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Goals in either half from Josh Sims and Alfie Jones had given Saints a comfortable lead, before their hosts rallied through Devonte Redmond and a Demetri Mitchell brace from the spot.
But late on, Ryan Seager sent the Manchester United stopper the wrong way following a late challenge on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg to earn a share of the spoils.
A number of first-team players were named in the starting line-up, with Martin Cáceres, Sam McQueen, Højbjerg and Mouez Hassen all involved again after the 0-0 draw with Chelsea last time out.
Harrison Reed was named as captain once more as Saints looked to leapfrog their opponents, who sat one point above them in Premier League 2, ahead of kick-off.
With both teams still settling into the contest, Mouez Hassen was forced into action inside five minutes when he did well to push away a left-footed free-kick from Mitchell.
In response, Saints’ first real chance came when Jake Hesketh found Sims, who saw his shot saved by Kieran O’Hara, with the ball clipping the post on its way out.
United had another opening soon after when an Intricate passing move inside the box presented a chance for Scott McTominay, but his effort was comfortable for Hassen.
And on 16 minutes, Saints struck the first blow, when Ryan Seager’s unrelenting endeavour to press the ball forced Axel Tuanzebe into a loose pass, which Sims intercepted before sending a smart finish beyond O’Hara.
Momentum from that goal continued, with Tyreke Johnson testing O’Hara with a dipping volley, before Sims went close to a second after an incisive counter-attack led by Hesketh, saw the attacking midfielder pick out his run – only for Tuanzabe to make an excellent recovery challenge.
Soon after, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg picked out Ryan Seager, but his effort was well over the bar.
Saints began the second-half in a similar vein, and, when Cameron Borthwick-Jackson turned Johnson’s cross behind for a corner, they were rewarded with a second goal as Jones powered home a header from Reed’s delivery.
The hosts responded on 62 minutes though, when Redmond picked the ball up from Matthew Olosunde’s pass, before curling the ball in from the edge of the box.
United continued to press and eight minutes later when McQueen brought down McTominay in the box, drama ensued as the resulting penalty was saved by Hassen.
However, the referee had spotted encroachment into the box and Mitchell made amends by slotting home at the second attempt to level things.
With a burgeoning sense of confidence and belief from that, another penalty was awarded just minutes later when Reed bundled Olosunde in the area and Mitchell doubled his tally for the evening.
But in an enthralling encounter, Saints showed their character to level when Højbjerg was brought down in the area by Borthwick-Jackson, for Ryan Seager to step up and send the keeper the wrong way.
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