Belmont and Howell goals see off Liverpool

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Men's under-21s win 2-1 to claim their first Premier League 2 victory of the year.

Bruce Talbot

2025-04-06T18:00+01:00

Harry Howell celebrates after doubling Albion's lead. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Albion held off a late rally by Liverpool to pick up their first win in Premier League 2 since December 14.

Joe Belmont’s early header gave them the perfect start and a close-range effort by Harry Howell midway through the second half doubled Albion’s advantage. James Balagizi got one back in the 71st minute but Albion defended solidly for the remainder of the game to collect the three points their overall performance deserved.

Albion had dominated the first half and the only disappointment at the break was that they hadn’t added to Belmont’s third-minute goal after creating several good chances.

Harry Howell's left-foot finish from close range doubled Albion's advantage in the second half. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Howell made it with a lovely right-wing cross and Belmont rose above a defender to head powerfully past Liverpool keeper Kornel Misciur from close range.

Shannon Ruth’s team moved the ball crisply and quickly to create further opportunities before the break.

Howell was unlucky when his right-foot shot hit the crossbar in the 22nd minute and five minutes later Samy Chouchane saw two close-range efforts blocked by the Liverpool defence and when his second effort broke loose Howell fired over the target.

Joe Belmont heads Albion into an early lead. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Killian Cahill didn’t have a save of note to make in the first half with a well-organised defence offering him good protection whenever Liverpool threatened.

Skipper Jamie Mullins volleyed over from just outside the box after a good run by substitute Zane Albarus before Liverpool had their best spell of the game and Freddie Simmonds got in the way of James McConnell’s shot from just outside the box on the hour mark.

Albion had briefly lost control with Kieran Morrison next to threaten but midway through the second half it was 2-0. Substitute Nehemiah Oriola created it with a lovely ball across the face of the six-yard box from wide on the left and Howell arrived unmarked at the far post to tuck it into the net with his left foot.

Samy Chouchane rides a challege in midfield. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

But Liverpool weren’t finished and four minutes later they halved the deficit when McConnell’s pass found Balagizi, who gave Cahill no chance with a low finish into the bottom corner.

Joe Knight surveys his options. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

With five minutes to go Simmonds again blocked an effort by McConnell from the edge of the box as Liverpool won several corners and forced Albion to defend in depth, although Albarus saw a header late on from a corner of their own blocked by Misciur.

There were more than seven minutes of stoppage time to negotiate but Albion dug deep and the celebrations at the end demonstrated just how much the three points meant to the players after a tough run in PL2.

Albion: Cahill, Tasker (Albarus 45), Simmonds, Penman , Slater, Knight (Owusu 60), Chouchane, Howell, Bashir (Oriola 60), Mullins ©, Belmont. Subs not used: Fisher, Robertson.