The under-18 side made the short trip to Kendal to play Morecambe in their latest alliance league fixture.
And a strange game saw them create an equal number of opportunities as the hosts, without managing to register, as the Shrimps took their openings to give themselves a comfortable looking victory.
Academy boss Darren Edmondson said: "We had some under-16s playing and it was more good experience for them.
"The frustrating aspect is that we had some decent situations, but we just didn't make the most of them.
"Credit to Morecambe, because they put their chances away, and that was the difference in the end."
United - Ward, Barnes (Steele 60), Brockbank (Walton 70), Casson, Lightfoot, Wilson, Kerr (Branthwaite 55), Armstrong, Soper, Papa, Charters. Sub - McLachlan.