Barrow strike seals point for Shan's outfit
ALBION conceded a dramatic 88th-minute equaliser to deny the Baggies all three points in their 1-1 draw at West Ham in the Barclays U18 Premier League on Saturday.
Danny Barrow put the Baggies ahead on 70 minutes but Nana Boakye-Yiadom popped up in closing moments of the game to earn the hosts a point.
And lead development coach James Shan believes a point was a fair result – with his side maintaining their unbeaten record in 2013 against a side they lost 4-0 to earlier in the season.
“It’s disappointing to concede a goal so late and on reflection I’d have said West Ham were the better team first half and we were the better team second half,” said Shan.
“On the balance of chances created a draw was probably a fair result.
“West Ham had equally as many good opportunities as us and if not more.
“I’m happy with the draw as we went there at the start of the season and lost 4-0.
“We had a very young team playing again with three under-16s involved in the game.
“To be able to compete at that level with such a young team on display is a credit to the boys involved.
“We struggled first half and they dominated us in the first 20 minutes.
“But we counter-attacked well throughout the game and we created some good chances.
“The second half was very different and we were massively on top.
“We dominated and frustrated the life out of West Ham in the second half.”
ALBION: Palmer; Ezewelle, C Jones, Greenidge, Smart; Wedderburn, Ward, Pace, Hallaghan (Tunicliffe 75); Barrow, Oldnall (Howkens 82). Subs not used: Buchannon, Ross, Donnellan.