It has been a week to remember for Harry Howell. After coming off the bench to hit the winning spot kick in Albion’s victory on penalties over Reading at the Amex in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday, the 15-year-old schoolboy and England under-16 midfield player started and scored twice in the under-21s’ Premier League 2 victory over Liverpool.
Howell put Albion ahead but England under-21 striker Jayden Danns equalised for Liverpool. Lewis Koumas made it 2-1 to the Reds thanks to poor defending at a corner, but Louis Flower headed Albion level early in the second half and Howells’ second restored the lead. Liverpool pressed for a third but Jamie Mullins made it 4-2 in the last of seven minutes of added time.
The victory lifted Albion up to fifth place in the PL2 table and was a remarkable result with nine possible members of his squad, including top scorer Mark O’Mahony, in Dubai for warm-weather training with Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team group. Coach Shannon Ruth therefore had no choice but to pick a very young starting XI, which included not only midfielder Howell but also defender Freddie Simmonds, who has captained Howell in the England under-16s.
The more experienced Liverpool side came close after five minutes when captain Bobby Clark ran at the Albion defence and slipped the ball to Lewis Koumas on the left. Goalkeeper Hugo Fisher, recently on loan to Weymouth of the National League South, did well to parry his shot and deserved his good luck when Danns, on his first start for his club’s Premier League 2 side, nodded the rebound wide.
Instead it was Albion who took the lead after eight minutes. Jacob Slater and Mullins pressed high up on the left and won possession near the corner flag. Mullins found Howell, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area dipped over goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek and into the far corner of the net.
But Liverpool were soon level. Ruairi McConville seemed to be fouled as Kaide Gordon knocked him the ball past him, but referee Alan Dale played on and the winger’s low cross was converted by Danns, a prolific scorer at under-18 level, from six yards.
Albion had the chance top re-take the lead but Louis Flower nodded wide from Slater’s cross. And the home side had a lucky escape when the impressive Clark, the son of former Newcastle United midfielder Lee, again launched a run deep into the Albion penalty area only for Danns to make a mess of his skipper’s pass.
But Liverpool did take the lead after 33 minutes and it was a dreadful goal from an Albion point of view. A corner-kick from the left travelled all the way across the penalty area to the far post where Koumas was standing, completely unmarked. He had only to swing his left boot at the ball to knock it past Fisher.
Liverpool scented blood and for a while Albion had to throw bodies in front of the ball to prevent a third goal for the Reds. But their determined defending paid off with a second goal six minutes into the second half. This time it was Albion scoring from a corner, Flower rising high at the far post to meet Slater’s kick from the right with an emphatic header.
And Howell netted his second seven minutes later as Flower turned provider, playing the ball in from the left and into Howell’s path. His calm left-foot finish made it 3-2.
Fisher blocked well when Liverpool substitute Trent Kone Doherty was put through and McConville took the sting out of a shot from Calum Scanlon after another powerful run. Mrozek was also called into action, his diving save to his right preventing Mullins making it 4-2, but after Clark had a free kick blocked by a determined Albion defensive wall, Mullins did have the final word, cutting in from the left before hitting a rocket into the far corner.
Albion (3-4-2-1): Fisher; Offiah (Nilsson 63), Simmonds (Atom 72), McConville; Ifill (Smith 63), Knight, Chouchane, Slater; Howell (Albarus 85), Mullins; Flower.
Unused sub: Reid.