City’s Under 18s staged a storming fightback, scoring twice in the last 11 minutes to claim a battling draw against West Brom at the CFA.
It was the second time in seven days that Gareth Taylor’s side had claimed a 3-3 draw following our six-goal derby thriller at United last weekend and was just reward for City’s never-say-die spirit.
Having fallen 3-1 behind with 17 minutes left to the Baggies, it looked a tall order for City to get anything from the game.
But Ben Knight reduced the arrears, adding to Lewis Fiorini‘s first-half opener. And then, with the 90 minutes up, substitute Keke Simmonds powered home a header to secure a deserved share of the spoils.
What happened
The Blues made the perfect start, taking the game to the Baggies from the off and we were rewarded with a fine seventh minute goal.
Lewis Fiorini showed great skill to twist and turn the Albion defence in the box before deftly finishing from close range for a fine individual strike.
However, within three minutes Albion responded by opening up the Blues defence to draw level.
Finn Azaz threaded a precise ball through the middle of the City back-line and Morgan Rogers raced through before slotting home.
It was a close-fought affair with Jayden Braaf denied by City keeper Louie Moulden and Peter Taylor volleying over for the visitors.
A dramatic 60 seconds then saw Albion take the lead. Cole Palmer’s close-range 37th minute shot was saved by Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
The visitors then immediately stormed upfield and Louie Barry fed Rogers whose curling shot evaded Moulden to hand West Brom the lead.
City sought to find a way back into the game after the break with Palmer and Jayden Braaf both going close and Fiorni hitting the bar with a powerful snap shot.
But Albion looked to have won the game when they struck for a third time on 73 minutes, Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s free-kick bobbed about causing havoc in the City box and Finn Azaz forced home the loose ball.
However, City dug deep and on 79 minutes narrowed the deficit. From a sweeping move. Winger D’Margio Wright-Phillips fired in a precise cross and Ben Knight made no mistake from close range.
The Blues then laid siege to the visitors goal and were rewarded on 90 minutes when, from Corrigan’s in swinging corner, Simmonds powered in a header to seal the fightback.
How we lined up
Louie Moulden was in goal with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yeboah Amankwah and Ryan Corrigan the back four.
Skipper Rowan McDonald anchored the midfield with Lewis Fiorni and Ben Knight based further forward and D’Margio Wright-Phillips and Jayden Braaf providing the width. Cole Palmer was deployed as striker.
What it means
City remain in sixth place in the table on 11 points from 10 games.
What’s next
City are back in Under-18s Premier League action on Tuesday at the CFA when Middlesbrough are the visitors. Kick-off is 2.30pm.
