Albion Under-21s secured their place at the top of Group E in the Premier League Cup with a chaotic victory over Luton Town.
Leigh Downing’s side were spirited in their final display of 2025 after being reduced to 10 men, as strikes from Souleyman Mandey (2), Deago Nelson and Michael Parker secured all three points.
The Baggies stormed into an early advantage at the Alexander Stadium. A neat interchange in the penalty area allowed Nelson to dance his way into a shooting position, where he calmly stroked past goalkeeper Charlie Booth.
Downing’s side’s lead would last no longer than three minutes, though, as Nelson was penalised for a foul inside his 18-yard box – leaving Jack Lorentzen-Jones to stroke home the resulting penalty kick.
The in-form Mandey wasted no time restoring the advantage moments later, polishing off a delightful attacking move manufactured by Nelson and the tireless Torin Ntege.
Miller McDonald had an opportunity to add another to our tally, but after drawing Booth out of his goal, he couldn’t find the right angle to convert, before Luton’s Charlie Trustram forced Brian Okonkwo into a low save.
Full-back Parker then sprung an attacking move of his own for Albion’s third. The 20-year-old collected an opposition corner before racing the length of the field and chipping over Booth.
A hectic first half had one further twist to its tale. Goalkeeper Okonkwo was second to a visiting long ball, leaving a Luton attacker to tap around him – the shot-stopper was adjudged to have fouled the forward and was subsequently sent off.
Moments later, the Hatters made their man advantage count – as Fox lashed past substitute goalkeeper Maxwell Moses to grab a goal back.
The Baggies had to bide their time to extend their lead again, and it was Mandey with further magic to continue his blistering start to the campaign.
The Austrian picked up the ball on the left-hand-side before slaloming his way through the Hatters’ defence to pick out a neat finish from the tightest of angles – and even a late Vladimir Pasternoster consolation couldn't deny a perfect end to their group-stage campaign.
Albion: Okonkwo; DuPont (Diomande 58’), Mohammed, Humphries; Nelson, Mfuamba (Iddrisa 82’), Blackshields (Moses 38’), Parker; Mandey, Ntege (Seven-Seven 82’), McDonald (Francis-Caesar 58’).
All photos credited: George Dunn - Luton Town FC.
