Albion’s scholars played out an action-packed draw with Arsenal at the West Bromwich Albion Training Ground on Saturday afternoon.
They made a fast start to proceedings, leading 3-0 after 30 minutes courtesy of efforts from Dan Chimeziri, Divine Onyemachi, and an own goal.
But the Gunners hit back before the interval to gain hope, and two second-half goals from Dan Casey to complete his hat-trick ensured the London outfit took a point home from the game.
Despite conceding their advantage, it was a much-improved performance from their last league defeat for Leigh Downing’s men, who took the lead after eight minutes when Cole Deeming’s inviting free-kick was turned home inadvertently by a retreating away defender.
The hosts didn’t stop there and further pressure resulted in Dan Chimeziri netting his first goal of the campaign, finishing coolly inside of the box following tenacious work by Rio Parmar to win the ball back and set the striker through on goal.
Fellow attacker Onyemachi notched his maiden strike of the campaign in midweek, and he added to his tally on the half-hour mark - tapping in from close range after Parmar’s initial header was tipped into his path.
Still, a spot-kick seven minutes before the break gave Jack Wilshere’s young Arsenal team a route back into the game. Alfie Maughan was judged to have handled a cross in the area, which allowed Casey to slot in his first of the afternoon from the spot.
The response clearly energised the visitors during the second period and the Gunners’ No.9 bagged his second on 62 minutes, slamming in from a cutback inside the eighteen-yard box.
And the forward caught out Baggies shot-stopper Louis Brady to level matters with 15 minutes remaining, taking a quick shot which beat the Republic of Ireland U19 international for power to make it 3-3.
Both teams pushed for the decisive goal in the closing stages, but neither could find the answer as the points were shared in the U18 Premier League Division South affair.
Albion: Brady (GK), Maughan, Morrish, Abudu, Sears (Letlat 68), Deeming (Blackshields 68), Crowther, Trialist A (Trialist B 59), Parmar, Onyemachi, Chimeziri (Okorodudu (90+3).
Subs not used: Wilkes (GK).
