DAVID Worrall and Chris Wood strikes in either half were not enough to prevent Albion Under-18s slipping to a 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.

Worrall fired the Baggies into a tenth-minute lead in the FA Premier Academy League (Group C) clash.

But United struck back with three quick-fire goals in ten minutes to take advantage of a lacklustre first-half Albion display and lead 3-1 at the break.

Substitute Chris Wood pulled a goal back 20 minutes from time as Michael Appleton's men produced a stirring second-half fightback.

But the hosts missed a host of chances to pinch a point late on.

"I came away from the game really disappointed because we played really poorly in the first half," said Appleton.

"But we had such a good second half in terms of creating chances.

"We made three or four clear-cut chances and may be with a little bit of luck could have won the game.

"To be fair to the lads they stuck at it when we were 3-1 down.

"I said to the lads at half-time that no-one has rolled us over this season so let's keep things tight and the next goal would be really important.

"We got that goal and in the last 15 minutes we had some good opportunities.

"Their coach said afterwards that if the game had gone on any longer we would probably have won the game never mind drawn it.

"I came away with mixed feelings.

"It was a strange game."

The Baggies visit Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (ko 11am).

ALBION (4-4-2): Allsopp; Pike, Clarke, Hancox, Saied; Samuels, Labadie (Mantom HT), Worrall, Sawyers; Elford-Alliyu, Lake-Gaskin (Wood 60). Subs not used: Waghorn, Malcolm, Brown.

Women

Albion ladies were knocked out of the Midland Combination League Cup at the first-round stage yesterday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat by Leafield Athletic.

Hayley Phillipowsky scored what proved to be a consolation goal.

The cup reverse came on the back of a 3-0 beating by Derby in the Midland Combination Main League the week before.

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