The opening National League Cup tie for the Fleet produced a penalty shootout to give the hosts an extra point in the group stage as visitors West Brom came back from 2-0 down to earn a late draw in the 90 minutes.
There were debuts for Dylan Berry, Elijah Anthony and new signing Todd Kane off the bench, while Kwame Thomas made a return from injury.
And Berry was forced into action in the first minute of the match when Souleyman Mandey let fly with a shot from range which the Fleet goalkeeper used his height advantage to tip it over the crossbar.
The young Albion side were eager from the whistle and enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges. But it was the hosts who were able to capitalise first and took the lead with 17 minutes on the clock. Fleet had got into some good passing rhythm along the edge of the box and when Franklin Domi received the ball in a central position outside the box, he struck a fine shot through a crowd and past Joe Wallis.
The Fleet stepped up their possession and dominated the half from that point. The quick feet of Anthony got him a shot on target that Wallis got his gloves on. Sha’mar Lawson found the target but that too was steered behind.
A second goal arrived for the Fleet and it was great running by Charles Ondo coming in from the left across goal to get his shot away and on target. The resulting somersault was as impressive as the goal.
Ben Chapman attempted to pick out Will Randall as Fleet went in search of a third but they went into half-time with a comfortable lead and well in command.
The Fleet continued to push forward and had the best of the opening moments of the second half, with a headed effort from Randall just wide from Anthony’s cross.
Giles Phillips cleared an effort off the line as the visitors stepped up their attacks and Berry got across well for both a free-kick and a strong shot across the face of his goal but the Fleet didn’t really look too troubled by their opponents.
That changed when Alex Williams drove a low shot towards goal from a corner drilled into the area and Albion continued to look dangerous in the final minutes of the game. And their equaliser arrived in time added on when Jephte Tanga brought down substitute Cole Deeming in the area. Deeming picked himself up to send Berry the wrong way and snatch a point.
There was one more point up for grabs, however, in this competition to be won by a penalty shootout and that went the Fleet’s way. The home side converted all five spot kicks – courtesy of Josh Wright, Thomas, Greg Cundle, Tanga and Randall while Albion’s Axeel Higgins clipped the post with their fifth and it was two points for the Fleet.
EUFC: Berry, Phillips, Olagunju (Dallison 74), Anthony (Thomas 60), Domi (Cundle 32), Chapman (Kane 46), Ondo, Lawson, Randall, Tanga, Tanner (Wright 74). Subs not used: John, Firth
WBA: J.Wallis, Williams, Humphries, Richards, Hall, Parker, Nelson, Mandey, H.Wallis, Heard, Higgins. Subs: Deeming, Brady, Onyemachi, Chimeziri, Diomande, Sule
Attendance: 213
Photos: ©EUFC: Dave Plumb/Ed Miller
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