A YOUNG Albion reserves side suffered shoot-out heartbreak as they lost 4-3 on penalties to Morecambe in the Pontin's Holidays League Cup Final.
Lateef Elford-Alliyu got the Baggies off to a flying start at Christie Park as he pounced on a fumble by home goalkeeper Shwan Jalal from David Worrall's ball to fire the opener in the second minute.
Simon Grand headed home Paul Jarvis' cross to level the scores in the 62nd minute.
Albion hit the post three times in the final 20 minutes through Sherjill MacDonald, Jack Compton and Sebastien Lake-Gaskin.
And the Shrimps were reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Grand was sent-off for a late tackle on Joss Labadie.
But the hosts held out to take the tie straight to penalties.
Compton, Elford-Alliyu and Ricky Nicholls all scored in the shoot-out but Jalal made amends for his mistake in normal time by saving from Jared Hodgkiss and Mo Saied to win it 4-3 for Morecambe.
Baggies second-string boss Craig Shakespeare said: "The lads can count themselves very unfortunate.
"They played some excellent football in the first half and created numerous chances.
"Our passing and movement was good and we defended well.
"However, we didn't start the second half very well and they came back at us as we tired.
"We got our second wind in the final 20 minutes and were unlucky to hit the woodwork three times.
"The lads can be proud of their efforts."
MORECAMBE (4-4-2): Jalal; Langford, Artell, Grand, Davies; Lloyd, Woodward (Wisdom 87), Burns, Jarvis; Twiss, Newby. Subs not used: Falmer (gk), Banks, Taylor, Fitzpatrick.
ALBION (4-4-2): Danek; Hodgkiss, Hancox (Pike HT), Mason (Knight 79), Saied; MacDonald, Labadie (Nicholls 90), Worrall, Compton; Elford-Alliyu, Lake-Gaskin. Subs not used: Carlin (gk), Samuels.
SENDINGS-OFF: MORECAMBE - Grand (foul 90).
GOALS: MORECAMBE - Grand (62); ALBION - Elford-Alliyu (2).
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