Albion Under-18s produced a spirited display to see out a hard-fought 1-0 win against Chelsea at their Cobham Training Ground on Saturday afternoon.
A talented Blues XI took to the field against Chay Thompson's team in the capital, but they were frustrated by a strong, resilient showing from the Baggies' scholars.
Having ridden a heavy storm during the first 45, with the hosts throwing wave after wave of attacks at the visiting defence, the boys from the Black Country made the breakthrough in the contest from a Danyal Iqbal set play.
The midfielder's corner was sliced into the Chelsea net by home defender, Yisa Alao - giving Thompson's side an unlikely lead heading in at the halfway stage.
It was a moment which gave Albion's academy hopefuls something to hold onto in the second period - reflected in their defensive display, particularly by goalkeeper Maxwell Moses and defender Antonio Perkins.
The shot-stopper was called into pulling out four big saves to deny the Blues from levelling the scores, and although a back-post header looked destined to earn the home team a share of the points, the Baggies' Cyprus U19 international had other ideas.
Defender Perkins was alert to meet the attempt on the goal line - clearing to safety and sealing three important points to add to this term's U18 PL South tally, where they sit ninth in the table heading into their next meeting with Ipswich Town on Tuesday, March 10 (ko 1.30pm).
Albion: Moses, Iddrisa (c) (Francis-Caesar 70'), Asomugha, Perkins, Shaw (Nasibu 60'), Round, Gompe, Iqbal (Bastafield 60'), French, Billings (Sankoh 75'), Seven-Seven.
