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2005-06 Barclays Premier Reserve League

Manager: Kevin Keen

Home games played at Dagenham & Redbridge - Glyn Hopkins Stadium

ARSENAL
Underhill
2 - 3 (McClenahan, Sofiane)
8 August 2005

Reed

McClenahan

Collins (Henry)

Mackay

Blewitt

Williams

Fletcher

Lomas

Reid (Ephraim)

Miklonda (Ashikodi)

Sofiane

REPORT:

CRYSTAL PALACE
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1 - 1 (Ephraim)
17 August 2005

Reed

Andrews

Widdowson

Tomkins (White)

Ward

Noble (Collison)

Welsh

Lomas

Stokes (Davidson)

Ephraim

Reid

REPORT:

PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
3 - 1 (Zamora 2, Cohen)
31 August 2005

Reed

Henry

Clarke

Cohen

Ward

Stokes

Newton

Cowley (Welsh)

Zamora (Davidson)

Aliadiere (Andrews)

Reid

Two goals from Bobby Zamora and a Chris Cohen penalty secured West Ham United Reserves' first win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Portsmouth. The Hammers win owed everything to a stirring second-half fight-back from Kevin Keen's men after they trailed 1-0 at the break. The first-half was a fairly even affair with both sides carving out chances. New boy Jeremie Aliadiere looked lively in the Hammers attack, his pace and close control a problem for the Pompey defence.
But it was the home side that made the first breakthrough of the game with 20 minutes gone. It was former Hammer Svetoslav Todorov that made the goal, latching onto a through-ball and squaring unselfishly for James Keene to slot the ball past Matt Reed.
Trailing by the game's only goal at the break, Hammers upped the tempo in the second-half. Conditions were made more difficult by torrential rain that lashed down during the half-time interval, making the pitch slick and dangerous under foot. It was Kevin Keen's Hammers that handled the elements better, however, as the visitors went on to produce a dominant second-half performance.
Hammers levelled the score on 57 minutes when Shaun Newton charged to the bye-line and crossed low for Zamora who stabbed the ball home from close range.
Ten minutes later and West Ham took the lead when a Kyel Reid comer was blatantly handled inside the area by a Portsmouth defender. Chris Cohen, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury, stepped up to take the kick and fired home to make it 2-1.

SOUTHAMPTON
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1 - 2 (Stokes)
6 September 2005

Reed

Henry

Clarke

White

Cohen

Stokes

Cowley

Andrews

Jeffreys (Hales)

Hines (Davidson)

Welsh (Widdowson)

A young Hammers side Jost 2-1 to Southampton at the Glyn Hopkins Stadium, despite taking the lead through Tony Stokes after just four minutes.
Saints hit back straight away and three minutes later the highly-rated David McGoldrick scored
with a fine curling strike that appeared to take a deflection as it beat Matt Reed.
A minute later, Saints took the lead when Yoann Folly headed home from close-range,
Kevin Keen's young side, that included two first year and four second year Academy scholars, fought hard to salvage a point, but could not break down a strong Saints team.

IPSWICH TOWN
Upton Park
4 - 0 (Aliadiere, Dailly, Mikolanda, Stokes)
14 September 2005

Hislop

Newton

Reid (Ephraim)

Collins

Ward

Dailly

Noble

Stokes

Mikolanda (Henry)

Aliadiere (Tomkins)

Cohen

West Ham United Reserves ran out comprehensive 4-0 winners against Ipswich Town at Upton Park, with first-half goals from Tony Stokes, Jeremie Aliadiere, Petr Mikolanda and Christian Dailly. It was the strongest Reserve team of the season for the Hammers, with eight of the side boasting first-team experience
On six minutes a moment of pure genius from young midfielder Tony Stokes opened the scoring for West Ham. The Academy graduate pounced on the ball 25 yards out and with no one closing him down he unleashed a wicked volley that dipped past the helpless Shane Supple in the Ipswich goal. With quarter of an hour gone, Shaka Hislop, making his return to competitive action with the Hammers, pulled off a great block to keep Ipswich out. 
But Hammers were definitely in the ascendancy and they made their dominance count two minutes later by making it 2-0. Kyel Reid whipped in a cross from the left and when Supple was deceived by the bounce and missed the ball, new signing Jeremie Aliadiere was on hand at the back-post to rifle home his first goal in claret and blue.
But the Hammers were proving far more clinical when Aliadiere's back header came off the bar, Petr Mikolanda  stabbed home from close-range to make it 3-0.Two minutes before half-time, Hammers made it four as Ipswich wilted in the face of the home side's attacking play. It was the simplest of routines, Noble's corner again precise with Dailly arriving on the end of it to head powerfully past Supple and send the teams in for the break with West Ham United holding a comfortable 4-0 lead. With no further score  Hammers began the second-half right where they had left off in the first, but could not capitalise with further goals.

COVENTRY CITY
Ricoh Arena
1 - 0 ([og])
21 September 2005

Reed

Henry

White

Tomkins

Andrews

Reid (Widdowson)

Cowley

Stokes

Welsh (Hales)

Jeffrey

Hines (Davidson)

REPORT:

LEICESTER CITY
Greene King Stadium, Hinckley United
2 - 2 (Ephraim, Welsh)
28 September 2005

Hislop (Reed)

Henry

Collins (White)

Ward

Clarke

Bellion (Welsh)

Cowley

Cohen

Williams

Ephraim

Stokes

REPORT:

CHELSEA
Recreation Ground, Aldershot Town
1 - 1 (Jeffrey)
10 October 2005

Reed

Henry

Ward

Cohen

Clarke

Bellion

Cowley

Stokes

Welsh (Reid)

Ephraim

Jeffrey

A match of relatively few clear cut chances but there was no lack of skill and technique as both teams sought to play passing football and a draw was a very fair outcome.
The first time either keeper was called into real action was when Chelsea's giant Belgian keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay had to go down to his left to push away a goal-bound shot by Tony Stokes following a corner. Chelsea's only major threat of the opening half came when Filipe Morais struck a viscously swerving shot from the edge of the box that Matt Reed did well to tip onto the underside of the bar and Hammers managed to clear the lose ball.
The second half started in lively fashion with two quick goals. On forty nine minutes an out-swinging corner by David Cowley was met by the head of Jack Jeffery who glanced home a header past the despairing dive of Ma-Kalamby, it was the sixteen year olds first reserve team goal. On fifty one minutes Chelsea levelled the score when a through ball split the Hammers defence and Jonas Elmer was adjudged to have been pushed as he fastened on to it, Morais confidently slotted home the resulting penalty.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1 - 2 (Ward)
18 October 2005

Reed

Newton

Clarke

Cohen

Ward

Fletcher

Bellion

Stokes

Jeffrey (Hines)

Ephraim (Cowley)

Reid

Despite taking an early lead West Ham were undone by two exceptionally well taken goals and in the end they can have few complaints about the final result. There was a smattering of experience in both sides and it was one of the Hammers first team squad players who put them in front on 5 minutes Elliott Ward powering home a header from a Hogan Ephraim corner.
The Hammers maintained this bright start and after a Shaun Newton cross rebounded of the referee Kyel Reid toe poked a left foot just wide from the edge of the box. The game started to become bogged down in midfield until out of the blue on 32 minutes Tottenham equalised, Andy Reid firing home an unstoppable left foot swerving drive from 25 yards. West Ham started to get their game together again, David Bellion put Carl Fletcher in on the right and his low cross was turned just wide by Jack Jeffrey at the near post.
Tottenham had the first chance of the second half when Hammers gave possession away deep in their own half and Andy Reid poked an inevitable left foot shot just wide. On 53 minutes Spurs grabbed the lead when Lee Barnard picked up the ball 20 yards out before turning quickly and drilling home a low right foot drive for another excellent finish. It was a somewhat patchy performance by the Hammers, they were good in little spells but over the whole of the game Spurs appeared to have just a little bit extra.

NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Mikolanda)
2 November 2005

Bywater

Henry (Andrews)

Clarke

Collins

Ward

Fletcher

Noble

Dailly (Cohen)

Mikolanda

Aliadiere (Stokes)

Bellion

On a wet and blustery night at Upton Park a very experienced West Ham reserve side put up a disappointing show against what was in every respect Norwich's academy side.
Although the Hammers gained the victory there were few plus points to come out of the game and in truth Norwich will justifiably feel that they were worth at least a draw.
West Ham started the game with a somewhat experimental system of Two wing backs, Three centre backs and Aliadiere playing in the hole behind two strikers and it never really looked right and it wasn't until late into the second half that they reverted to 4-4-2.
The only time West Ham seriously threatened in the first half was when they scored the goal on 21 minutes, a cross by Jemel Henry was met by a flying near post header by Petr Mikolanda for a spectacular finish.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
6 - 1 (Bellion 2, Zamora 2, Aliadiere, Cowley)
15 November 2005

Bywater

Henry (Andrews)

Clarke

Tomkins

Ward

Stokes

Bellion

Cowley

Zamora

Aliadiere

Welsh

REPORT:

WATFORD
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood FC
21 November 2005

Reed

Henry

White

Tomkins

Clark

Welsh

Cowley

Stokes

Reid

Bellion

Mikolanda

Postponed : Frozen Pitch

 Teams were announced then game Frozen off

SOUTHAMPTON
Staplewood
1 - 1 (Mikolanda)
10 January 2006

Bywater

Andrews

Tomkins

Blewitt  (White)

Clarke

Ephraim

Baradj

Noble

Reid

Mikolanda (Hines)

Katan (Cowley)

REPORT:

PORTSMOUTH
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Fletcher)
17 January 2006

Hislop

Collins

Tomkins

Blewitt

Clarke (Andrews)

Ephraim (Reid)

Baradj

Fletcher

Noble

Katan (Mikolanda)

Aliadiere

REPORT:

COVENTRY CITY
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
0 - 3
7 February 2006

Bywater

Henry (Fitzgerald)

White

Tomkins

Blewitt

Ephraim

Cowley

Baradj

Welsh

Jeffery (Hales)

Hines (Davidson)

REPORT:

FULHAM
Motspur Park
1 - 0 (Cowley)
14 February 2006

Bywater

Andrews

Tomkins

Collins

Blewitt

Cowley

Collison (Hales)

Fletcher

Ephraim

Hines (Jeffery)

Reid (Fitzgerald)

REPORT:

LEICESTER CITY
Upton Park
5 - 2 (Fletcher, Katan, Newton, Reid, Tomkins)
22 February 2006

Walker

Andrews

Tomkins

Collins

Clarke

Newton

Hales

Baradj

Reid

Ephraim (Hines)

Katan

REPORT:

CHELSEA
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1 March 2006

Postponed : Frost

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Broadhall Way, Stevenage Borough FC
0 -1
6 March 2006

Walker

Dailly

Collins

Ward

Clarke (Blewitt)

Collison (Welsh)

Fletcher

Baradji

Reid

Katan

Ephraim (Hines)

A goal in the 79th minute from Johnnie Jackson sealed victory for Tottenham, who moved 10 points clear at the top of the Barclays Premiership Reserve League South table. Coach Kevin Keen had named a strong side for the clash at Stevenage's Broadhall Way ground, with eight of the starting 11 possessing first-team experience, including goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, who continued his comeback from injury with an assured display.
Hammers created the first real opportunity of the night midway through the first-half when Dailly found Ephraim, who turned well inside the box, but struck his shot straight at goalkeeper Cemy. Spurs, coached by former Hammer Clive Allen, gained control as the first-half wore on, and Walker was called into action on several occasions before the break, saving well from Barcham and Jackson and then diving full stretch to tip wide a long-range effort from England Under-21 midfielder Tom Huddlestone.
Hammers fought back after the break and enjoyed a spell of dominance early on. In the 46th minute a near-post comer was sliced towards his own net by Spurs' midfielder Daniels but saved by Cemy, before Carl Fletcher missed the best chance of the night five minutes later by slicing over the bar from just six yards out The hosts responded to their lucky escape and, with 15 minutes remaining, former Hammers loan signing Calum Davenport beat Walker with a towering header from a comer, only for French midfielder Sekou Baradji to clear off the line.
However, just moments later, Spurs found the vital breakthrough, with a goal of sheer class. Jackson picked the ball up midway inside Hammers half and advanced towards the edge of the penalty-area before deceiving Walker with a superb chip that ultimately won his side the game. 

NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
1 - 2 (Welsh)
13 March 2006

Walker

Henry

Fitzgerald

Tomkins

Blewitt

Reid

Cowley

Collison

Welsh (Andrews)

Khines

Ephraim

A strike from winger Ishmael Welsh gave Hammers a half-time lead, but Norwich fought back to score twice after the break to seal all three points. Coach Kevin Keen named a young side for the trip to Carrow Road, with striker Hogan Ephraim the only outfield player possessing first-team experience, although goalkeeper Jimmy Walker provided some welcome seniority as he continued his comeback from injury.
Hammers made a bright start and might have been 2-0 up inside the first five minutes. Winger Kyel Reid crashed a shot against the post from just outside the penalty-area, then James Tomkins almost converted with a powerful header that Norwich goalkeeper Lewis did well to keep out. After Walker had made a smart stop to deny Ryan Jarvis, Hammers took the lead on 27 minutes, when Reid's cross from the right found Welsh, who controlled and finished well from 12 yards out.
The visitors continued to impress before the interval, but Norwich drew level just minutes after the restart when substitute Robert Eagle fired in a fierce volley from the edge of the penalty-area that took a deflection on its way past Walker. On 63 minutes, the Canaries netted what proved to be the winner, as Jarvis skipped down the right and fired in a low cross that was turned into his own net by skipper Darren Blewitt - at 20 the oldest outfield player in the Hammers side. Walker was called into action again on a couple of occasions to prevent the hosts from extending their lead, proving that he is well on his way back to full fitness, while Hammers might have grabbed a point late on, but substitute Ryan Andrews headed over from close range. 

IPSWICH TOWN
Needham Market
0 - 2
24 March 2006

Bywater

Henry

White

Blewitt

Widdowson

Reid

Collison

Cowley

Welsh (Hines)

Jeffrey (Frayne)

Ephraim

Unusually the Hammers reserves played their fixture away to Ipswich on a Friday night and with Portman Road in use on the Saturday it was played at the pleasantly rural setting of Needham Market which is approximately 5 miles north of Ipswich.
With it a being a free weekend for most Academy teams both sides were full of youngsters with only Stephen Bywater providing any real experience in the West Ham line up. Goals at the start and the end of the game gave the home side the points but in between it was a very even contest with defences well on top and goalmouth action at a minimum,
Ipswich took the lead on 3 minutes when a through ball split the Hammers defence and Keiran Leabon lobbed the ball over the advancing Bywater. The only other moment of real excitement in the opening half carne in stoppage time when Darryl Knights fired in a right foot shot from the edge of the box which had Bywater scrambling down low to his left to push away and he then got up quickly to push the ball away from the feet from the onrushing Sam Parkin who was looking for the rebound.
If Ipswich had had marginally more of the possession in the first half it was West Ham who had the upper hand in the second period but they struggled to create anything more than half chances. A Kyel Reid run and cross which Jack Jeffrey just failed to get on the end of and a David Cowley edge of box shot just over were the nearest efforts whilst at the other end apart from a Scott Mitchell header from a corner which went straight at Bywater the Hammers defence was untroubled.
Late on for a brief moment West Ham thought they had equalised when Hogan Ephraim diverted a Cowley shot into the net but the linesman quickly raised his flag to indicate offside. In injury time with West Ham pressing forward they were caught on the break and a cross field pass put Edward Upson clear in the right channel and he calmly slotted the ball past Bywater. All in all it was a slightly harsh result but in truth it wasn't the best of games.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
0 - 1
27 March 2006

Bywater

Andrews (N'Gala)

Henry

White

Widdowson

Reid

Collison

Baradji

Welsh (Jeffrey) (Hales)

Ephraim

Hines

Apart from Stephen Bywater, this was a very young and inexperienced reserve team line up but they battled hard only to fall to a late goal by a vastly more experienced Charlton side. To put it into some sort of perspective the Charlton side contained only two teenagers (one aged 19, one aged 18) whilst the Hammers had nine players of 18 or under in the starting line up. Understandably the home side dominated the first half and at times the West Ham goal lead a charmed life but resilient defending and good goalkeeping kept the score-line blank at the interval.
The start of the second half saw Charlton on the attack again and Mark Ricketts had a right foot shot just pushed round the post by Stephen Bywater. West Ham had struggled to make any impression on the home defence in the opening half but after the interval they posed more of a threat and Kyel Reid at the far post just couldn't quite squeeze home a header following a Hogan Ephraim cross. Stephen Bywater was then called into action again making a good save from a well struck shot by Varney following a neat Charlton move.
West Ham kept plugging away and Jeffrey had a right foot shot on the turn held by Stephan Andersen. Francis Jeffers who seems to have lost all confidence in front of goal then had another good chance for Charlton when he broke clear of the Hammers defence and had only Stephen Bywater to beat but he completely stubbed his shot and the Hammers keeper collected easily.
On 77 minutes a very poor tackle by Lloyd Sam on Jack Jeffrey ended with both players leaving the field, Sam via a red card from the referee and Jeffrey on a stretcher with his leg strapped (fortunately the injury proved to be a lot less serious than first feared). A good run by Sekou Baradji set up West Ham's best chance of the night but from his cut back Ephraim fired a left foot shot over.
The Hammers team got even younger with the introduction of substitute Bondz N'gala who is still at school and it looked like they might snatch a victory and only a last ditch tackle by Jonathan Fortune denied Hogan Ephraim. The referee added on five minutes of injury time and in the second of these Charlton grabbed the winner, Alex Varney headed home at the far post from Youga's right wing cross.

WATFORD
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
0 - 3
4 April 2006

Kemal

Andrews

Henry

White

Widdowson (Spence)

Ephraim

Collison

Baradji

Reid

Frayne

Jeffery

Once again a young and inexperienced reserve line up found itself up against it when facing an older Watford side who included half a dozen players with first team experience. The young Hammers started quite brightly and forced a series of corners one of which keeper Scott Loach punched out to the edge of the box to where Kyel Reid was waiting but his left foot shot went just wide.
Eren Kemal in the Hammers goal was making his reserve team debut and he did well when racing off his line quickly to block a Robinson shot after Anthony McNamee had slipped him in. He then had to turn away a fierce near post Robinson shot away for a corner as Watford continued to press.
On 32 minutes the visitors finally grabbed the lead when a McNamee corner was powerfully headed home by Carlisle. West Ham tried to respond and after a good run James Frayne had a left foot snot blocked by a defender the ball then broke to Hogan Ephraim who fired a right foot snot just wide.
In the opening minute of the second half Loach in the Watford goal had to race out of his area to clear as Frayne ran onto a through ball but soon the action was back down the other end, Robinson worked an opening for himself but poked his shot straight at Kemal and then Joel Grant controlled a cross from the left before turning and firing in a right foot shot which Kemal going down to his left saved at the second attempt.
On 62 minutes Watford went two up when Hammers gifted possession just inside their own half and Campana was allowed to run on before firing home a right foot shot from the edge of the box.
West Ham kept plugging away and after Jack Collison had a shot blocked the ball ran to Reid who fired a right foot shot just wide, then Reid picked up a loose ball and ran on before hitting a left foot cross shot just wide.
On 70 minutes Watford went three up when James Chambers went past a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before setting up Ben Gill who drilled home a left foot shot.

FULHAM
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
1 - 1 (Jensen [og])
10 April 2006

Blackmore

Newton (Jeffrey)

Ward (Hunt)

Clarke

Blackwell

Reid

Collison

Fletcher (Stanislas)

Baradji

Hines

Ephraim

A late equaliser denied West Ham reserves all three points but despite that there was still much encouragement to be had from the performance. Both teams' starting line ups featured a handful of experienced players but late withdrawals meant Hammers schoolboy Robbie Blackwell stepped in for his first game only two days after his making his youth team debut.
The first half was a pretty tight affair but the three best efforts all came from the Hammers, midway through the half Zavon Hines seized on a loose ball on the edge of the box and drove in a left foot shot which Tony Warner going down to his left pushed away at full stretch.
Jack Collison made a surging run into the box and fired in a right foot cross shot which was tipped away by Warner who again was at full stretch and right on half time a quick break inspired by Kyel Reid and Hogan Ephraim ended with a Sekou Baradji back heel to Carl Fletcher who had a shot held by Warner going down low to his left.
Two of the Hammers experienced players Clive Clarke and Shaun Newton were replaced at half time and amongst the substitutes were Junior Stanislas another schoolboy and again a youth team debutant only two days previously.
The second half saw little serious goalmouth action and it was somewhat out of the blue that West Ham took the lead on 62 minutes.
Hogan Ephraim floated in a free kick which flicked off the head of Fulham defender Adam Watts then hit Nicholas Jensen and rolled past Warner for an own goal. West Ham then replaced Elliott Ward with another schoolboy debutant Ben Hunt and despite having to totally reorganise defensively they were defending well with what was a makeshift defence comprising of Collison (a midfielder) at right back, Fletcher (a midfielder) and Hunt (normally a centre forward) at centre back and Blackwell (primarily a midfielder) at left back. West Ham looked to have done enough to secure the points but in injury time a cross was whipped in from the left and Lewis Smith got his head to it and flashed a header past yet another reserve team debutant in goalkeeper David Blackmore.
It was a disappointing end to the game but the major plus factor was the experience gained by the younger players of playing with and against seasoned professionals.
The three schoolboys who all did well with Blackwell particularly impressive will all have learnt much from the game and that can only benefit them in the long term.

WATFORD
Meadow Park, Boreham Wood FC
1 - 1 (Hines)
12 April 2006

Bywater

Keen

N'Gala

McKie

Blackwell

Ephraim

Collison

Baradji

Reid

Jeffrey (Hunt)

Hines

The curse of the ninetieth minute struck for the third time in a handful of games for the Hammers reserves, this time at Boreham Wood FC which is where Watford play their matches. Both teams were playing their second game in three days in order to catch up on their fixtures after a spate of postponements in the winter months.
Both sides fielded mainly young line ups with the notable exception of Hammers reserve team boss Kevin Keen who at the age of thirty nine came out of retirement to play his first game for two years. Kevin lined up at right back in a makeshift defence which also included two schoolboys and a trialist from Tottenham in Marcel Mckie.
The game was a low key affair with few clear cut chances, the Hammers generally had the better of the first half. Zavon Hines went close early on when after robbing a defender he spotted the keeper off his line and attempted a shot from just inside the Watford half, the ball drifted over the back pedalling keeper but fell just the wrong side of the post. On twenty four minutes, West Ham took the lead, Kyel Reid made a run down the left and crossed the ball low to Zavon Hines on the edge of the box and he fired home a right foot shot for his first reserve team goal.
The start of the  second half saw Watford have more of the ball but they struggled to create chances as the Hammers defended well, Elliott Frost had the best chance for the home side when after a good run he fired a right foot shot over from the edge of the box.
West Ham threatened on the break and Jack Jeffrey fired a right foot shot just wide after a run and deep cross by Kyel Reid then Watford keeper Scott Loach dallied on the ball and was robbed by Ben Hunt who laid the ball into the path of Reid who fired in a left foot shot which was cleared off the line by Adrian Mariappa.
In the closing stages Watford started to apply more pressure, a goalmouth scramble saw the ball pinball just past the post and then flick on put Alex Campana through but his right foot cross shot went narrowly wide. Deep into injury time a long free kick was hoisted into the box Stephen Bywater came out to punch clear but the ball dropped straight to a Watford foot and although Hammers managed to clear two shots off the line John-Joe O'Toole managed to force the ball home for the equaliser.
It was another disappointing finish to a game but overall a draw was a fair result and particular credit should go the Hammers defence two of whom weren't even born when Kevin Keen made his West Ham debut.

CRYSTAL PALACE
Bromley FC
0 - 2
19 April 2006

Bywater

Henry

White

Spence (N'Gala)

Andrews

Reid

Harvey (Stanislas)

Baradji (Fitzgerald)

Ephraim

Jeffrey

Hines

West ham United reserves completed their away fixtures for the season with a visit to Bromley FC to take on their Crystal Palace counterparts. With the exception of Stephen Bywater it was once again a young Hammers side and it included two schoolboys in the starting line up.
On a very dry and dusty looking pitch Palace made the better start and Lewis Grabban caused an early problem with a run and shot which Stephen Bywater couldn't hold, the ball broke to Charlie Sheringham (Son of Teddy) who laid the ball back into the path of Grabban but he sliced his shot wide.
In the llth minute Palace took the lead, Sheringham shrugged off a challenge before laying the ball into the path of Lewis Spence who drilled home a low left foot shot from the edge of the box.
Midway through the half Grabban had a great chance to add to the lead when after powering his way past a couple of challenges he found himself with only Bywater to beat but he drilled his right foot shot against the post. Just before half time West Ham had their first real chance when a neat move put Kyel Reid in but he couldn't get on top of an awkwardly bouncing ball and on the stretch he fired his shot over the bar.
The second half was a midfield stalemate for much of the time although Hammers had a good couple of minutes when firstly a run across the edge of the box by Zavon Hines ended with a right foot drive which was palmed away by Palace keeper David Wilkinson at full stretch. Then Hogan Ephraim cut in from the left before drilling a right foot shot just past the near post.

On 76 minutes Palace got their second goal when Grabban and Liam White grappled for the ball just inside the penalty area and the referee adjudged that the Palace player had been held and awarded a penalty which Grabban duly converted.
After that the home side dominated the closing stages and it took some good last ditch defending by the Hammers to stop Palace adding another goal.
It was a very weary looking West Ham team at the final whistle which is understandable given the number of fixtures they have played in the last month.

ARSENAL
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Ephraim)
27 April 2006

Bywater

Harvey

N'Gala

Dailly (Hunt)

Andrews

Reid

Hines

Ephraim

Stanislas (Bowes)

Cowley (Sears)

Jeffery

A young West Ham side suffered defeat against their experienced Arsenal opponents in their penultimate Barclays Premiership Reserve League clash of the season at Upton Park. But the real bonus for both Hammers and England was the sight of Christian Dailly and Ashley Cole coming through this end-to-end encounter unscathed and on the road to recovery.
Looking physically stronger in all areas, Arsenal attacked from the start and only an impressive last-gasp block by Junior Stanislas denied £5million teenager Theo Walcott an early opener.
On the quarter-hour mark, however, Hammers forced an advancing Mart Room to tackle the escaping Jack Jeffery on the edge of his area as the linesman's flag stayed down, but the visitors' relief was soon tempered by the enforced retirement of the injured Walcott shortly afterwards. In the 39th minute, the move of the match finally led to Arsenal breaking the deadlock. An incisive upfield Gunners, raid saw former Auxerre midfielder Diaby invite the supporting Bendtner to pull the trigger with a clinical low shot from 15 yards that gave Bywater no chance and Arsenal an interval lead.
Then, 10 minutes after the break, Arsenal doubled their advantage when, under pressure from Dailly and Bonz Ngala, Swedish starlet Sebastian Larsson let fly with an unstoppable 18-yarder,
On 72 minutes, Hammers finally got the reward their spirit and endeavour deserved when Ephraim's perfectly executed 20 yard free-kick whipped over the Arsenal wall and under the flat-footed Poom's right-hand angle. With renewed hoped, West Ham pressed in search of an equaliser but, at the other end, substitute Anthony Stokes won a penalty after finding himself sandwiched between Nines and Ngala.
Bywater guessed correctly as he alertly dived low to his left to save Bendtner's low 85th-minute spot-kick. But the determined Dane was not to be denied and, with seconds remaining, he embarked on another marauding, mazy solo run into the Hammers box, drew the exposed 'keeper off his line and confirmed a third-place finish for Arsenal with a clinical close-range strike. 

CHELSEA
Glyn Hopkins Stadium
2 - 2 (Hines 2)
2 May 2006

Blackmore

Harvey

N'Gala

Henry

Widdowson

Hines

Collison

Ephraim

Stanislas (Andrews)

Jeffery

Davidson

Two goals from Zavon Hines cancelled out goals from Scott Sinclair and Ricardo Pernandes in either half, and secured a point for Hammers to ensure a 10th place finish in the Barclaycard Premier Reserve League South - won this season by Tottenham Hotspur.
Once again, coach Kevin Keen fielded a young side, consisting entirely of Under-18 Academy players and schoolboys, although Chelsea were similarly inexperienced, with their first-team in action against Blackburn Rovers following their crowning as Premiership Champions again at the weekend.
After a quiet and tepid start, the game burst into life just 10 minutes before the break, as Chelsea took the lead with their first real attack of any note. A measured pass from Simmonds released winger Sinclair on the left, and he cut in before firing a low shot past David Blackmore from 10 yards out. However, the Hammers didn't have to wait long before equalising, as their next attack saw schoolboy defender Tom Harvey thread the ball through for Hines, who finished well with an angled drive from 12 yards out.
That saw the two sides go in level at half-time, but Chelsea made the livelier start in the second-half and wasted a glorious opportunity to restore their lead just eight minutes in, when midfielder Jimmy Smith fired his shot against the crossbar after finding himself in the clear.
Goalscorer Sinclair then missed a chance to claim his second of the night and, although the visitors were perhaps on top when it came to possession, Hammers continued to close down the space and make it difficult for their opponents. On 85 minutes, Chelsea's pressure finally paid off, as substitute Fernandes collected the ball in midfield and advanced forward before unleashing a stunning 25-yard drive that gave Blackmore no chance as it flew into the top comer of the net.
However, the Hammers once again showed great character to respond - this time almost immediately, as Hines chased down a lost cause and won possession before squeezing the ball inside the near post to claim his second equaliser of the night, ensuring that the young Hammers held on for a deserved point and finished a tough season on a high note.

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