Flynn Clarke’s late double wasn’t enough for Norwich City Under-23s, who lost 3-2 away to West Bromwich Albion Under-23s in the Premier League 2 Division Two on Monday night.
Jamie Andrews twice shot over the crossbar in the game's early exchanges, while Josh Giurgi forced a good save from Ted Cann having played a neat one-two with Liam Gibbs.
The latter was found by Tony Springett after making a good run into the penalty area, but Cann saved again.
In the 21st minute, West Brom took the lead Tom Fellows' curling effort towards the far post was punched clear by Dylan Berry, but only as far as the midfield trialist, who smashed the ball back across goal and in.
Norwich City's number one kept the Canaries in it with a strong stop to deny Mo Faal moments later, after the forward had been picked out well by Zachary Ashworth.
Clarke had a free-kick in a promising position, but curled the ball wide of the top left corner, before Saxon Earley twisted and turned as he looked for a way through in the Baggies' penalty box.
The City midfielder laid the ball off for Jonathan Rowe, whose shot was blocked behind for a corner kick, which came to nothing.
The second half got off to a poor start for City, Berry losing the ball and Faal making him pay with a header into the bottom right corner for 2-0.
Rowe came close after receiving a good ball forward from Jonathan Tomkinson, before Quevin De Castro cut in from the right to find the roof of the net and put West Brom 3-0 up.
The home side looked comfortable for all three points as Clarke and Springett both struck over the bar, and Abu Kamara saw a shot blocked from close range with just under 15 minutes remaining.
Berry saved at his near post from a well-worked West Brom free-kick, before Clarke dragged a shot wide of the bottom left corner from a central position in the penalty area.
Tomkinson, Joe Duffy and Springett all saw volleys go wide in the closing stages, but Clarke successfully pulled one back for City when he found space to receive the ball from Springett and place it into the bottom left corner in the 88th minute.
Two minutes into the five minutes of added time, City produced their best move of the game to make things interesting, Sean Stewart sending Gibbs down the left wing, who in turn crossed perfectly for Clarke to connect with first time for 3-2.
However, it was too little too late for Alan Neilson's side, who will look to secure a place in the Division Two play-offs against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s at Carrow Road on Friday night.
West Bromwich Albion XI: Cann; Taylor (C), Trialist, Nguepissi; Ingram, Ashworth, Trialist, Andrews (Shaw 73); Faal (Malcolm 68), Fellows, De Castro
Subs not used: Hollingshead, R. Richards, M. Richards
Goals: Trialist (21), Faal (46), De Castro (54)
Bookings: Trialist (29), Ingram (41), Andrews (43)
Norwich City XI: Berry; Giurgi, Tomkinson (C), Shipley, Stewart; Gibbs, Earley (Duffy 83), Clarke; Springett, Kamara, Rowe
Subs not used: Rose, Brooke, Hills, Thorn
Goals: Clarke (88, 90+2)
Bookings: Tomkinson (75)
HT: 1-0
Venue: New Bucks Head