ALBION’s under-23s were harshly defeated 2-0 by Reading in a Premier League 2 Division Two game at Adams Park.
The Baggies played some exciting football at times in the first half and carved out a number of good chances through their clever build-up play.
Callum Morton had a shot blocked on the half hour mark and Jonathan Leko’s fantastic footwork opened up some space on the edge of the area five minutes later, but his effort went just wide.
Nathan Ferguson headed over from a corner on 43 minutes before Albion’s goalkeeper Alex Palmer did well to keep out Joseph Mendes and see his side go into the break at 0-0.
13 minutes after half time the Baggies found themselves a goal behind when Jake Sheppard’s cross managed to sneak into the far corner of the net.
Palmer then made two great saves to first deny Sheppard again and then push Akinwale Odimayo’s header from the resulting corner over the crossbar.
Albion’s bright spark Leko continued to cause Reading problems with his skill and pace but just couldn’t quite find that strike to get his side back in the game, twice shooting wide after getting himself into dangerous positions.
Morton had a penalty shout waved away and Alex Bradley went close to equalising when his free-kick curled over, but it was Reading who netted the all important second goal of the game with 77 minutes on the clock when Tyler Frost found the bottom corner following a powerful run.
ALBION: Palmer, Ferguson, Martinez, McCourt; Meredith, Harper, Bradley, Harmon (Pierce 71); Leko, Morton, Clayton-Phillips (Brown 80).
Substitutes: Przybek, Wilding, Azaz.