The Hawthorns

Monday 29th April 2024 - 19:00
WBA
- Days
- Hrs
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4
v
2
Leeds
Stream on WBA TV
Key Events

A photo of Albion U21s boss Richard Beale, in 23/24 black training wear, at the club's training ground going out instructions

Baggies PL2 boss Richard Beale says his group want to end their campaign in the best possible way by claiming three points against Leeds United at The Hawthorns on Monday night (ko 7pm). 

Although four straight defeats have given Albion’s youngsters little to build off in terms of results recently, it’s been a positive campaign for under-18s players stepping into the U21s picture, academy products making senior breakthroughs, and first-year scholars earning professional contracts. 

A photo of Albion youngster Ollie Bostock in front of the Albion Training Ground
17-year-old Ollie Bostock signed professional terms last month

Not to mention productive EFL loans for a number of promising young hopefuls, but for the group currently with Beale and his coaching staff, they are focused on showing their best ahead of the final hurdle of the 2023/24 season.

And Professional Development Phase boss Beale is looking forward the season finale under the lights, with the target of pushing to be “the next” academy player in and around Carlos Corberán’s first team in the near future very much the motivation for his squad.

He said: ”It’s been a really progressive season.

“This U21s role at any club in the country brings its challenges but we’re really fortunate in the role, really fortunate to be working with such good players and in elite environments as well.

“So we’ve all embraced the challenge this year and we’ve gone from playing the second tier of Category One clubs to playing all of the big boys, which is fantastic and sometimes in one-off games, it can be tough to compete. 

A photo of Albion PL2 boss Richard Beale, pictured in a black coat and hat on the touchline during an U21s game v Arsenal
Richard Beale has been pleased with the development his team have shown

“But, on the whole, we have competed and competed well but the most important thing has been the boys showing they can mix it with the best young players at other clubs. 

“We look to those performances and it’s been good to have got some good wins this season for their confidence levels. 

“We’re challenging the boys every day and asking, ‘who’s next, who’s going to get in the manager’s eye-line’, and I can safely say we’e got one or two who are doing that at the moment. 

“It’s really exciting for the is group at the moment, so let’s try and get more, and more, and more in that position. 

“We’ve had some really good development this season and playing against this calibre of opposition has only brought the boys on. They’ve done great and now it’s all about producing a strong finish. 

“Our last three games this season have been against some really big teams. Newcastle, Man City and Leeds; three good academies, three powerhouses in English football and, as I’ve said to the boys, we’ll be aiming to show a high performance level in the final match.”

How to follow the match

Tickets will be available on the gate at The Hawthorns for Albion's PL2 clash against Leeds United on Monday night.

They are priced at £5 adults and £1 concessions and will be available to purchase on the gate on the Halfords Lane side of the stadium.

WBA TV+ subscribers will be able to watch a live stream of the game here from 6.50pm.

Albion's PL2 players celebrate a goal after scoring against Leeds United at The Hawthorns wearing the home kit

Josh Maja bagged a brace for Albion’s PL2 team at The Hawthorns in front of the watching Carlos Corberán and his first-team coaching staff on Monday night.

The senior forward, who completed the majority of the encounter, pounced twice inside the opening 25 minutes of the Baggies’ 4-2 victory over Leeds United, firing high into the roof of the net and slamming home from close range. 

Fenton Heard opening the scoring and Harry Whitwell ended it, with James Debayo and Sam Chambers on target for the visitors in what was Richard Beale's side's final match of the 2023/24 campaign. 

Albion players celebrate scoring a goal against Leeds in the PL2 clash at The Hawthorns

It didn’t take long for the hosts to assert their dominance. Maja drove towards goal and slipped in Heard to his left, with the latter slotting the ball into the far corner beyond Leeds stopper Rory Mahady after eight minutes.

Leeds had a great chance to equaliser just six minutes later when a cross from the right found its way through to Luca Thomas, however the forward crashed an effort against the crossbar from point-blank range.

Albion’s goalscorer Heard then turned provider for Maja, releasing the Nigerian forward down the left side of the box. With space shortening, the club’s No.9 pushed the ball on to his left foot and rocketed an attempt past Mahady. 

Maja made it three midway through the period. The Baggies broke forward at speed once again and when Whitwell’s shot was pushed away, Josh was on hand to finish from around 10 yards. 

The visitors entered the final third on more than one occasion in the closing stages of the first half, but the home side stood strong and went in with a three-goal advantage. 

Josh Maja shooting and scoring against Leeds' PL2 team wearing the home kit

Albion were keen to add to their tally in the early stages after the interval. Ollie Bostock's strike from the edge of the box deflected just wide, while Maja's effort from 20 yards went straight into the goalkeeper's gloves.

But it was United who scored the game's next goal. Defender Debayo ghosted in between defenders and the Baggies stopper Brad Foster and managed to nod into the net with just 15 left on the clock.

The hosts' lead was cut to one four minutes later. Sam Chambers raced away down the right side of the box and powered the ball through a gap at the near post to make it 3-2.

An unbelievable challenge from Trialist denied Leeds an equaliser moments after their second goal, with Chambers seemingly on hand to score.

With their opponents pushing for a leveller, Albion caught Leeds out and added a fantastic fourth. Whitwell picked up the ball around 40 yards from goal, breezed beyond four players and converted into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to seal all three points.

ALBION: Foster, Williams, Trialist 1 (Trialist 2 HT), Hall, Nelson, Richards (Mfuamba 72), Whitwell, Heard (Higgins 73), Bostock, Malcolm, Maja (Sule 80).

Subs: Brady (GK).