Albion’s Under-21s bowed out of the National League Cup with a defeat to Wealdstone on Tuesday evening.
Goals either side of half-time from Olufela Olomola and Daniel Nkrumah secured all three points for the hosts at Grosvenor Vale.
A late change to the starting XI saw Charlie Blackshields replace Matthew Crowther in the visiting midfield, and the Baggies were handed another early setback in West London, as striker Olomola pounced on a loose pass before rolling a smart finish into the bottom corner after just three minutes.
Leigh Downing’s young hopefuls were on the hunt for an immediate equaliser moments later. Ollie Bostock raced through on goal after Torin Ntege and Souleyman Mandey created space for the winger – though he fired agonisingly wide of the target.
Some free-kick magic from the Wales U19 international almost levelled the clash, but instead brought a low save from Hubert Graczyk in the hosts’ goal. Ollie then fired wide from the edge of the area – moments before Sam Cox’s side had a goal disallowed for offside.
After having another goal chalked off early in the half, Wealdstone finally had their second as forward Nkrumah charged down an Albion clearance, leaving him to rifle a low finish past a raft of visiting defenders for the Stones’ second.
The Baggies forced some late blocks from their opposing defenders in the latter stages as they threw more bodies forward, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to prevent their unfortunate exit from the competition.
Albion: Okonkwo; Dupont, Mohammed, Humphries (Maughan 75’); Nelson, Blackshields (Francis-Caesar 75’), Mfuamba, Parker; Mandey, Bostock (McDonald 65’), Ntege (Ranger 83’).
Substitutes: Brady, Letlat.
