Under-18s fall just short in Baggies goal fest

Jaden Williams’ 90th-minute goal set up a grandstand finish, but we were unable to find that one extra chance needed in stoppage time as our Under-18s lost 4-3 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Competing well in a real clash of styles in constant rain at the Baggies’ training ground, we showed tremendous character to keep ourselves in with a chance having gone two goals behind twice, but in the end it was Reyes Cleary’s fourth goal for the hosts 12 minutes from time that made our task that bit too tall.

Cleary’s opener had earlier been cancelled out by Rio Kyerematen but after the hosts opened up a 3-1 lead in the opening exchanges of the second half, the influential Jamie Donley replied in style to reduce the arrears. We looked at that stage to be heading for an equaliser, but even after Cleary scored again for 4-2, we refused to lie down and Williams rammed home after Donley’s effort was saved, getting us back into the contest once more. Unfortunately, the hosts were able to run down the last couple of minutes without being notably troubled, leaving us still looking for our first away win of the Under-18 Premier League season.

In an action-packed game, Cleary was West Brom’s main threat at centre-forward and after dragging an early shot across goal and wide, he muscled his way past centre-back Archie Chaplin – again promoted from the Under-16s to man the barricades alongside Alfie Dorrington – to fire his side into a 13th-minute lead.

Captain Dante Cassanova’s shot spun behind off his Baggies counterpart Reece Hall moments later but we equalised on 22 minutes when Donley hit the post on his left foot and the ball broke for Kyerematen to drill home along the grass from 18 yards out.

Williams had strong appeals for a penalty waved away after going to ground under Mark Chidi’s challenge in the area, Donley lashed in following good work by Will Andiyapan down the left but was flagged off-side and Dorrington shot tamely at goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead following a corner from the lively Khalon Haysman, but we went in at the break trailing 2-1 after Cleary juggled his way through our defence and set up Fenton Heard to score from inside the box on 39 minutes.

Chidi headed in off the underside of the crossbar for 3-1 five minutes into the second half after a fine save by Adam Hayton to deny Cleary, but crucially we found an almost immediate response, Donley converting Cassanova’s corner with a clever finish 60 seconds later to keep ourselves within touching distance. We were always a threat in possession and went closest to an equaliser on 72 minutes when substitute Brandon Bryan-Waugh ran onto the ball and sent a shot arrowing towards the top corner from distance, only to be denied by a deflection off a defender which carried it fractionally off-target.

Six minutes later, though, West Brom snatched a decisive fourth goal when Cleary turned on the edge of the area and blasted high into the net. But again there was no let-up from our players and when Donley’s shot was saved, allowing Williams to ram home on the 90-minute mark, it was game on once more in stoppage time. Sadly, the clock was against us at that stage and the home side managed the closing moments efficiently to claim the points.

‘One of the positives was the character we showed’

Under-18s Coach Stuart Lewis reflected: “It’s always a tough game away at West Brom and with the conditions as well, I thought the boys gave a really good account of themselves. We’re obviously disappointed to concede four goals after some good defensive displays but there were some really good moments and it’s just a bit unfortunate that we couldn’t make the most out of our dominance in the final third and at least get a point from the game.

“One of the positives for me was the character that the boys showed. We’ve been working on pushing our standards as individuals and as a collective and I thought that even with scoring late, we never gave up. Defensively at times there were some things that we need to improve on but I was pleased with the spirit and togetherness in the group. There were some really good individual performances and I can see some improvement as a collective over what we’ve been working on, so that’s key.”