LATEEF Elford-Alliyu's opener was enough to earn Albion Under-18s a 1-1 draw at Black Country derby rivals Wolves on Saturday.

The England Under-16s hitman put the Baggies in front from a Jack Compton cross ten minutes after the break in the FA Premier Academy League (Group C) clash.

But Wanderers levelled in the 80^th minute and the visitors wasted a host of chances, including misses by subs Matthew Pike and Anthony Bruce at the death.

Albion Academy coach Michael Appleton said: "We played very well for 80 per cent of the game.

"In the first half we created numerous chances and a little bit of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept Wolves in the game.

"We got the lead after the break and then we seemed to take our foot off the gas, possibly because of a bit of nervousness caused by results before Christmas not going our way.

"Some of the lads were chasing the ball when they didn't need to.

"Wolves had a 15-minute spell when they were on top of us and scored a great individual goal from 30 yards.

"We had some great opportunities to win it, particularly in the final minute when we missed two glaring chances.

"I was delighted with the way the lads worked their socks off when they were out of possession.

"Their attitude was spot on, they kept the formation well and worked really well in units.

"When we got the ball we broke and counter-attacked really well.

"It was a really positive performance."

ALBION: Carlin; Mason (Pike 65), Manchester, Holmes, Martin; Saied, Worrall, Labadie (Bruce 80), Compton; Elford-Alliyu, Sawyers (Knight 65). Subs not used: Lloyd-Weston (gk), Samuels.