ALBION Under-18s squandered a two-goal lead to draw their FA Premier Academy League (Group C) clash with FA Youth Cup-finalists Blackburn 2-2 at the Baggies' training ground yesterday.
Second-half strikes from Aaron Birch and Alex Jones put an Albion side featuring five 16-year-olds ahead, but two late Rovers goals broke the hosts' hearts.
Coach James Shan is already looking ahead to next season and fielded Mani O'Sullivan as the only second-year academy player in a starting XI that also included Under-15s star Isaiah Brown.
Alex Jones saw his penalty saved to deny the Baggies a first-half lead, while, at the other end, Jack Rose was forced into making an incredible double save to keep the scores level going into the break.
Two first years combined when Aaron Birch's bullet header from Ryan Winwood's corner put Albion ahead with 20 minutes remaining.
And Shan's fresh-faced outfit looked to have all three points sewn up moments later when Alex Jones made up for his earlier miss from the spot with an outstanding individual goal.
But it was not to be, as Rovers took advantage of some naïve Baggies defending in the final ten minutes to steal a point.
"I'm trying to get as many of the young lads exposed to under-18s football as soon as we possibly can," said Shan.
"Some of our lads were two years younger than the players they were up against.
"We stuck to the task with some competitive and, at times, outstanding football.
"The side showed a true sign of the Academy's DNA.
"Even when we had to clear the ball, we picked areas rather than just launching the ball forward.
"There are far more positives to take out of the game, and get excited about, than there are negatives.
"But the two goals we conceded were naïve and preventable."
ALBION: Rose; Francis (McCalla 70), C Jones, Howkins, Smart, Birch, Hayes, O'Sullivan (Winwood 65), Wedderburn (Brown 60), A Jones, Ambalu. Sub not used: Palmer (gk).