Albion U18 1 Reading U18 4

Young Baggies not enough for Royals

ALBION Under-18s fell to a disappointing 4-1home defeat to Reading in Professional Development League One on Saturday. 
 
The Baggies led at the interval through trialist Nathan Oduwa but four second-half strikes earned the Royals a comprehensive victory at the club’s training ground. 
 
And lead professional development coach James Shan accepted his side’s defeat as they begin to prepare for next week’s trip to Blackburn. 
 
“We were in control of the game but in the second half they upped their momentum and really came at us,” said Shan.
 
“We were camped in our own half for the majority of the second half and we weathered the storm until the hour mark.
 
“We were unfortunate not to clear our lines for their first and then they were awarded a penalty for the second.
 
“Even the penalty was nearly saved but we never really came back from that.
 
“It didn’t feel like a 4-1 result but they were better than us and they probably had a bit too much physically presence and power on that particular day.”
 
ALBION: Palmer; Atkinson, C Jones, Howkins, Francis; Brown, Pace, Birch, Barrow (Wedderburn 70); Jones, Oduwa (Oldnall).