WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1992-93 Neville Ovenden Football Combination
Manager: Paul Hilton
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Loftus Road
1 - 2 (Morley [pen])
14 August 1992
Banks
Breacker (White)
Marquis
Gale
Foster
Holland
Rush
Parris (Basham)
Morley
Martin D.
Clarke S.
Our second team began their current campaign with a visit to Loftus Road on Friday, August 14. Queens Park Rangers opened the scoring just on half-time but we drew level two minutes after the interval when Trevor Morley converted a penalty.
We then had a number of chances to take the lead with Matthew Rush, in particular, prominent in creating opportunities. Colin Foster was unlucky not to score when his header hit the crossbar. The West Londoners, however, annexed the points with 10 minutes to go although Paul Hilton, our reserve team manager, thought that we at least deserved a draw after a good all round performance.
WATFORD
Vicarage Road
2 - 3 (Foster 2)
18 August 1992
Banks
Brown
Marquis
Gale
Foster
Holland
Rush (White)
Thomas
Morley
Martin D.
Robson (Clarke S.)
The visit to Vicarage Road for an evening rendezvous with Watford resulted in a very evenly balanced game up until half-time. Trevor Morley had our best chances of scoring before the interval which arrived with both sides failing to find the back of the net.
However, within four minutes of the turn-round we found ourselves two goals in arrears. A shot from the edge of the box and a Luther Blissett strike giving the home side the advantage.
We continued to create a number of chances in the next 30 minutes or so and were finally rewarded when we also scored twice in the space of a couple of minutes.
Mitchell Thomas's chip into the opposing penalty area was headed home by Colin Foster after 85 minutes. Within two minutes Matt Holland broke down the right-hand side of the field and his accurate cross was once again headed home by Foster on one of his marauding excursions upheld.
A draw seemed on the cards but in the dying seconds of the game the Hornets annexed the points when their No. 10 was allowed a free header, so for the second match running our endeavours received no reward.
BRISTOL CITY
Upton Park
5 - 1 (Holland 2, Loram 2, Holmes)
26 August 1992
Banks
Brown
Thomas
Gale
Foster
Holland
Rush
Allen M.
Morley
Loram
Holmes
Our home schedule commenced with the visit of Bristol City. The Robins included in their line-up former Hammer Nicky Morgan as well as Ray Atteveld who spent an on loan period with us last season.
Among our players were new signing Matt Holmes, making his debut, Martin Allen, for his first game of the new season, and Mark Loram, formerly with Torquay United who is on trial.
We made a solid start, going three up after 20 minutes. Holmes opened the scoring with a rasping shot from 18 yards. Trevor Morley then floated the ball over the opposing defence and Matt Holland tucked away his shot via a post. Loram then volleyed home from 15 yards on the angle after good work on the left -hand side of the penalty area.
Right on half-time the West Countrymen reduced the arrears. Steven Banks sent a long clearance downfield which once again went over the top of the visitors' defence and Loram fired a right-foot shot into the far comer of the net.
After 70 minutes Matt Holland capitalised when the visiting 'keeper made a disastrous attempt at controlling the ball, which carne off his shin, and our midfielder slipped it home to complete a resounding 5-1 victory.
Team manager Paul Hilton was naturally delighted with the final result but was also pleased that his team had at last got some tangible rewards after coming so close in their opening two defeats.
SWINDON TOWN
County Ground
1 - 1 (Whitmarsh)
2 September 1992
Peat
Brown
Marquis
Basham
Foster
Holland
Parris
Bishop
Whitmarsh (Williamson)
Loram
Clarke S.
Our Reserve side travelled to the County Ground for an evening encounter with Swindon Town.
With Steven Banks on first team duty at Upton Park we introduced Martin Peat to our side for his first ever Combination appearance. Our debutant keeper played well, saving the one on-target shot that his team mates restricted the Wiltshire side to in the opening 45 minutes.
In the first half we were in command and Paul Whitmarsh was denied early on. while George Parris was unlucky with one chip shot from 40-yards or so that was just over the bar, and then had another effort well saved.
After 60 minutes we look the lead when Paul Marquis broke down the left and his cross was met by Whitmarsh, also playing in his first game of the season, who scored at the near post. Thirteen minutes later Matt Holland advanced down the right and his centre was again met by Whitmarsh whose shot just went wide of the far post.
Simon Clarke also went close with a good shot, as did Danny Williamson, who had come on as a substitute for Whitmarsh during the second half.
Swindon then came back strongly in the last guarter of an hour and forced Peat into a good save, but with seven minutes to go the 16 year-old goalkeeper could only partially block another powerful shot and the rebound was netted. It gave the home side a share of the points on a rainy night which made conditions underfoot often difficult.
ARSENAL
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Whitmarsh)
8 September 1992
Banks
Brown
Dicks (Whitmarsh)
Gale
Foster
Holland
Rush
Parris
Clarke S.
Martin D.
Holmes
Simon Clarke went close after three minutes, just shooting over the bar, and Matt Holmes fired wide after 16 minutes from a Matthew Rush cross.
The game was then held up when one of the linesmen injured a knee and former youth player Tony Richards ran the line, until a Qualified linesman volunteered from the crowd to take over at half-time.
Julian Dicks (36 mins) and Matt Holmes (40 mins} were both booked and it was decided Paul Whitmarsh should substitute for the Hammers' skipper at the interval.
Within three minutes of the restart Holmes was again unlucky, this time with a lobbed shot, but after 55 minutes we took the lead. Dean Martin's left wing cross was headed down by Matthew Rush and Paul Whitmarsh pounced to tuck his shot away from eight yards past the keeper.
Matthew Holland, Martin, Rush, Holmes and Whitmarsh all had attempts at goal that went close or were saved. With our defence restricting the visitors, who included Alan Smith and Andy Linighan in their line-up, to a couple of shots the whole match, it proved to be another solid team effort.
OXFORD UNITED
Manor Ground
0 - 2
16 September 1992
Banks
Brown
Marquis
Gale
Basham
Holland
Rush (Clarke S.)
Parris
Small (Whitmarsh)
Martin D.
Holmes
Oxford had the better of the first half and went close on a couple of occasions. They eventually took the lead after 17 minutes, following a move down their left flank, scoring in the far corner. Mike Small had our only chance before the interval, while Steven Banks was called upon to make two good saves in the five minutes leading up to the break.
In the second half we played a lot better and Matt Holland, following a move involving Matt Holmes and Small, forced an excellent save from the opposing 'keeper from his left-foot volley. From a corner Dean Martin hit the underside of the crossbar, while Kenny Brown went close with a good long-range shot.
With 20 minutes to go we fell further behind when Matthew Keeble struck with a left-foot shot. Substitute Paul Whitmarsh then saw Holland shoot wide from his through ball and with 10 minutes to go Holmes had his 20-yard right-foot shot saved, resulting in our remaining scoreless for the first time this season.
SOUTHAMPTON
The Dell
0 - 0
30 September 1992
Banks
Brown
Marquis
Gale
Foster
Holland
Martin D.
Bishop
Small
Whitmarsh (Basham)
Clarke S.
Seven days later we were due to travel to Suffolk for our away match with Ipswich Town but following a couple of days of heavy rain the pitch became waterlogged. The fixture was called off as there was a Premier League match scheduled for the following Saturday.
On Wednesday, September 30 we travelled to the south coast for an evening kick-off against Southampton. The Saints had the better of the first 20 minutes and went close, hitting the inside of the far post with the ball rebounding across goal and striking the inside of the near post before being collected by a grateful Steven Banks.
After that our side settled down and we played some good football and were unlucky on a couple of occasions. Southampton defended well and we could not break them down, being unable to capitalise on our superiority around the penalty area.
Matt Holland did have a couple of shots that went close and team manager Paul Hilton concluded that his side looked the only likely winners but was pleased to settle for a share of the spoils.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Park View Road
3 - 1 (Bishop, Foster, Parris)
5 October 1992
Banks
Brown
Marquis
Gale
Foster
Parris
Rush
Bishop
Martin D.
Clarke S.
Holmes (Whitmarsh)
A mixed bag of fortune has greeted our Reserve side in their last two matches - both away encounters with teams at either end of the combination table.
The visit to Welling for our fixture with Charlton Athletic on October 5, began with a rather disappointing first half, although Tony Clarke had a shot saved after 10 minutes and Colin Foster and Matthew Rush went close with headers.
The Charlton side, which included eight young players as well as joint manager Alan Curbishley, did well to turn round at half-time on equal terms but within six minutes of the restart found themselves a goal in arrears. A free-kick was only half-cleared and George Parris, running in, hit a right-foot shot from 22 yards into the top corner of the net-Steven Banks was then called upon to make a good save and deny the home side an equaliser after 55 minutes. Ten minutes later we increased our lead when a Parris cross from the right was knocked in by Ian Bishop for his first goal of the season.
The South Londoners reduced the arrears after 70 minutes when their centre- forward picked up the ball on the half-way line and after a fine solo effort, saw his initial shot parried by 'keeper Banks - only to get the rebound back and score.
Within four minutes we again increased our advantage when an Ian Bishop free-kick was superbly met by Colin Foster whose powerful, diving header flew into the net. We had several other chances, could not press home our advantage but by the final whistle run out as worthy winners.
ARSENAL
Highbury
1 - 2 (Martin)
13 October 1992
Banks
Brown
Thomas
Gale
Foster
Parris
Martin D.
Bishop
Whitmarsh (Canham)
Clarke S. (Holland)
Holmes
We travelled to North London for our fourth consecutive away fixture of the campaign. Arsenal at Highbury are always a formidable opposition but our reserves went in the knowledge that they had a good win over the Gunners in the previous match.
After three minutes Paul Whitmarsh had a good effort saved by the opposing 'keeper with his legs and a similar fate greeted George Parris' shot after he received a pass from Simon Clarke. Following a Matt Holmes cross Ian Bishop forced another good save from the home custodian.
It was not until the 25th minute that Steven Banks was called upon to make a save, but eight minutes later disaster struck when he was sent off after bringing down the Gunners centre forward in the penalty area. Simon Clarke donned the green jersey but was unable to save the resultant spot-kick and, in another incident soon after, broke one of his fingers saving in a goalmouth incident.
Although reduced to 10 men, we still managed to get back on to equal terms when, on the stroke of half-time, Dean Martin curled in a shot from 25 yards after cutting in from the right.
At the interval it was decided to substitute Clarke because he was in so much pain and Matt Holland took over between the posts. He was soon called into action, making a good save.
Even though we were understrength the North Londoners could not dominate affairs and the game remained evenly balanced. However, after 84 minutes the Gunners finally forced home a header at the far post to snatch the points by the odd goal in three. With two minutes to go, Scott Canham was denied a final equaliser.
Manager Paul Hilton thought his lads were unlucky not to have got a draw.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Upton Park
2 - 3 (Holmes 2)
27 October 1992
Peat
Brown
Williamson
Gale
Basham
Rush (Holland)
Pecko
Bishop
Martin D.
Clarke S.
Holmes
REPORT:
CHELSEA
Kingstonian FC
1 - 2 (Richards)
2 November 1992
Peat
Williamson
Brown
Basham (White)
Purdie
Canham
Rush
Bishop
Richards
Martin D.
Clarke S.
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN
Upton park
1 - 3 (Rush)
10 November 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Foster, Gale)
17 November 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
LUTON TOWN
Kenilworth Road
0 - 2
23 November 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Gale, Jones)
1 December 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
WIMBLEDON
Selhurst Park
0 - 1
9 December 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN
Portman Road
0 - 1
22 December 1992
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
MILLWALL
The Den
1 - 1 (Bunbury)
6 January 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
WATFORD
Upton Park
3 - 2 (Bunbury, Jones, Small [pen])
12 January 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Bunbury)
18 January 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
FULHAM
Craven Cottage
2 - 0 (Currie, Dicks)
20 January 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
3 - 0 (Bunbury, Dicks, Jones)
2 February 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
MILLWALL
Upton park
0 - 2
11 February 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
0 - 3
16 February 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
WIMBLEDON
Upton Park
2 - 4 (Bunbury, Jones)
23 February 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Goldstone Ground
3 - 1 (Bushay, Small, Whitmarsh)
27 February 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
OXFORD UNITED
Upton park
1 - 1 (Jones)
2 March 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
CRYSTAL PALACE
Plough Lane
0 - 1
8 March 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Bushay, Jones)
16 March 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
1 - 2 (Jones)
25 March 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
SWINDON TOWN
Upton Park
4 - 2 (Holland, Jones, Martin, [og])
30 March 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Small)
6 April 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
1 - 1 (Jones)
15 April 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
3 - 5 (Jones 2, Whitmarsh)
20 April 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
FULHAM
Upton park
3 - 0 (Jones 2, Allen)
27 April 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
CHELSEA
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Jones, Richards)
4 May 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
BRISTOL CITY
Ashton Gate
0 - 3
5 May 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT:
LUTON TOWN
Upton park
1 - 2 (Richards)
10 May 1993
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
REPORT: