Albion cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup after beating Norwich City 4-2 at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
Finlay Oligbo handed an early lead to the young Canaries, but Leigh Downing's 18s showed their mettle in East Anglia as goals from Divine Onyemachi and Cole Deeming turned proceedings around in the first 45 prior to efforts from Rio Parmar and Ollie Bostock - either side of Elliot Myles' response - landing the young Baggies a spot in the last eight of the competition.
Predictably, as with all games in this competition so far this term, it was a frantic start to proceedings in Norfolk and one which Norwich got the upper hand from initially - Oligbo firing a free-kick into the top corner from just outside the box with 10 minutes on the clock.
Although down by a goal, Downing’s men maintained their shape, kept their composure, and played their usual patterns effectively. So well, they levelled matters in no time at all - Onyemachi nodding in on the goal line after Parmar’s terrific header had come back off the crossbar.
Having restored parity so rapidly, they quickly diminished it but in their favour this time. Deeming was played through by Bostock inside the box and made no mistake, drilling hard and low into the bottom corner past Canaries shot-stopper Henry Bullen.
Half-time came at an ideal moment for Norwich, but similar problems arose on 63 minutes as Albion developed a two-goal cushion in the game - Parmar curling past Bullen from inside the area following Onyemachi’s blocked effort.
The visitors were high on confidence and belief off the back of that goal, but nerves were sent jangling when Myles curled into the bottom corner for 3-2.
However, a moment of magic would cement victory for the Downing’s boys when an incredible run from Wales U19 international Bostock from inside his own half brought him to within range of the goal, with the attacker sending a pinpoint finish in for the Baggies’ fourth.
It proved decisive, with City unable to respond, meaning Albion secured round-five triumph and passage into the last eight of the Youth Cup.
Albion: Brady, Maughan, Morrish, Dupont, Letlat, Deeming (c), Blackshields (Okorodudu 80), Iddrisa, Onyemachi (Cherchi 90+1), Parmar, Bostock.
Substitutes: Moses, Abudu, G.Shaw, Francis-Caesar.
Catch the WBA TV footage from Carrow Road in the video below.
