceres, Le Tissier. No subs used.

Arsenal Res: Manninger, Luzhny, Oates, Vivas, Chilvers, Grimandi, Maltz, Ljungberg, Kanu, Pennant, Edu.