Three Albion youngsters have earned important first-team minutes away from The Hawthorns over the weekend.
Goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo was the star of Leamington FC’s Southern Premier Division Central victory at home to Hitchin Town on Saturday.
The shot-stopper, who joined his loan club in September, kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 win and even saved Diogo Freitas-Gouveia’s penalty kick in the 31st minute in Warwickshire, leaving goalscorers Kai Tongue, Nathan Kabeya, Owen Farmer and Kyle Finn to add the finishing touches to a successful league outing.
Okonkwo’s stellar showing earned him the Player of the Match award, as Saturday’s promising performance leaves The Brakes 16th in the seventh tier, having collected nine points from as many matches played.
A penalty save as part of a MOTM performance from @WBA loanee Brian Okonkwo! 🧤 Highlights ➡️ https://t.co/KtbQWU7LG9 #BackingTheBrakes | #NewEraBrakes https://t.co/j5CJiqh5xe
— Leamington FC ⚽️ (@LeamingtonFC) October 4, 2026
Elsewhere, Cole Deeming featured for 62 minutes in Hartlepool United’s 1-0 defeat at home to Tamworth.
Kieren Donnelly’s effort just before half-time ensured all three points for The Lambs, condemning Pete Wild’s side to their sixth successive Enterprise National League defeat and 22nd in the division.
In the same league, Carter Pinnington’s Solihull Moors couldn’t capitalise on their midweek triumph over Woking, where the young defender made his debut - Chris Millington’s side were beaten by Halifax on Saturday.
Pinnington played the first half at Damson Park before being replaced by Junior Tiensa at the halfway mark, and The Moors went on to lose 2-0. They remain a place and two points behind Deeming’s Hartlepool after 12 matches.
Finally, Alfie Gilchrist made his return to the matchday squad as an unused substitute in Leyton Orient’s 2-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday; they travel to Bradford City next weekend.
Cover Image | Credit: Leamington Spa FC
