WEST HAM UNITED
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A Pictorial History
2008-09 Barclays Premier Reserve League
Manager: Alex Dyer
West Ham United Under-18s play in Group A of the FA Premier Academy League. The team play 18 group fixtures, twice against the other nine teams on a home and away basis. They also play ten inter-group fixtures against teams from Groups B, C and D. In all they play 28 matches. The four group winners proceed to the semi-finals before the final is held in May.
Home games played at Little Heath, Hainault Road, Romford, Essex.
CHELSEA
Griffin Park
0 - 2
15 September 2008
Lastuvka
Miller
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Widdowson (O'Neill)
Edgar (Kearns)
Payne (Lee)
Harvey
Stanislas
Sears
Stokes
A youthful West Ham United side were edged out of their opening game of the 2008/09 FA Premier Reserve League South season.
After holding out for an hour against their hosts at the Griffin Park home of Chelsea, Kevin Keen's young side were beaten by strikes from substitute Michael Woods and Scott Sinclair. The first was a tap in from close range but Sinclair's strike underlined why he is one of the country's most promising talents with a mazy run and shot that gave the impressive Jan Lastukva no chance in the 66th minute.
West Ham United did have their moments, especially through Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas with the former looking to build on his two goals for the Under-18s at the weekend. Chelsea had the clearer opportunities though but they were thwarted by good goalkeeping and some decisive play by Bondz N'Gala and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
The heart of the West Ham United midfield was the relatively inexperienced Tom Harvey and Josh Payne and the duo worked tirelessly with some strong challenges and also bright forward play. It was Payne who had the first real effort of note for the visitors on 28 minutes but his low shot was well saved by Rhys Taylor.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Woodside Park
4 - 3 (Sears 4)
30 September 2008
Stech
Miller
Collins (N'Gala)
Davenport
Lopez
Stanislas
Collison
Bowyer (Bajner)
Reid
Stokes
Sears
REPORT:
FULHAM
Motspur Park
1 - 4 (Eyjolfsson)
7 October 2008
Stech
O'Neill
Miller
N'Gala
Eyjolfsson
Lee (Fry)
Stokes
Grasser (Montano)
Bajner
Stanislas
Edgar (Kearns)
West Ham United reserves were beaten a strong Fulham side at Motspur Park. The visitors started the brightest and Junior Stanislas, who was deployed in a role just behind a front two of Balint Bajner and Anthony Edgar, had two superb free-kicks turned over the bar by Swiss international goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbhuler. Bondz N'Gala then headed over from a Stanislas corner as the visitors looked to score their first away goal of the season.
Ten minutes before the interval Fulham thought they had taken the lead only for Nevland's effort to be ruled out for handball, with the striker being shown a yellow card for appearing to punch the ball into the net. A minute later though the hosts did take get on the scoresheet as Nevland slid in to convert a Seol cross.
The hosts, who had gone into the match bottom of the Barclays Premier Reserve League, put the game out of reach of their visitors with two goals within three minutes of the restart. A minute after half-time, Seol picked the ball up just inside the edge of the area, side-stepped his marker and beat Stech with a low, left-footed drive. Gray added a fourth a minute later when he slid in to convert a Seol cross.
The youngsters did not let their heads drop though and, buoyed by the ever-vocal N'Gala, rallied to try and get back into the game. Their attitude was rewarded when Stanislas played a short corner to Ryan O'Neill. The right-back's cross was inch-perfect and Eyjolfsson stooped to power a header in.
If Fulham's third goal was routine the fourth was anything but as Brown picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove forward into the West Ham United half. With one look, he unleashed a fierce 30-yard drive that bounced once before finding the far left-hand corner of the goal.
The fourth goal put the hosts out of sight, but again United's youngsters were not perturbed and continued to press forward in search of their second. It was to be in vain though as Fulham's extra experience saw them hold on to their lead. Dyer will take heart from this young side's efforts though, knowing it will have given them valuable experience to take into the rest of the season.
ARSENAL
Woodside Park
1 - 0 Stanislas)
21 October 2008
Lastuvka
Spence
Davenport
Collins
Lopez (N'Gala)
Mullins
Collison
Boa Morte
Stanislas (Stokes)
Sears
Reid (Harvey)
A solitary Junior Stanislas strike was enough to ensure West Ham United a second consecutive home win in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South.
The young winger struck a superb volley in the 24th minute to give the home side all three points after their 4-3 success against West Bromwich Albion last month. Stanislas was one of only two players - Jordan Spence was the other - in the starting lineup without first-team experience. Arsenal, in contrast were dominated by talented teenagers, although in Fran Merida they posed a significant midfield threat.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Matchroom Stadium - Leyton Orient
0 - 2
3 November 2008
Street
O'Neill
N'Gala
Spence
Widdowson
Kearns
Harvey
Reid (Lee)
Lopez
Stokes
Tristan (Bajner) (Edgar)
Diego Tristan has got his first competitive 45 minutes under his belt for West Ham United in a reserve derby at Tottenham Hotspur. The Spanish striker was an unused substitute for Gianfranco Zola's first team on Saturday away to Middlesbrough and will hope to be in contention for this weekend's visit of Everton. He had a lively half, playing at the centre of a 4-3-3 with Daniel Kearns and Kyel Reid looking to support whenever possible. In a tight contest, chances were at a premium but he did get one shot away late in the half - only to see it blocked and receive a kick to his foot in the process.
Tristan made way at half-time to be replaced by Balint Bajner, fresh from his hat-trick for the Under-18s at the weekend. Kyel Reid was perhaps the most impressive of the visiting players but the home side - prompted by Adel Taarabt, Hossam Ghaly and Kevin-Prince Boateng - proved too strong. Charlie Daniels scored both Spurs' goals in the space of six second-half minutes. The first was a close-range tap-in after Street had parried Boateng's header and the second on the hour was a drive from distance.
PORTSMOUTH
Woodside Park
2 - 0 (Di, Michele, Reid)
25 November 2008
Lastuvka
O'Neill
Davenport
Tomkins
Lopez
Stokes
Boa Morte (Harvey)
Reid
Di Michele
Tristan (Stanislas)
Sears
REPORT:
CHELSEA
Woodside Park
4 - 3 (Tristan 2, Harvey, Sears)
16 December 2008
Stech
Miller
Widdowson
Spector
N'Gala
Stokes
Harvey
Lopez
Kearns (Lee)
Tristan
Sears
Diego Tristan's first goals for West Ham United ensured the Hammers will end 2008 second in Barclays Premier Reserve League South.
The Spaniard netted twice as Alex Dyer's side clinched a thrilling 4-3 win over Chelsea on a freezing night at Bishops Stortford's Woodside Park. Tristan's 30th-minute opener was followed just four minutes later by a typically clinical effort from Freddie Sears. Former England Under-16 international Tom Harvey added a third with the best goal of the night, smashing in a fine first-time shot from 20 yards. An unlucky Jonathan Spector own goal, substitute Frank Nouble and Scott Sinclair's late penalty threatened to steal a dramatic point for the visitors, but the home side hung on.
ASTON VILLA
Marston's Stadium
0 - 0
13 January 2009
Stech
Spence
N'Gala
Tomkins
Lopez (Jeffery)
Dyer (Eyjolsson)
Spector
Stokes (Harvey)
Payne
Sears
Tristan
Marek Stech enjoyed the best performance of his West Ham United career to earn the Hammers a hard-fought goalless Barclays Premier Reserve League South draw at Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.
The Czech Republic Under-19 international goalkeeper, named in Gianfranco Zola's Premier League matchday squad for the first time at Newcastle United on Saturday, produced a series of stunning saves to keep the Villans at bay. The youngster, who turns 19 on 28 January, was equal to everything the home side threw at him at Hinckley United's neat Marston's Stadium.
FULHAM
Upton Park
0 - 2
20 January 2009
Stech
Spector
Lopez
Eyjolfsson (N'Gala)
Tomkins
Dyer (Spence)
Mullins
Harvey (Hines)
Jeffrey
Sears
Boa Morte
Alex Dyer's reserve side ended their long run of home wins with defeat to Fulham at the Boleyn Ground.
A quiet opening period was bought to life when Zoltan Gera opened the scoring for the visitors nine minutes before half time. Fulham striker Wayne Brown ensured an away win with their second just before the hour mark.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Woodside Park
1 - 3 (Edgar)
24 February 2009
Stech
O'Neill
Payne
Fry
Miller (McNaughton)
Edgar
Harvey
Grasser (Kearns)
Stanislas
Jeffrey
Hines (Bajner)
REPORT:
ARSENAL
Underhill
1 - 0 (Miller)
9 March 2009
Stech
Miller
Fry
Lee
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Kearns
Grasser
Bajner (Okus)
Abdulla (Montano)
Edgar
Alex Dyer's youthful side earned a tremendous victory away at Arsenal on Monday night courtesy of Ashley Miller's solitary strike in the 72nd minute - but the win owed much to Marek Stech. The 19-year-old right-back Miller converted from close range after bright play involving Georg Crasser and substitute Christian Montano, seconds after he entered the game.
ASTON VILLA
Woodside Park
0 - 2
17 March 2009
Kurucz
Okus
Fry
N'Gala
Eyjolfsson
Kearns
Lee
Grasser (Sanchez)
Edgar
Bajner (Abdulla)
Hines (Montano)
REPORT:
STOKE CITY
Nantwich Town
2 - 0 (Edgar, Hines [pen])
30 March 2009
Kurucz
O'Neill
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Fry
Okus
Lee
Edgar
Kearns
Bajner
Hines
Goals from Anthony Edgar and Zavon Hines sealed another polished performance on the road for Alex Dyer's youthful second string. The homegrown Hammers struck in the second half to make it three games unbeaten on the road after a goalless draw at Aston Villa and a 1-0 success away to Arsenal. With goalkeeper Peter Kuracz well protected by a back four marshalled by Bondz N'Gala and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, Edgar strode forward just before the hour to score with a tremendous strike before Hines converted a late penalty he had earned.
STOKE CITY
Woodside Park
1 - 0 (Kearns)
7 April 2009
Kurucz
Lee
N'Gala
Fry
Grasser
Edgar
Okus
Montano (Abdulla)
Kearns
Hines
Bajner
Daniel Keams scored the only goal as West Ham United moved up to third in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South in the final home match of the season. The Northern Irish youth international struck with just two minutes on the clock at the Woodside Park home of Bishop's Stortford. After being found eight yards from goal by the unselfish Balint Bajner, Keams, 17, took a touch before a neat finish with the outside of his right foot. Keams remained a danger all night - particularly from set-pieces but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. In truth, West Ham could have added to their goal difference as they dominated from start to finish against an equally inexperienced Stoke side
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Nantwich Town
2 - 0 (Fry, Hines)
14 April 2009
Kurucz
Miller (O'Neill)
Eyjolfsson
N'Gala
Fry
Lee
Kearns
Grasser (Montano)
Bajner
Hines
Edgar
Teamsheet wrongly dated
Wednesday 15 April
Goals from Zavon Mines and Matthew Fry were not enough as West Bromwich Albion proved too strong for a young West Ham United side on a soggy evening at the Hawthorns. The home side went into the break ahead after first Chris Wood and then Kim Do-Heon - via a wicked deflection - had given them a two-goal lead. West Ham United were a different proposition after the interval, however, and they got themselves back into the game when Hines prodded home the rebound after Dean Kiely could only palm away Balint Bajner's shot from the inside the area. The goal gave the Hammers a lift and they dominated for the next 15 minutes, only for Lateef Elford-Alliyu to snatch a third for the Baggies against the run of play. The same player then added a fourth for the home side with ten minutes to go. Fry got one back as the Hammers threatened a late revival, but it was not to be as West Brom held on for the win. Alex Dyer's side will be looking to end what has been an excellent season on a high when they conclude their Barclays Premier League South campaign away at Portsmouth.
PORTSMOUTH
West Leigh Park
0 - 1
21 April 2009
Kurucz
Barrett
Miller (Brown)
Eyjolfsson
Fry
Kearns
Lee
Grasser
Edgar
Bajner (Montano)
Hines
West Ham United ended their Barclays Premier League South campaign in heartbreaking fashion with a 1-0 loss.
Greece international striker Theofanis Gekas won the game for Pompey with a moment of magic just seconds from the end of the game, taking a touch on the edge of the Hammers' penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot drive past the helpless Peter Kurucz. Defeat was very harsh on the visitors, who could easily have won the game themselves. West Ham began much the brighter of the two sides on a warm, sunny evening on the south coast and could have taken the lead in just the fourth minute. Superb interplay from Daniel Kearns and Balint Bajner down the right wing was followed by Anthony Edgar lifting a neat pass over the Pompey defence to Hines, but the striker could only drive a rising shot across the face of Ashdowris goal.
