West Brom U18s beat Everton U18s 4-3 to reach FA Youth Cup semi-final for first time in 41 years

Against a much-fancied Everton side currently challenging for the Premier League U18 title, Mike Scott's fearless young team roared back from 2-0 and 3-2 down tonight to edge out a dramatic seven-goal thriller at The Hawthorns 4-3.

Cementing their place as one of the best academies in the country, Albion's youngsters played with composure and class and thoroughly deserved their win in this quarter-final, the club's first for more than a generation.

Morgan Rogers, 16, and Rayhaan Tulloch, 18, the two teenagers who recently made their senior debuts under Darren Moore, sparkled as expected and each got a goal.

But the whole team were superb, and in front of scouts from European powerhouses like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United, they showed the exemplary work Mark Harrison and his coaches are doing at Albion's training ground in Walsall.

The Baggies were up against it. Everton have one of the most formidable academies in the country, and had beaten Albion 10-0 earlier in the season.

However, the hosts started brightly, and were zipping the ball around with purpose and composure, but then came an all-too familiar feeling at The Hawthorns.

Seven minutes in goalkeeper Josh Griffiths passed a goal-kick out to Tom Solanke on the edge of the box, but he was caught in possession by Bobby Carroll.

The Everton midfielder lifted the ball over Griffiths to give the visitors an early lead.

That handed the impetus to the boys in blue, and 14 minutes in Anthony Gordon nearly made it two, cracking the crossbar with a fiercely-struck free-kick.

It didn't take them long to add a second though, even if there was a slice of luck involved.

When Korede Adedoyin drifted in off the right-hand side 20 minutes in, his shot flicked off George Harmon's boot and looped over Griffiths into the far corner.

But Albion threatened whenever Rogers was on the ball, and despite being younger than many on the pitch, the 16-year-old cut an imposing physical presence.

Ten minutes before the break he worked a neat short corner with Tulloch that ended up with Tulloch having a shot beaten away by Everton keeper Harry Tyrer.

Tulloch pulled a goal back just before half-time, smashing home after Finn Azaz's shot was blocked, although it was all down to a brilliant lay-off from Rogers.

The 18-year-old then tested Tyrer again moments later after more neat footwork from the impressive Rogers as the home side finished the half the strongest.

It took the Baggies just three minutes to draw level after the restart, and it came from a lovely sweeping move up the left-hand side.

Tulloch turned provider this time, bursting towards the byline before pulling the ball back to Solanke, who atoned for his earlier error by guiding the ball into the far corner.

But parity was short-lived, because four minutes later Everton had restored their lead through Ellis Simms, who pounced on a loose ball after Griffiths spilled a long-range shot from the lively Adedoyin.

The Baggies remained on top though. Tulloch wasted a great chance to level things up when Solanke chipped a delightful ball to him over the Toffees defence, but he snatched at his chance and it flew over.

And then Everton skipper Einar Iversen had to head Jamie Soule's overhead kick from a narrow angle off the line.

The Baggies drew level 15 minutes from time, and it was Rogers who got a well-deserved goal, rounding off yet another passing move that wore Everton down.

Three minutes later and Albion were in front for the first time when substitute Taylor Gardner-Hickman scored a sumptuous goal, bringing the ball down in the box before spinning around his defender and curling a beauty into the top corner.

Furious they had thrown away their lead, Everton's tempers boiled over and Mackenzie Hunt was shown a straight red for flying into the back of Tulloch, sparking a 20-man brawl in the corner.

The Toffees had come unstuck, and they continued the assault until the full-time whistle.

Next up for Albion's young stars is the might of Manchester City. But don't bet against them pulling off another upset to reach the final for the first time since 1976.

KEY MOMENTS

07 GOAL EVERTON - Carroll robs Solanke of possession before lifting the ball over Griffiths.

20 GOAL EVERTON - Adedoyin's deflected shot loops over Griffiths and into the far corner.

37 GOAL ALBION - Tulloch smashes home after Azaz's shot is blocked.

48 GOAL ALBION - Solanke atones for his earlier error, rounding off a sweeping move up the left-hand side.

52 GOAL EVERTON - Simms pounces on a loose ball after Griffiths spills Adedoyin's long-range effort.

75 GOAL ALBION - Rogers rounds off another impressive passing move to draw level again.

78 GOAL ALBION - Gardner-Hickman curls a beauty into the top corner.

81 RED CARD - Hunt sent off after flying into the back of Tulloch

TEAMS

Albion (4-1-2-3): Griffiths; White, Ferguson, Martinez, Harmon (c) (Gardner-Hickman 66); Solanke; Brown, Azaz; Rogers, Soule, Tulloch.

Unused subs: Cann, Taylor, Asomugha, Barry.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Tyrer, Richards (Warren 85), Collins, Anderson, Astley, Iversen (c), Adedoyin (Dobbin 83), Carroll (Hughes 89), Simms, Hunt, Gordon.

Unused subs: Barrett, Quirk.

Referee: James Oldham