GOALS from David Worrall, Jack Compton and sub Lateef Elford-Alliyu got a youthful reserves side back to winning ways at The Hawthorns this afternoon.
Midfield dynamo Worrall broke the deadlock after just three minutes before Compton doubled the hosts' lead in the 67th minute.
Ashley Kelly pulled one back six minutes later before 15-year-old Elford-Alliyu made the points safe in the first minute of stoppage time.
Defenders Jared Hodgkiss and Shelton Martis were the only senior players in the starting line-up for this 2pm kick-off.
Albion got off to a dream start.
Stefan Morrison collected Compton's pass and ran at the Oldham defence. Although he was dispossessed by Liam Francis' challenge, the ball broke to Worrall who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Worrall continued to prove Albion's most dangerous player during a half in which the hosts enjoyed the lion's share of possession.
Albion almost made it 2-0 in the seventh minute when only Josh Ollerenshall's brilliant point-blank save kept out Martis' header from Compton's corner.
Opposite number Gavin Carlin was called into action for the first time in the 20th minute. The Albion keeper did well to palm away Bradley Hudson-Odi's fierce half-volley.
The visitors went even closer five minutes after the break when Hudson-Odi inexplicably fired Lino Concalves' cross against the outside of the post from five yards.
Albion made the most of their reprieve by surging further ahead in the 67th minute. Compton broke from the halfway line and fired home from 20 yards.
Kelly gave Athletic hope by reducing the arrears six minutes later, converting at the far post after Martin Diaz had helped on Concalves' cross.
Carlin preserved the Baggies' lead six minutes from time by again denying Hudson-Odi.
England Under-16 international Elford-Alliyu put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time when he raced clear and coolly slotted home after good build-up play by Worrall and Seb Lake-Gaskin - to cheer the 246-strong crowd.
ALBION: Carlin, Hodgkiss, Saeid, Acheampong, Martis (Pike HT), Labadie, Knight (Elford-Alliyu 61), Samuels, S Morrison (Lake-Gaskin 78), Worrall, Compton. Subs not used: Hancox, Sawyers.
OLDHAM: Ollerenshall, Winters, Black, Jesus, Francis, Gregan, Kelly, Hildreth (Kilcourse 71), Diaz, Hudson-Odi, Concalves. Subs not used: Rowney, Russell, Walsh, Esdaille.
