Simmonds secures point with late leveller

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Albion drew 1-1 against Arsenal in Premier League 2 on Sunday.

Matthew Bishop

2024-12-01T16:15+00:00

Freddie Simmonds extended Albion's unbeaten record in PL2 with a stoppage-time equaliser.

Albion’s men’s under-21s drew 1-1 at Arsenal in Premier League 2 on Sunday after Freddie Simmonds scored a 92nd-minute equaliser.

The 16-year-old centre back extended Albion’s unbeaten run in the league to eight matches and kept Shannon Ruth’s side third in PL2, just four points off top of the table Manchester City.

Marcus Ifill had the first sight of goal after five minutes but smashed a shot against the foot of the post from close range, and then Harry Howell had an effort from outside the box well saved by Tommy Setford three minutes later.

Howell went close again just before the half-hour mark but his shot from 18 yards went wide before Arsenal responded with Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand having a good chance blocked by Imari Samuels.

The hosts weren’t to be denied though and Edwards opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a powerful shot from 12 yards which beat Hugo Fisher and found the bottom corner.

Joe Knight impressed in midfield in the draw against Arsenal. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion pushed and probed for an equaliser at the start of a tight second half, but in tricky conditions Ruth’s side struggled to find a leveller.

Cameron Peupion looked most likely to score but either side of Arsenal’s Nathan Butler-Oyedeji testing Fisher from ten yards, the Aussie had an effort from six yards hacked clear and a shot from the edge of the area well saved by Setford.

With ten minutes remaining, Zane Monlouis headed over for the hosts and then at the other end substitute Louis Flower’s towering header came back off the bar as Albion were denied by the woodwork for a second time in the match.

As the game ticked into five minutes of stoppage time, it looked like Albion would slip to only their second PL2 defeat of the season – and first since August – but Simmonds had other ideas, stooping low to head home Peupion’s pinpoint cross.

There was still time for Samuels to be shown a second yellow card for a foul on Monlouis but ten-player Albion more than deserved their point to keep pace with league leaders, City.