ALBION Under-18s kicked-off their season with a 3-3 draw at Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Baggies overturned a 2-0 deficit in the FA Premier Academy League inter group clash thanks to second-half goals from Ricky Nichols, Michael Nardiello and David Worrall.

But United managed to steal a point with an equaliser five minutes from time.

Baggies Academy coach Michael Appleton said: "It was a great result in the end considering the makeshift back-four we had.

"We had a 15-year-old playing right-back and our centre-forward and top scorer last year, Nardiello, playing left-back.

"It was a makeshift team due to the amount of injuries we've got.

"The lads were outstanding in possession of the ball and in 90 minutes our goalkeeper kicked it once!

"Saturday was the most I've ever trusted them with the ball - I was absolutely delighted.

"Out of possession we got caught on the counter-attack a couple of times but with the attacking formation we've got that's going to happen.

"The goals they scored against us were clinical.

"As far as I'm concerned they've set the standards now.

"We were in total command for about 80 per cent of the game and got hit on the break a few times, which they'll learn from."

ALBION: Lloyd-Weston, Hurst, Pike, Manchester, Nardiello, Samuels, Labadie, Nichols, Worrall (Knight 80), Morrison, Alliyu (Lake-Gaskin 80). Subs not used: Carlin (gk), Siead.

See post-match interviews with Tony Mowbray and goalscorer Ishmael Miller NOW on Albion TV. To subscribe, click here.