Albion Under-21s battled well, but couldn't avoid defeat against Braintree Town in their third National League Cup group match on Tuesday night.
Reyes Cleary netted twice to cancel out Jamal Fyfield’s opener and help Richard Beale’s men into a leading position having trailed 15 minutes in.
Kyrell Lisbie levelled in the last act of the first half to make it 2-2, and Inih Effiong stepped off the bench in the last knockings of the match to bag the winner for the hosts at the The Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium.
The young Baggies play their final group game of the tournament against Sutton United on Tuesday, January 21 (ko 7.30pm).
Typically, the fifth-tier outfit began proceedings the stronger of the two teams.
Lanre Balogun fired a tame effort which visiting goalkeeper Joe Wallis easily saved, but there was little the New Zealander could do to stop Fyfield scoring the opener, with the defender working space in the box before lashing a loose ball spectacularly into the top corner for 1-0.
Experienced forward John Akinde, who has more than 360 appearances and 140 professional goals to his name, provided a great test for Albion’s young defence on the night - involving several members of the back-line in a relentless physical battle.
But it was another forward in Cleary - eligible to play non first-team matches in conjunction with his current loan at League Two Walsall - who turned the game around for the away team.
Cole Deeming provided both goals for the attacker, laying it to the left flank where the 20-year-old cut inside with a smart right-footed finish into the bottom left corner for the leveller, and switched to his left foot to smash in at the near post for 2-1 just over 10 minutes later.
He could’ve bagged a first-half hat-trick too, again, when a chance arose on the left wing. Unfortunately, his near-post attempt just missed the target with shot-stopper Lucas Covolan beaten after rushing off his line.
Beale’s men looked to have snatched an unlikely lead as they approached the halfway mark, but a long clearance upfield proved to be their undoing as Akinde controlled the awkward ball well before crossing for Lisbie to tap in the equaliser.
By contrast, the second 45 was very subdued. Substitute Effiong provided the decisive moment of the half - pouncing on a lack of control from the Baggies defence to poke in from a left-wing delivery and restore the hosts’ lead.
Deeming went closest to a leveller - curling a free-kick just wide of the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Sadly, the Baggies' academy hopefuls couldn’t find a third goal, resulting in another National League Cup loss which leaves them with just one point in the Group D standings.
Albion: Wallis, Kirton (Iddrisa 71), Diomande (Hall 61), Parker (c), Williams, Humphries, Deeming, Trialist (Mandey 61), Whitwell (Chimeziri 61), Walker (Sule 61), Cleary.
Subs not used: Cisse.
