West Brom boys on top as Walsall out of FA Youth Cup
Andre Wright got the winner as Albion came from behind to knock Walsall out of the FA Youth Cup, writes Matt Maher.
The striker finished from close range after Saddlers keeper Richard Jones could only parry Bradley Sweeney's long-range effort to settle the third-round derby clash at The Hawthorns.
Carlton McKenzie had earlier put the visitors deservedly ahead on the half-hour with an excellent strike.
But the Baggies equalised almost immediately through Dan Barrow and took control of the game in the second half to see off their rivals, who will wonder what might have been, had they been able to take advantage of their firs-half dominance.
The visitors found themselves pushed deep early on but had the first shot of the game when McKenzie pounced on a loose Barrow pass and raced a full 60 yards before driving over.
That sparked a strong spell of pressure from the visitors. Wes Rush saw a shot blocked, while Liam Kinsella forced Alex Palmer into a smart save with a shot from the edge of the box.
But it was McKenzie who was impressing the most and it was only fitting he opened the score on the half hour, with a sweetly struck first-time shot from the corner of the box which flew past Palmer.
But having worked so hard to get into the lead, the visitors squandered it within seconds as Barrow beat the offside trap and lobbed Jones.
Wright then bundled the hosts ahead 13 minutes into the second half after Jones had parried a piledriver from Sweeney.
ALBION: Palmer, Sweeney, Smart, Cleet, Howkins, Jones, Barrow, Nabi (Gannon 83), Wright (Oldnall 74), Ward, Wedderburn (Hallahan 57) Subs not used: Donnellan, Ross.
SADDLERS: Jones, Ashmore, Henry, Kinsella, Dallison, Christopherou, McKenzie, Delaney (Rowley L 66), Bakayoko, Rush, Reid (Rowley K 76) Subs not used: Lovett, Garner, Probert.
Att: 565.
