Another tightly contested clash against senior opposition saw Albion Under-21s narrowly lose to fifth-tier Sutton United in the National League Cup on Tuesday night.
Souleyman Mandey scored twice for Richard Beale’s team to send the match to spot-kicks, but the hosts won the battle of nerves from 12 yards - winning 3-1 on penalties to claim an extra point from their spot-kick victory at the VBS Community Stadium.
The result sees the young Baggies depart the competition in the group stages during its debut campaign, having earned just two points from their four matches against National League opposition.
Still, it started well for them on the night when Mandey - who’s spent much of this season competing against senior players on loan at Stourbridge - netted the opening goal for the away team on 14 minutes.
But the U’s showed their quality and ability to turn matters in their favour - Nana Boateng and Josh Coley netting to put them in the ascendency going in at the break.
Sutton made a flurry of changes at the start of the second 45. It clearly disrupted their rhythm as, within 10 minutes of the restart, Albion were level once again.
Mandey has proven to be a goal-getter for loan club Stourbridge this season, and he provided the finishing touch again to make it 2-2 on 55 minutes.
Nothing separated the sides at the end of regular time - meaning the game went to penalties to decide who won the extra point. Sadly, Sutton would claim that prize - scoring three times compared to the Baggies’ single spot-kick goal from Alex Williams to confirm the visitors' exit from the tournament.
Albion: Cisse, Williams, Dupont, Parker (Diomande 46), Humphries, Richards, Mandey (Iddrisa 77), Whitwell (Deeming 62), Cleary (Hall 62), Sule (Higgins 46), Kirton.
Substitutes: Wallis, Nelson.
