Albion Under-21s were worthy winners in their Premier League 2 clash with Derby County on Monday night.
Leigh Downing’s young pros went a goal down after eight minutes, but a pair of braces from Eseosa Sule and Remar McNeil - meant the hosts secured their second PL2 win on the bounce.
The Baggies were made to pay for a slow start in Solihull. Owen Eames produced a neat first-time finish into Maxwell Moses’ bottom corner to give the visitors an early advantage.
In response, forward Sule could’ve had two in the space of just one first-half minute. He firstly rounded Derby goalkeeper Harry Evans, who had to rely on his defenders to clear Sule’s effort away - before the Glaswegian found space behind the Rams’ back-line - only to place his shot wide of the mark.
The 19-year-old soon made his mark on proceedings, though, Torin Ntege’s cut-back found him well-positioned inside the penalty area to sweep home Albion’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Half-time rejuvenated the Baggies even further, and they quickly scored a second to take the lead. Winger McNeil showed enough trickery to beat his defender on the inside, before rifling a low strike into the bottom corner from range.
And the 16-year-old wasn’t done there, he showed excellent strength to knock defender Raymond Offor off the ball, leaving him to strike from the tightest of angles and extend the home side’s advantage.
The hosts continued their goalscoring rout as the match petered out, Sule grabbed his second after Souleyman Mandel’s brave carry unselfishly left the forward with a simple tap-in for an Albion fourth.
Even a late Derby goal, courtesy of midfielder Cruz Allen, couldn’t stop the hosts from a successful evening of PL2 football in Solihull.
Albion: Moses; Williams, DuPont, Diomande (Abudu 64’), Maughan (Nelson 79’); Mfuamba, Colesby (French 79’), Mandey; Ntege (Bray 79’), Sule (Ranger 85’), McNeil.
All photos courtesy of Gareth Evans - @garethevansphoto.
