WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
2000-01 FA Premier Reserve League
Manager: Roger Cross & Glenn Roeder
COVENTRY CITY
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Kitson, Williams)
29 August 2000
Forrest
Riddle (Clark)
Williams
Ferrante
Forbes
Potts
Keller
Byrne (U'ddin)
Kitson
Riza
Brtton
Hammers kicked off their FA Premier Reserve League South season with a comfortable victory over a Coventry City side that arrived late after getting stuck in traffic.
Despite some early pressure by the Hammers, Sky Blues could have taken the lead midway through the first-half but a fine low shot by Laurent Delorge was well saved by Craig Forrest making a welcome return to action after injury.
Hammers remained In control after the break and took a deserved lead on 55 minutes. A corner from Marc Keller found Steve Clark at the far post who headed back for Tommy Williams to score his first goal in the claret and blue.
Coventry hit back and Jason Ashby hooked a volley wide and Barry Quinn headed just over the bar before Hammers made the scoreline more respectable two minutes from the end. Leon Britton put Omer Riza through on the right and his cross found Paul Kitson, being watched by Birmingham City boss Trevor Francis, who slotted the ball past Coventry 'keeper Morten Hyldgaard.
SOUTHAMPTON
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Newton)
12 September 2000
Forrest
Charles (Carreno)
Peacock
Ferrante (Moncur)
Pearce I.
Potts
Keller
Byrne
Newton
Riza (Defoe)
Brtton
Although the Hammers were beaten by a strong Saints side that included Matt Le Tissier, the good news from Upton Park was that Ian Pearce played the full 90 minutes of his comeback game following his long spell out with a serious knee Injury.
Ian came through the game playing alongside Darren Peacock, on loan for a month from Blackburn Rovers — lan's former club.
Unfortunately, skipper John Moncur limped off midway through the first-half with a groin injury that was to keep him out of the squad for the vital game against Liverpool the following Sunday.
Saints scored twice after the break and were looking comfortable winners before Adam Newton struck in the 83rd minute to put Hammers back in the game. But despite late pressure, the home side could not force an equaliser.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
City Ground
1 - 0 (Bullard)
21 September 2000
Bywater
Pearce I.
Bullard
Etherington
Forbes
U'ddin
Holligan
Byrne
Newton
Riza
McCann
The game started slowly with both defences dealing easily with the few chances created early on. The Hammers then had a good spell when Jimmy Bullard and Grant McCann, back after a spell on loan to Notts County, shot narrowly wide. Just before the break, Forest came back into the game and a defensive mistake allowed Bernard Allou to break through but his shot was tipped around the post by Stephen Bywater. From the corner Salvatorie Matrescano went close with a header.
After the break, defences again dominated and the game appeared to be drifting towards a goalless draw when a Jimmy Bullard shot from the edge of the box found the Forest net five minutes from time.
Jimmy has now played four times for the reserves in the Midlands and he's scored every time!
CHELSEA
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Diawara)
3 October 2000
Bywater
Clark (Bullard)
Byrne
Potts
Forbes
Pearce I.
Etherington (Ferrante)
Moncur (Ferrante)
Riza (Holligan)
Diawara
Britton
Hammers were unlucky to lose to table-toppers Chelsea at Upton Park. John Moncur, who has missed much of this season through illness and injury, was one of four senior players in action against the Blues. A Terrell Forbes mistake allowed Chelsea to open the scoring in the 70th minute. New boy Kaba Diawara equalised five minutes later following Moncur's corner and Chelsea scored the winner in injury-time.
WATFORD
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Defoe 2)
18 October 2000
Bywater
Charles (Sjolund)
Byrne
Pearce I.
Potts
Riddle (Britton)
Newton
Ferrante
Kitson
Defoe
Jermain Defoe put the Hammers ahead in the 29th minute but Watford hit back with goals from Allan Smart and Stephen Armstrong. Craig Etherington had a penalty saved by Chris Day after Adam Newton was fouled just inside the Watford box. Soon after Daniel Sjolund missed a good chance to equalise before Defoe salvaged a point with a superb angled strike two minutes from the end.
IPSWICH TOWN
Upton Park
0 - 1
24 October 2000
Bywater
Charles
Byrne
Pearce I.
Potts
Ferrante
Newton
Carrick (Etherington)
Kitson
Suker
Diawara (Defoe)
REPORT:
WIMBLEDON
Sutton FC
1 - 2 (Diawara)
1 November 2000
Bywater
Newton
Williams (Bullard)
Charles
U'ddin
Soma
Keller
Ferrante
Kitson
Diawara (Clark)
Etherington
REPORT:
DERBY COUNTY
Upton Park
1 - 5 (Kitson)
14 November 2000
Bywater
Charles
Byrne
Potts
Forbes (U'ddin)
Ferrante (Etherington)
Keller
Moncur
Kitson
Suker
Diawara (Bullard)
A strong Hammers Reserve side were heavily beaten by a young Derby County team at Upton Park.
The Hammers were trailing after just three minutes when Adam Boulder followed up a Stephen Bywater parry from a Lee Morris shot. Lewis Hunt put the Rams, last season's Reserve League Champions, two up before Paul Kitson reduced the arrears from close range after he had been put through by Shaun Byrne.
Dean Sturridge made it 3-1 just before half-time after Morris had set him up. Morris made it 4-1 from the right and he completed the rout after a Gary Charles slip on 54 minutes. Hammers skipper John Moncur, one of our few successes on a miserable night, was booked for persistent misconduct.
LEICESTER CITY
Filbert Street
2 - 4 (Foyewa, Newton)
20 November 2000
Bywater
Newton
Williams (Clark)
Potts
Stimac
U'ddin
Keller
Ferrante
Foyewa (Bullard)
Riza
Etherington
Hammers squandered a two goal half-time lead in front of a 3,220 crowd at Filbert Street in this FA Premier Reserve League game against a strong Leicester City side.
Still smarting from a crushing 5-1 defeat in their previous game against Derby County at Upton Park, the Hammers started strongly and goals from Adam Newton in the 29th minute and Amos Foyewa on 38 minutes, gave them a deserved 2-0 lead at the break. Foyewa was a replacement for Davor Suker who pulled out of the game after feeling a groin pain during the warm-up.
It was Foyewa's debut for the reserves and he not only scored but made Newton's goal.
Unfortunately the Hammers collapsed after the break and defensive errors allowed Leicester to storm back.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
0 - 0
5 December 2000
Bywater
Charles
Williams
Forbes
U'ddin
Angus (Byrne)
Norbert (Britton)
Ferrante
Holligan (Foyewa)
Etherington
Ballard
Defender Gary Charles was the most experienced player in a young Hammers side that faced a Tottenham team which included Ramon Vega and England goalkeeper Ian Walker at St. Albans.
Although Spurs hit the woodwork in the first-half, West Ham created more chances and Jimmy Bullard, Gavin Holligan and Michael Ferrante all went close to scoring themselves. The Hammers replaced Srevland Angus with Shaun Byrne at the break and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international did well.
Towards the end, Walker distinguished himself with two great saves to prevent Bullard and then Foyewa, a 75th minute substitute for Holligan, from snatching a dramatic match-winner.
ARSENAL
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Riddle)
19 December 2000
Forrest
Byrne
Potts
Bassila
Tihinen
Tobolewski (Angus)
Keller
Moncur
Riddle
Suker
Cole
Joe Cole, Craig Forrest and Christian Bassila all made their comebacks after injury in this FA Premier Reserve League South game at Upton Park, but could not prevent Hammers slumping to defeat.
The good news was that Joe (ankle), Craig (hernia) and Christian (knee), all came through the 90 minutes unscathed. The bad news was that yet another disappointing performance saw the Reserves drop to the bottom of the table.
Few reputations were enhanced by a Hammers side searching for its first win since beating Nottingham Forest back in September.
Goals from Tomas and Guy Demel gave the Gunners a deserved 2-0 lead before Louis Riddle pulled one back for the Hammers midway through the second-half after Davor Suker had a goal disallowed for offside.
Hannu Tlhlnen, the Finnish international centre-back, on loan from Norwegian club Viking Stavanger, made his Hammers debut and Joe Cole was booked for retaliation. More good-news - John Moncur wasn't booked.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Camara, Diawara, Todorov)
13 February 2001
Bywater
Song
Williams
Byrne
Pearce I.
Stimac
Camara
Britton
Suker
Todorov
Diawara
Davor Suker was in sparkling form for the Hammers and made all three goals for the Reserves as they romped home against Forest at Upton Park In their first game of the year.
Hammers broke the deadlock just four minutes after the break when a corner taken by Suker was headed home by Kaba Diawara
Goal number two came on 77 minutes with Suker again the provider when, after weaving his way through Forest's defence, he crossed the
perfect ball forTodorov to volley into the net, giving 'keeper Stephen Collis no chance.
Then on 81 minutes a great ball from Suker found Titi Camara who raced unchallenged into the box to hammer home goal number three to complete a victory that lifted the Reserves off the foot of the table.
ARSENAL
Boreham Wood
2 - 1 (Byrne, Camara)
19 February 2001
Bywater
Pearce I.
Forbes
Tihinen
Soma
Britton
Byrne
Moncur
Diawara
Todorov
Camera
Hammers came from behind to gain their second successive FA Premier Reserve League South victory at Boreham Wood.
After a goal-less first-half, Arsenal took the lead but Hammers hit back with two goals in four minutes. Titi Camara equalised on 65 minutes and Shaun Byrne scored a deserved winner four minutes later. The Republic of Ireland youngster, whose career has been hampered by injury problems, gave another impressive performance.
CHELSEA
Stamford Bridge
2 - 2 (Holligan, Kitson)
5 March 2001
O'Reilly
Clark
Byrne
Charles
U'ddin
Williams
Britton
Bassilia (Bullard)
Kitson
Etherington
Holligan
Hammers squandered a two-goal lead to hang on for a point in this FA Premier Reserve League South fixture.
After a goal-less first-half, Gavin Holligan put West Ham ahead three minutes after the break and Paul Kitson added a second a couple of minutes later.
Then Chelsea fought back and Cummings made it 2-1 on 68 minutes before Knight equalised 10 minutes from the end.
WATFORD
Vicarage Road
2 - 2 (Holligan 2)
14 March 2001
Bywater
Charles
Williams
Foxe
Pearce I.
Byrne
Bullard
Moncur (Etherington)
Holligan
Diawara
Bassila
Gavin Holligan was the Hammers hero at Vicarage Road when scoring equalising goals a minute before the end of each half.
The former 21 -year-old Kingstonian striker headed his first on 44 minutes and then latched on to a rebound from Jimmy Bullard's second with just seconds of the match remaining.
Coach Roger Cross fielded a strong team including Australian central defender Hayden Foxe, who had finally completed his long-awaited move to the Club two days before.
WIMBLEDON
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Ferrante)
20 March 2001
Sealey G.
Potts
Foxe
Minto (Angus)
Charles
Williams (Ferrante)
Bullard
Moncur
Bassila
Diawara
Kitson (Holligan)
Scott Minto made his first appearance of the season in the Reserves' hard-fought 1-1 draw against Wimbledon on a bitterly
The Hammers fell behind in the 12th minute when Rob Gier slipped the ball under Joe Sealey following a defensive mix-up.
Hammers stepped up the pace after the break, with substitute Gavin Holligan forcing a couple of fine saves from Gore and an in form Jimmy Bullard seeing his half-volley parried away.
John Moncur then crashed a shot against the crossbar before setting up Kaba Diawara with a short free-kick that was again well saved.
Michael Ferrante also had a good shot saved before equalising in the 80th minute with a well-struck shot following good work from Christian Bassila and Hayden Foxe.
Dons' veteran midfielder Michael Thomas was sent-off for swearing at the referee, while both John Moncur and Paul Kitson received the yellow card.
IPSWICH TOWN
Portman Road
0 - 2
4 April 2001
McMahon B.
Charles
Potts
SomaMinto (U'ddin)
Bullard
Byrne
Ferrante
Bassila (Clark)
Diawara (Riddle)
Kitson
The Reserves' five match unbeaten run came to an end when an experienced side were beaten by Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Coach Glenn Roeder was particularly disappointed because, as he says: "It was a game we should not have lost. Although both goals were given away cheaply we had enough quality in the side to have come back strongly, but failed to do so.
Of the pluses, young Billy McMahon had a good game in goal, Raggy Soma showed some neat touches and Scott Minto had his second outing after playing 45 minutes in our last game against Wimbledon.
LEICESTER CITY
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Suker [pen])
10 April 2001
Bywater
Byrne
Minto (Ward)
Etherington
Laurie
Potts
Bullard
Ferrante
Todorov (Morris)
Suker
Diawara
West Ham Uniied Reserves were a little unfortunale to lose 2-1 to Leicester Cily on a bitterly cold night at Upton Park after o Martin Reeves' free-kick was deflected beyond Stephen Bywater for the winner. The Hammers, containing several youngsters, had taken a third minute lead when Svetoslav Todorov was brought down in the box and Davor Suker scored his first goal for the Reserves from the resulting penalty-kick. Trevor Benjamin equalised for the Filberts just before half-time. Hammers continued to press in a lively second-half and Jimmy Bullard was denied a chance to score an equaliser when Michael Price, who replaced Tim Flowers In the Leicester goal ot half-time, made a fine save.
DERBY COUNTY
Baseball Ground
0 - 2
17 April 2001
Forrest
Laurie
Potts
Ward
Angus
Byrne
Bassilia
Ferrante
Minto
Bullard
Morris
Playing subs: Tobolewski (60 mins), Fletcher (75 mins)
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Bullard)
24 April 2001
McMahon B.
Clark (Etherington)
Byrne
Laurie
Potts
U'ddin
Ferrante
Bullard (Riddle)
Bassila
Foyewa
Britton
The Reserves found themselves rooted to the bottom of the league after losing 2-1 to Spurs at Upton Park.
Jimmy Bullard drove a young Hammers side ahead on eight minutes but a header from a corner and a free-kick by Ian Hillier gave the visitors victory. Coach Glenn Roeder offered no excuses for the defeat, but said: "Only Steve Potts and Christian Bassila had first-team experience but we conceded a poor goal from o corner when one of our defenders lost a marker and their winner was also from a set-piece which was particularly disappointing."
COVENTRY CITY
Highfield Road
1 - 3 (Angus)
2 May 2001
McMahon B.
Angus
Minto
Laurie
U'ddin
Forbes
Smith D.
Britton
Foyewa
Etherington (McMahon)
Riddle
Roger Cross says that because of the Hammers' injury problems only one senior player was risked in the 3-1 defeat at Highfield Road.
"But it was a good workout for the young lads and an experience to play at Highfield Road, and we created three very good chances to score in the first half.
"We scored with a good goal early on in the second half when Stevland Angus headed a free kick from Louis Riddle in to make it 2-1 down.
"It looked as if we had a chance but then we conceded a free kick which we felt was a good tackle from Craig Etherington, and while a few players were arguing with the referee they took the free kick and scored - that showed a lack of experience.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
4 - 2 (Riza 3, Byrne)
9 May 2001
Bywater
Newton
Williams
Potts
U'ddin
Minto
Byrne
McCann
Riddle (Foyewa)
Riza
Britton
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
The Dell
0 - 1
16 May 2001
Forrest
Newton
Williams
Potts
Minto
McMahon D. (Foyewa)
Britton
Riddle
U'ddin
Defoe
Riza
REPORT:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Chadwell Heath
1 - 3 (McMahon D.)
18 May 2001
McMahon B. (Sealey)
Khan
Dean
U'ddin
Johnson
Cascione
Smith D.
McMahon D.
Foyewa
Eastwood
Riddle (Ritchie)
Young left wing back Louis Riddle has broken his leg in the final reserve game of the season at Chadwell Heath on Friday afternoon.
Confirmation came from the medical room after he was stretchered off five minutes into the game after a hefty collision, to be replaced by Niall Ritchie. The incident cast a cloud over the day's proceedings, and ended a miserable season for the second string.
The youngster was part of a very young Hammers line up, with all the fit over 19s travelling north by plane for the Middlesbrough game at the same time.
Daryl McMahon equalised in the second half against an Addicks' side that included John Salako and Kevin Lisbie.
Charlton had taken the lead, and restored it to 3-1 in the final third of the game. The Hammers were left rooted to the bottom of the league table.
