Youngsters were introduced to the first team environment as St Johnstone started pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Dunfermline.
The Perth squad, light in terms of experience due to injuries, included a number of players who have been working their way through the ranks.
It was the Pars who nudged into an early lead when former Saint Aaron Comrie’s 13th minute delivery found its way to Craig Wighton eight yards out. He wasted little time in nudging the ball low into the bottom corner.
Dunfermline had started far brighter and, before their opener, Lewis McCann - brother of Ali - had struck the outside of the post.
The hosts had continued to look dangerous with the goal advantage but, suddenly, Saints were level thanks to the magic inside Graham Carey’s left boot.
The Irishman’s peach of a strike on 26 minutes whistled high into the net before goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet had the opportunity to react.
Sadly, moments later, Alex Ferguson’s evening was over. He had picked up what appeared to be a groin problem earlier in the game and, despite trying to continue, needed to come off.
Ferguson had been deployed at right back and was replaced by fellow youngster Taylor Steven.
That resulted in a reshuffle with Ryan McGowan moving to the full-back position, Carey was redeployed into the middle of the park and Steven went attacking left in the forward department.
Saints had found their feet a tad more as the half developed and wasted a wonderful chance to nudge in front.
Stevie May was the guilty party when trying to backheel home from close range instead of rolling the ball into the net. He had more time and space than he believed.
Aside from experienced Callum Booth, the Perth bench consisted of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds. No changes were made at the break.
The second half seemed less end-to-end and chaotic, with both goalkeepers rarely called into action.
Carey did go for glory with a curling free-kick from wide right on the hour mark but the ball was never bending enough to creep inside the far post.
Soon Booth, who did not feature at all last season, replaced Tony Gallacher. Those two are set to battle it out for the left-back berth.
Sixty-seven minutes were on the clock when May latched onto a guided pass over the top but his shot which followed was weak and lacking direction.
Dunfermline did hit back with a couple openings of their own and goalkeeper Ross Sinclair pulled off smart stops to deny Miller Fenton and then McCann.
Manager Steven MacLean sent youngster Ben McCrystal on for Ali Crawford with little under 20 minutes remaining.
More than 500 Saints fans had ventured through to East End Park and, while no further goals were arriving, there was intrigue to see how the young team performed.
Fran Franczak was the next youth player to be handed his first team debut when he replaced hard-tackling Ryan McGowan.
And then Jackson Mylchreest, prolific for the under-18s, was given the final minutes in place of May.
Perth boss MacLean has insisted he will give youth a chance and it will now be intriguing to see how many remain in the mix over the coming weeks.
Saints: Sinclair, Ferguson (Steven 27), Gordon, Parker, Gallacher (Booth 65) , Crawford (McCrystal 71), Ballantyne, McGowan (Franczak 76), Carey, Wright, May (Mylchreest 84).
