West Ham United U18s 3-1 Leicester City U18sU18 Premier League SouthLittle Heath Sports GroundSaturday 11 September
West Ham United U18s returned to profitable methods with a commanding 3-1 victory over Leicester City U18s at Little Heath Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.
First half targets from Gideon Kodua, Sonny Perkins and George Earthy put Kevin Keen’s aspect in full management they usually might have been even additional forward however had been denied by the woodwork on three separate events throughout a frenetic opening interval.
The guests received themselves again into the competition by Chris Popov shortly after the restart, but the Hammers stood agency to file their second win of the U18 Premier League South season.
The victory sees the youth workforce bounce as much as seventh within the league desk after simply 4 rounds of matches.
West Ham United U18s began on the entrance foot on a sunny afternoon at Little Heath and had been deservedly forward halfway by the primary half.
Kodua reacted quickest to a lapse of focus within the Leicester City defence to prod residence from shut vary for his second aim of the season.
Keen’s aspect prolonged their benefit lower than ten minutes later after constructive play from Perkins. The England U18 worldwide collected the ball from a throw-in, minimize inside and delivered a exact move into George Earthy who completed with aplomb from simply contained in the field.
Having been the supplier for Earthy, Perkins wasted no time in making it three simply moments later. The attacking midfielder collected an incisive move from Kodua, checked again onto his proper foot and drove it excessive into the online, leaving the Foxes keeper with no probability.
When the 2 groups re-emerged from half-time it was the guests who wrestled again the momentum and had been duly rewarded with a aim of their very own.
Young ahead Popov went on a marauding run down the proper channel, using the challenges of a number of defenders in Claret and Blue earlier than curling past the outstretched arms of Jacob Knightbridge.
To their credit score, nonetheless, Keen’s aspect caught to their job effectively and put in an assured defensive show to maintain Leicester City from edging themselves again into the competition.
Despite the second half seemingly missing the depth of the primary, the Hammers maturity shone by as they collected their second win of the season.
Following the victory, Assistant coach Mark Phillips was glad to see a constructive week on the coaching pitch translate into three factors.
“We’re actually happy with how the season has began as an U18s group,” He mentioned. “We skilled so effectively all week and I stored saying to the group ‘if we play like that, we received’t have any issues.’ We’ve skilled at such a excessive degree since we’ve come again, and we simply need to discover that consistency on the pitch to go alongside that.”
The method of victory in east London was significantly pleasing for Phillips.
“We had been 3-0 up fairly rapidly after which hit the woodwork thrice so we had been actually happy with the efficiency. The second half received a bit a bit scrappy however once you’re within the lead it’s generally onerous to take care of that depth all through the remainder of the sport.”
Archie Woods and Junior Robinson returned to the U18s having made their U23s debut within the Premier League Cup towards Wolves final week.
“The depth and the sharpness simply go up a notch once you’re with the U23s. Archie Woods has been sick this week and actually battled by the sport effectively, he’s received a very good mentality and needs to be on the market giving his all for the workforce.
Junior Robinson had arguably his finest efficiency of the season and that’s a fantastic testomony to go as much as the U23s after which come again and a put in a efficiency like that.”
Next up for the younger Hammers is an U18 Premier League Cup match towards Arsenal on Saturday earlier than returning to league motion towards Tottenham Hotspur per week later.
“We’ve received two large assessments arising in Arsenal and Tottenham, however that’s precisely what you need, and we’ll be trying ahead to each of these video games.” Phillips concluded.
West Ham United U18: Knightbridge, Robinson, Forbes, Casey, Clayton, Falase, Tarima (Scarles 61’), Woods (Orford 61’), Perkins, Kodua (Evans 76’), Earthy
Subs not used: Terry, Boothe
Goals: Kadua 23’, Earthy 32’, Perkins 38’
https://www.whufc.com/information/articles/2021/september/12-september/west-ham-united-u18s-ease-past-leicester-city