Goals from Divine Onyemachi and Eseosa Sule helped Albion’s scholars overcome West Ham United at the club’s Walsall training base on Saturday afternoon.
It was goalless heading in at the halfway mark despite Cole Deeming and Dan Chimeziri’s best efforts to swing the game in the home side’s favour, as both saw efforts on goal saved during the first 45.
Momentum eventually did shift in the Baggies’ favour, with Sule and Onyemachi involved in helping Leigh Downing’s team find a breakthrough on 52 minutes.
Archie Kirton’s cross found Glaswegian Sule in the box and the ball fell fortuitously for first-year scholar Divine to convert from close range and edge Albion’s youngsters ahead.
After helping to create the opening for the hosts’ first goal, Sule got in on the act himself to grab a second - driving from the halfway line before coolly finishing inside the box.
The Baggies’ east London counterparts tried to force a way back into proceedings, but Downing’s men held firm to secure their third win of the campaign in the U18 Premier League South.
Leicester City provide the next test for the U18s when they visit the West Bromwich Albion Training Ground on Saturday, November 4 (ko 11am).
Albion: Cisse; Kirton, Quinn, Morrish, Sears (Blackshields 60), Mandey (DuPont 45), Chimeziri, Deeming, Sule (Teesdale 90), Bostock, Onyemachi (Jenner 65).
Subst not used: Brady (GK)
