Albion Under-18s secured a huge victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday in their penultimate U18 Premier League South fixture of 2025/26.
The Baggies had to weather an early storm at their Walsall base when Mylo Bernard found space on the left-hand side. The winger cut inside, and after a sight of goal, curled a wicked effort just past the post.
But Chay Thompson’s men were quick to get back into their groove. Forward Justin Seven-Seven latched onto James Bythell’s through ball to beat goalkeeper Thiago Speroni and notch the opener.
The hosts could’ve increased their advantage when Dauda Iddrisa couldn’t convert George Shaw’s cross from close range, and Remi Shittu prevented Seven-Seven from striking home.
Moments later, though, Seven-Seven made amends for his earlier miss to double his, and Albion’s tally for the afternoon. Defender Shaw’s tackle flew fortuitously to the other end of the pitch, leaving the forward with the chance to anticipate the loose ball and produce a composed finish for 2-0.
Forward Harry French didn’t take long to get in on the goalscoring act, as the Baggies went three ahead on the stroke of half-time. Newly-signed pro Ryan Colesby left the top scorer with room to run into, allowing him to slide beyond Speroni for the visiting third.
Both goalkeepers had their say on proceedings when Iddrisa went close again but found himself denied by Speroni, before Albion’s trialist goalkeeper got down well to beat away David Angibeaud’s strike.
The home side exerted further control over Saturday’s encounter as Bythell added to his assist from earlier in the afternoon, this time scoring himself. The young midfielder broke into the Palace penalty area, skipped past a defender, and fired into the bottom corner to round off a dominant showing.
Another successful result at home means Thompson’s young hopefuls go into their final fixture with Tottenham Hotspur (Tuesday, May 12) in fifth-place, and with the possibility of finishing as high as third - should other results go their way.
Albion: Trialist A; Shaw, Perkins, Trialist B; Iddrisa, Colesby (Trialist C 86’), Blackshields, Maughan; French (Crowther 72’), Seven-Seven (Francis-Caesar 72’), Bythell (Okorodudu 80’).
Substitutes: Asomugha.
