A rallying second-half display from Southampton condemned Albion’s PL2 side to their first defeat of the season at Snows Stadium on Friday night.
A bright first half saw the young Baggies take the lead courtesy of Akeel Higgins’ smart finish, but Dom Ballard’s equaliser breathed life into the home side’s cause.
And Saints took full advantage of their momentum after the break as Ballard netted his brace, Matt Carson headed in a third, before Ryan Finnigan made sure of the win.
The final score didn’t reflect the endeavour and inventiveness shown by the young Baggies during the first 45, as opportunities regularly came their way.
Captain Jamie Andrews curled a free-kick narrowly wide as the visitors began their tight pressing game and it paid off after 11 minutes - Higgins showing neat footwork to nutmeg his man in the box before finishing low to give Richard Beale’s men a deserved lead.
Resilient defending prevented a second Albion goal and Andrews kept gaining space for shots, with a matter of inches separating his rasping drive from finding the net.
But they were made to pay for not making their pressure count as Ballard netted either side of half-time to turn the game on its head.
Andrews couldn’t capitalise on another attempt, this time seeing a strike on his weaker side held by the Saints stopper, and it led to further punishment for the boys from the Black Country.
Carson ghosted around the back of the Baggies defence to nod in a third and the defeat was confirmed when Finnigan’s deflected shot deceived keeper Ronnie Hollingshead, bouncing in off the shot-stopper via the post to ensure Beale’s side suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Albion: Hollingshead; Williams, Ingram, Nguepissi, Shaw; Whitwell, Andrews©️, Higgins (Heard 80); Fellows, Faal, Malcolm (Mfuamba 71).
Substitutes: Cisse, Phillips, Humphries.
