Five Albion youngsters earned more senior minutes away from The Hawthorns over the latest weekend.
Two were involved in EFL matches, with winger Akeel Higgins featuring for Exeter City in Sky Bet League One and midfielder Cole Deeming appearing for Cheltenham Town in Sky Bet League Two.
Higgins was named in the starting XI for the Grecians and played 71 minutes of their 4-0 defeat at home to title-chasing Cardiff City.
The Baggies man was replaced by Carlos Mendes on a day where strikes from Rubin Colwill (2), Alex Robertson and Callum Robinson proved more than enough to secure all three points for the Bluebirds. Defeat leaves Exeter 18th in the third tier, four points clear of the bottom four.
Deeming, meanwhile, enjoyed a much better result. The 19-year-old came on with six minutes remaining for Isaac Hutchinson and helped the Robins see out their 2-0 advantage at Shrewsbury Town.
Efforts from Jordan Thomas and Sam Sherring in the second period gave Cole’s side all three points, points which pushed them above their opponents into 17th position in the table.
Three of the club’s young players were in non-league action. Defender Evan Humphries played the entirety of Oxford City’s crucial 3-1 win at Southport in the Enterprise National League North.
DJ Campton-Sturridge’s double and Callum McFarlane’s late strike sealed a big three points for Evan’s team, who remain one point clear of trouble. Ted Lavelle scored for the hosts.
Striker Dan Chimeziri completed 75 minutes for Rushall Olympic who drew 1-1 at Prescot Cables in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
The forward was brought off with 15 remaining, making way for Harry Wakefield. Jamie Willets opened the scoring for the visitors, but Prescott equalised after 73 minutes courtesy of Sharif Mussa Deans. The Pics are 16th in the table, four points clear of the danger zone.
Defender Jamal Mohammed played 87 minutes of Gloucester City’s 1-0 defeat at Berkhamsted in the Southern League Premier South Division. Liam Cross came on for the final moments with Mohammed’s men desperately searching for an equalising goal.
The narrow setback meant they lost ground on leaders Walton & Hersham, with Gloucester now 12 points behind in second.
Finally, goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was an unused substitute for Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship. Boro were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bristol City.
