The Baggies [downed their junior rivals from Reading 3-1](https://plus.expressandstar.com/sport/2024/12/16/west-brom-u21s-3-reading-u21s-1-report-as-youngsters-sign-off-year-in-style/) in a comfortable victory at The Hawthorns to jump four places in the Premier League 2 table to 20th with just a third win of the league season.
Alex Williams and Ollie Bostock struck in the first half for Beale's side before the Royals grabbed one back, only for 16-year-old Matt Crowther to put the seal on the victory.
Beale, who's side have conceded last-gasp goals to Swansea and Southampton recently, was pleased to see the way his troops dug in to see out the victory.
"It's been something we've really focused on because we've conceded quite a few goals this season and a few late ones," Beale told the Express & Star.
"So that's out on the training pitch and more so in team meetings. We've analysed games and explained how you can manage games better and be cleverer in certain areas to not give things away.
"It's not something in the academy curriculum but if you go in the cut-and-thrust where these boys could easily be, you have to know that and it looks like it's hitting home all being well."
Beale has some of his more senior under-21 players out on loan as well as injuries and unavailability, with some youngsters training regularly with Carlos Corberan's [first team](https://plus.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/), to limit his selection.
But the junior Baggies have been busy in Premier League 2, Premier League Cup and National League Cup - the latter a new competition for this season where academy sides compete against senior National League opposition - in recent weeks.
There was also success for Leigh Downing's under-18s last week as they prevailed 6-4 in extra time in a thriller away at Harrogate Town's under-18s in the FA Youth Cup. They will face Stoke in the Bet365 Stadium in the next round in January.
"I'm really pleased, the lads deserved that tonight, I thought they were dogged and determined with some real bits of quality, which is what you need," Beale added in summary of his side's final performance before a brief Christmas break.
"In the first half of the season it's been up and down and there has been times where it hasn't been as dogged and determined as it could be. It's two wins on bounce now against two good teams. It's part of their development and I'm pleased with how they've battled in those games because if they don't have that they're not going to get very far."