Match Reports

Albion XI 4 Mansfield Town XI 3

Hal Robson-Kanu fired a hat-trick as Albion kickstarted their Central League campaign with a 4-3 victory over Mansfield Town.

Robson-Kanu, Chris Brunt, Chris Willock, Rekeem Harper, Ali Al-Habsi and Kyle Edwards all played 90 minutes in the behind-closed-doors fixture overseen by Michael Appleton. 
 
Slaven Bilić watched on from the sidelines as Albion took an early lead with Robson-Kanu slotting home a fifth-minute penalty just moments before Edwards made it 2-0. 
 
The Wales international striker completed his hat-trick before the half-hour mark, curling in from the edge of the area and then chipping in from a Rayhaan Tulloch throughball. 
 
Albion’s lead appeared unsurmountable but goals from Andy Cook and Omari Sterling-James meant the visitors had closed the deficit to two at the break. 
 
Robson-Kanu might have had a fourth when Willock was felled inside the area but the resulting penalty rose over the crossbar. 
 
The Baggies were unable to convert a host of second-half chances with Brunt and Robson-Kanu each hitting the woodwork. 
 
Tyrese Sinclair scored from close range to cause some late nerves for the hosts but the Baggies comfortably held on to claim the three points. 
 
ALBION: Ali Al-Habsi; White, Fitzwater, Trialist, Harmon (Taylor 74); Harper, Brunt; Edwards, Tulloch (Asomugha 70), Willock; Robson-Kanu.
 
Substitutes: Cann, Brown, Ashton.
  • Home