Albion's scholars were defeated in their opening Premier League Cup group game against Sunderland on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Jayden Jones, Marcus Neill and Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi meant Divine Onyemachi's effort went down as a consolation for Leigh Downing's young team from their trip to the Academy of Light.
The hosts gave themselves a 2-0 lead within 33 minutes of the cup clash courtesy of goals from Jones and Neill.
But their advantage was halved heading in at the break as last season's leading scorer for Albion's 18s Onyemachi picked up where he left off by finding the net for the first time during the 2024/25 campaign.
Things picked up for Downing's team after the restart, who pressed the Black Cats in search of a leveller throughout the second 45.
In the end, though, their endeavours would count for nothing when Samuel-Ogunsuyi struck in added time to break the Baggies' resolve and condemn them to defeat in the North East.
Albion: Brady (GK), Maughan (Abudu 88), Dupont, Morrish, Sears (Letlat 74), Dauda Iddrisa (Blackshields 69), Crowther, Onyemachi, Parmar, Trialist (Okorodudu 69), Chimeziri.
Subs not used: Wilkes (GK).
