Aston Villa suffered a late setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United in the Under-18 Premier League South.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half at Bodymoor Heath but Kahrel Reddin levelled matters ahead of the interval.
Tommi O’Reilly then put Villa ahead just before the hour mark, however Paul Appiah’s own goal in the 81st minute ensured the spoils were shared.
The point leaves Villa’s Young Lions fifth in the table, six points off the summit with two games in hand, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southampton.
Sonny Perkins fired the Hammers into a 25th-minute lead from six yards before Villa equalised following a well-worked move.
Seb Revan broke down the left and played a one-two with Tristan Abldeen-Goodridge before surging into the penalty area and crossing low for Reddin to slame home from close range.
Villa took a second-half lead in similar fashion as Reddin, Revan and Abldeen-Goodridge combined once more down the left channel and found Tommi O’Reilly, who finished with a well-taken low left-footed strike from 12 yards.
Reddin was thwarted by United goalkeeper Kristjan Hegyi when clean through and opposite number Oliwer Zych, who had earlier stood up well to deny Gael Kileba, made another smart reflex save to keep out the visitors at the other end.
But the Hammers claimed a share of the spoils when Villa captain Appiah was unfortunate to connect with Regan Clayton’s low cross and put through his own net.
Villa: Zych, McBride, S Revan, A O'Reilly, Appiah, Lindley, Reddin, Afoka (Barnes 85), Sewell (Young 66), T O'Reilly (Sylla 64), Abldeen-Goodridge.
Subs: Swinkels, Hart.
