We began the match well, applying relentless pressure on the West Brom backline from the opening whistle. Chances arrived regularly in the early stages as the Blues dominated both possession and territory, but frustratingly the finishing touch just wouldn’t come.

Despite controlling much of the first half, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock deep into stoppage time. A corner delivered into the box ended in misfortune for the Blues, as an attempted clearance turned the ball into the back of the net. What had been a positive opening period was transformed into a frustrating one, leaving us trailing at the interval.

We returned for the second half with the same energy and attacking intent that had defined our first-half performance. Chances continued to come as the Blues pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but as the match wore on, frustration grew with every missed opportunity.

Despite dominating large spells of the contest, the breakthrough never arrived. The final whistle confirmed a disappointing result for Chelsea, who were left to reflect on a performance that deserved more. We remain second in the Under-18 Premier League South table, four points behind Tottenham Hotspur.

Dangerous start

Chelsea began the opening exchanges brightly, looking to stamp our authority on the game from the first whistle. The first opportunity arrived when right-back Lewi Richards produced a precise cut-back into the area. Striker Chizaram Ezenwata met it perfectly and powered a header towards goal, but the effort drifted just wide, letting West Brom off the hook after an early warning.

The pressure from the Blues continued to build as we came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock. Richards, lively on the right flank, curled a powerful effort on target that forced Maxwell Moses into action. The keeper managed to parry the ball away, but only as far as winger Kobe Barbour, who connected with a volley. Moses reacted superbly once again, making another impressive save to deny Barbour from close range.

We continued to threaten from set-pieces soon after. Reggie Watson whipped in a dangerous corner that found the towering Olutayo Subuloye. The defender’s header looked destined for the back of the net, but a West Brom defender somehow managed to clear it off the line at the last moment to keep the scores level.

As the game approached the 20-minute mark, another opportunity presented itself. A loose pass from the Baggies keeper allowed midfielder Watson to pounce and steal possession on the edge of the box. He drilled a low effort towards goal, but the shot drifted narrowly wide of the post.

Momentum remained firmly with the home side as the first half progressed. Sol Gordon threaded a perfectly weighted pass between two West Brom defenders to release Ezenwata inside the penalty area. The striker struck a sweeping effort across goal, but the chance crashed against the side of the post, denying us once again.

Watson was again at the heart of Chelsea’s attacking play moments later, delivering a superb long ball into the area. Subuloye rose highest and flicked a header towards goal, but Moses produced yet another outstanding save, leaping to tip the effort over the crossbar and keep his side in the contest.

Midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli was the next to come close as the interval approached. After dribbling into the penalty area, he unleashed a powerful strike that beat the goalkeeper but rebounded off the crossbar, with the woodwork denying the Blues yet again.

Out of nowhere

Despite us dominating the first half, the visitors somehow found the breakthrough just before the interval. During stoppage time, West Brom won a corner that was whipped into the box by Danyal Iqbal. In an attempt to clear the danger, Yisa Alao stretched to block the delivery but unfortunately sliced the ball into his own net.

It was an unexpected blow for the Blues, as we had controlled the half from start to finish yet found ourselves trailing 1-0 to the Baggies at the break.

Searching for a response

We emerged for the second half with clear intent to turn the game around and find the equaliser our performance deserved.

The first real chance of the half arrived when Watson slipped a clever pass into the path of Gordon. The winger burst into the area and fired from a tight angle, but Moses reacted quickly, sticking out a leg to keep the effort out.

The pressure continued to mount as the Blues pushed forward again moments later. Emenalo tried his luck from distance, unleashing a fierce right-footed strike from outside the penalty area. The effort was on target, but Moses positioned himself well and gathered the shot safely.

Chelsea were soon denied once more by the keeper. Gordon made a sharp run down the flank before cutting the ball back into the centre for Richards arriving in support. The right-back struck the ball powerfully first time, but Moses somehow got both hands to the shot and blocked it away. For a moment it looked certain to be the leveller Chelsea had been desperately searching for, but the Baggies keeper continued to stand firm.

With just two minutes of normal time remaining, we looked set to find a way back into the game. Substitute Mathis Eboue played a simple pass to Alao, who curled a beautiful strike towards goal, only for it to crash against the crossbar. Moments later, the loose ball fell to captain Dante Waite, but his effort was superbly palmed away by Moses, keeping West Brom’s lead intact.

Despite giving everything in stoppage time, we were unable to overturn the visitors’ first-half goal. The points were ultimately snatched away, leaving the Blues to rue a narrow defeat despite a performance that had been positive from start to finish.

What's next

Chelsea will continue our Under-18 Premier League campaign with a match against Brighton & Hove Albion, kicking off at 11am on Saturday 14 March at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hudson Sands; Lewi Richards, Dante Waite (c), Olutayo Subuloye, Yisa Alao; Landon Emenalo, Reggie Watson, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli; Sol Gordon, Chizaram Ezenwata (Jashayde Greenwood 76), Kobe Barbour (Mathis Eboue 62)
Unused subs: Toby Bell, Jacob Hall, Riley Ebho
Booked: Waite 10, Watson 45+1, Alao 82

West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Maxwell Moses, Joel Asomugha, Alfie Round, Shame Gompe, Antonio Perkins, George Shaw (Dylan Nasibu 61), Dauda Amihere (c) (Jaiden Franics-Caesar 70), Danyal Iqbal (Reece Bastafield 61), Justin Seven-Seven, Harry French, Frazer Billings (Umar Sankoh 77)
Scorer: Iqbal 45+2
Booked: French 11, Amihere 43