Albion’s PL2 team were defeated by Leeds United at the LNER Community Stadium on Friday night.
Dauda Iddrisa’s maiden goal of the campaign had handed the intiaitive to the young Baggies midway through the first half.
But United turned the tide in their favour through goals from Luca Thomas and Rhys Chadwick to end Albion U21s’ four-game unbeaten run in Premier League youth competitions.
It was a cagey opening to proceedings in North Yorkshire, with neither team enjoying many clearcut openings.
Iddrisa had Albion’s only shot of note - firing straight at Rory Mahady in the home goal - before eventually netting his first goal under Richard Beale in the 20th minute.
Some neat build-up play along the edge of the box created the opportunity, as the Italian U17 international linked up with Eseosa Sule and Harry Whitwell before firing through the goalkeeper from a matter of yards out to give the visitors the breakthrough.
Leeds wrestled back control of the game after the opener. Jeremiah Mullen thought he’d levelled after smashing in on the goal line when a corner kick dropped his way - only for it to be ruled out for a foul on Baggies shot-stopper Cisse.
Still, there was no ruling out Thomas’ strike from inside the area on 32 minutes - rifling in a cutback from the right wing to make it 1-1.
The Whites could’ve gone ahead too when they were awarded a spot-kick minutes before the half-time interval. Thankfully for Beale’s boys, England youth international Cisse guessed right to deny Thomas a second and keep the scores level at the break.
But Leeds would get their advantage after the restart courtesy of Chadwick's brilliant control of a switch from the left flank, before firing into the bottom corner past Cisse for 2-1.
There was plenty of endeavour from Albion’s PL2 team in their search for a leveller. Substitute Dan Chimeziri looked like he was going to follow U18 team-mate Iddrisa in breaking his duck in front of goal for the 21s when the ball fell kindly to him in the area.
Sadly, several United defenders rushed in to throw their bodies in the way of his attempt on goal - ensuring the points stayed in York.
Albion: Cisse, Nelson, Hall © (Parker 79), Diomande, Shaw, Deeming, Iddrisa (Richards 72), Whitwell, Heard (Chimeziri 64), Bostock (Higgins 72), Sule.
Subs not used: Wallis (GK).
View the WBA TV footage from the LNER Community stadium below.
