Despite a late 4-3 defeat against Gateshead, Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Mark Birch remained upbeat about the squad's pre-season progress.
The Blues had been in control at 3-0 up with half an hour to go but went on to concede four, with the visitors' superior experience proving vital.
But Birch was keen to point out that results are not the be-all and end-all during preparations for the 2027/27 season when managing a depleted squad.
He said: "I think it's a tough one to assess, to be honest, because for 65 minutes we had full control of the game, but we're at that stage of pre-season now where the bigger picture is to make sure the lads stay fresh.
"They've played a lot of football, done a lot of training, so we did have to make a lot of changes in the last 25 minutes because obviously the bigger picture is that we don't want to pick up any more injuries than what we've got at this stage of pre-season."
With many of the youth team either taking part in the first team's pre-season fixture at Derby County's under-21s or out injured, this led to some of United's under-15s squad filling in against the Heed.
And this would only prove a positive step for their development despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline.
He explained: "The plan was to get to 65 minutes, then we'll make changes. The changes were under-15s coming on; it was a big game for them, and I thought they did well.
"Games like this, it's about taking the positives out of, don't get too down. We can sit down, we can work through the goals; I think we're just so young at the end of it.
"The changes did impact the game, but again, the under-15s who came in, they all did really well. They handled it well, but just that physicality and especially set-pieces probably cost us."
The youth team travel to Gretna 2008 on Tuesday for their final pre-season game, and Birch believes preparations have gone well with a range of players getting opportunities to impress at different levels.
He said: "It's been really good. It's always hard for the youth team in pre-season, because you're at the stage in the season where opportunity comes for lads getting in and around the first team.
"It gives us a chance to really work with the first-years to bed in what the expectations are around the way that we go about our football."
