Albion Under-18s were held by Birmingham City in an entertaining 4-4 draw on Saturday afternoon at The FitLife Foods Performance Centre.
The opening exchanges saw both teams have their share of the possession, though it was the hosts who seized the initiative on home soil - Justin Seven-Seven teeing up in-form midfielder James Bythell for the opener, who duly obliged by lashing a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Blues did respond through Max Heywood to level the scores again, but a flowing team move soon restored the Baggies' advantage - playing the ball out from defence before Frazer Billings guided in a smart finish from the edge of the box.
Umar Sankoh made it 3-1 following Billings' creativity to lay the ball off to him outside the area once again, although the visitors ensured they were only a goal away going in at the break - Noah Hoarau finding the net in first-half stoppage time.
The second 45 started in enthralling fashion, as Bythell doubled the lead for Chay Thompson's men once more - smashing a terrific left-footed strike from 25 yards into the top corner for 4-2.
Denzi Uchenna made sure Albion's scholars wouldn't have it easy for the remainder of proceedings, as he made it 4-3 on 65 minutes to create a nervy finish to the encounter.
City continued to chase a leveller and, heartbreakingly for the young Baggies, they found it in the 94th minute - Uchenna again scoring the goal which confirmed the points were shared in Walsall.
Thompson's team have an opportunity to progress in the U18 Premier League Cup when they're next in action - travelling to West Ham United on Saturday, November 7 (ko 12pm).
Albion: Moses, Lartey, Asomugha, Jackson, Nasibu (Round 65'), Iqbal, Sankoh (Hutchinson 46'), Bythell, Billings, Seven-Seven (Williams 85'), Smith.
Substitutions: Saa, Edwards.
