Port Vale 3 West Brom 2

Academy graduates Kemar Roofe and Bradley Garmston grabbed the goals for the Baggies in the Potteries, only for Dawson's spectacular misjudgement to leave them on the losing side.

The youngsters gave 400 travelling Baggies fans some reason to smile despite ongoing worries about the holes in Irvine's squad, 10 days before the big Premier League kick-off.

But with time running out to get his first XI drilled, Irvine would have surely preferred his absentees to have made the trip up the M6 – and for his threadbare defence to look a little less ragged.

Joleon Lescott, Gareth McAuley James Morrison and Sebastien Pocognoli missed out through injury, new-boy Jason Davidson was not risked hours after signing, Brown Ideye had yet to touch down after receiving his visa and Cristian Gamboa was awaiting receipt of his despite winning his work permit appeal.

With Stephane Sessegnon yet to return from international duty, it left Irvine's resources stretched once more for his side's penultimate friendly run-out.

But at least Walsall-based winger Roofe and full-back Garmston, a Lichfield lad with a rich sporting pedigree, made the most of their chance to mix it with the first team.

Roofe, aged 21, opened the scoring while 20-year-old Garmston drew the Baggies level after Ben Williamson and Tom Pope had given the League One side a 2-1 half-time lead.

It took just five minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock with the simplest of goals.

Craig Gardner supplied a clever through-ball and, as the hosts stopped awaiting an offside flag that never came, Roofe darted in from the right, collected the pass and kept his composure to beat Sam Johnson low down.

The Baggies continued to dominate possession and forced a corner through Victor Anichebe, but Jonas Olsson headed wide from Chris Brunt's left-wing flag-kick.

And moments later Anichebe powered away from two defenders and unleashed a right-footed shot from 20 yards which Johnson pushed over the crossbar.

Wisdom then created a chance for himself when he cut inside Carl Dickinson but dragged his shot into the side-netting.

Irvine's men had had the lion's share of possession and should have had more than a single goal to show for their efforts.

But they appeared fragile in defence and Vale drew level on 18 minutes through their first meaningful attack as Albion were left to rue shaky defending.

A cross from Adam Yates was headed back across goal by Ryan Lloyd and forced home by Williamson with all three Vale men afforded too much time.

Brunt curled a free-kick off target for the visitors before Vale went ahead on 27 minutes courtesy of more slack Baggies defending.

Michael O'Connor delivered a free-kick from the right and Pope was allowed to leap relatively unchallenged to glance a looping header over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

Ten minutes before the interval, Roofe sent a header well wide from a cross by Garmston but on the stroke of half-time the hosts threatened again when Williamson's powerful shot forced Myhill into a smart, low save.

Albion were level just four minutes into the second half when Garmston – the son of 1980 Olympic 4x100m relay bronze-medallist Sonia Lannaman and a former schoolboy sprint protege himself – became the second youngster to get his name on the scoresheet.

The left-back collected a lay-off from Anichebe and skipped past Yates before beating Johnson at his near post with a piledriver.

Anichebe twice had the chance to fire the Baggies ahead after cutting inside defenders but his first effort flew wide and his second was saved easily by Johnson.

And between those chances came a close shave for the Baggies as Brunt was caught in possession by O'Connor, whose chip beat Myhill but rebounded off the crossbar with Williamson blazing the follow-up over when he should have scored.

Johnson then needed to be alert to turn a 20-yard snap-shot from Gardner around the post only for Vale to snatch victory with five minutes remaining.

Dawson misjudged Johnson's hopeful punt up-field and sent a looping back-header over the helpless Myhill.

There was still time for a chance at both ends as Gardner struck the outside of the post for Albion and Louis Dodds' long-range effort was pushed over by Myhill.

Port Vale (4-4-2): Johnson; Yates (Veseli 63), Robertson, McGivern (Smith 63), Dickinson (Marshall 63), Birchall, O'Connor (Lines 63), Jennings, Lloyd, Pope (Dodds 46), Williamson.

Subs not used: Boot (GK), Neal (GK).

West Brom (4-2-3-1): Myhill, Wisdom, Dawson, Olsson (Dorrans 75), Garmston (Mulumbu 78), O'Neil, Yacob (Baird 75); Roofe, Gardner, Brunt, Anichebe (Berahino 75).

Subs not used: Nabi, Foster (GK).

Referee: Rob Lewis (Shrewsbury)

Attendance: 2,145 (400 from Albion)