DENNIS Politic netted a hat-trick for the second time in four games, but Wanderers Under-18s had to settle for a point in a 4-4 draw against Birmingham City on Saturday.

Nicky Spooner's side went into the U18 Professional Development League clash looking to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.

But they began badly on home soil, conceding after just four minutes when Birmingham broke out of defence quickly from a Wanderers corner and netted from long-range after a counter-attack.

The young Whites were level, however, when Politic was felled in the area and stepped up to convert at the second attempt after his spot-kick was saved.

The hosts then took control and edged ahead when politic bagged his second, cutting in from the right to fire home with his left foot from distance.

And it was soon 3-1 when Jordan Boon rose to head home Luca Navarro's corner.

It looked good for Spooner's charges but they were deflated by two quick Birmingham goals from set-plays before half time to go in all square again at the break.

The Whites regrouped ahead of the second half and seized control back, Navarro and Matt Fearnley going close to putting them back in front.

They had to wait until the 70th minute to do just that and it was in-form Politic, with his eighth goal of the campaign, who scored the fourth with a sublime right-footed curler into the top corner.

The points looked sealed but Birmingham had the final say with another equaliser to end the game all square, despite a late chance for Politic.

The U18s are at home again on Saturday when they host Crewe Alexandra, kick off at the Eddie Davies Academy is 11am.