SAM Mantom's 40th-minute strike proved nothing more than a consolation as Albion reserves' six-game unbeaten league run came to an end in a 2-1 defeat at Derby.

A young Baggies outfit found themselves 1-0 down in the 26th minute as the ball was played back into the box after a poor clearance and Mark Doninger netted.

Nine minutes later the Rams doubled their lead thanks to Jake Livermore in what proved to be an open totesport.com Central League Central Division encounter.

Mantom's strike from outside the box gave Albion a lifeline five minutes before the break after he exchanged passes with Chris Wood.

But the Baggies could not find an equaliser as Lateef Elford-Alliyu hit the post and Chris Wood, George Thorne and Kayleden Brown all missed half-chances after the break.

Albion sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth said: "We tightened up after the break and had three or four decent chances to equalise.

"Overall we were good going forward but found it hard against a physically stronger and older Derby side."

ALBION: Allsop, Samuels, Gayle (Grier 85), Mantom, Martis, Malcolm, Elford-Alliyu (Lynch 75), Thorne, Wood, Reid, Brown (Mannion 80). Subs not used: Tebbutt (gk), Connolly.