Men’s under-18s head coach Arthur Brammer called his team’s performance in their 3-2 win over Chelsea ‘the most pleasing result of the season so far’.
It was far from the ideal start as Albion conceded in the first minute when Tudor Mendel-Idowu finished smartly to round off a lovely team move.
Their lead lasted eight minutes. Jack Hinshelwood pinched possession deep in the Chelsea half and slipped the ball to Josh Duffus who cut past a defender before lashing it into the bottom left corner.
Mendel-Idowu scored his second of the day with less than 20 minutes played when he nodded in from a yard after getting on the end of Ronnie Stutter’s lofted cross.
Brammer’s team responded five minutes after the restart when Harry Mills’s cross to the back post was tucked home by Moulton before the forward curled into the top right corner from Bailey Smith’s cross.
Brammer said, “I think it was the most pleasing result of the season so far. We spoke about this game being a test of character after having a good start to the year before losing at Leicester with a young team, so it was a big challenge.
"After going a goal down away from home at Chelsea we’re really proud of the boys for the character they showed and the football they played. The most pleasing bit was how we controlled the game in the second half. We’re really proud of them.”
The under-18s were boosted with Jack Hinshelwood, Luca Barrington and Jamie Mullins coming into the team as the under-21s did not have a game.
“It was a real bonus having those three and Josh Duffus who has been with the under-21s recently,” Brammer added.
“For them to come back in and put in a really professional performance was excellent. How they controlled the ball, how they controlled the game – we played with a really good identity.”