WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2020-21 Premier League Under-18 (South)
Manager: Steve Potts
The 2020-21 Under-18 Premier League is the 9th campaign of the top tier of the Under-18 Development League. A total of 26 teams are split regionally into north and south leagues. Teams face their regional opponents both home and away before the top two face each other to determine the national champion. The merit group format previously used has been dropped. Manchester City are the defending champions. Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leeds United all earned Category One status in the summer of 2020 and join for this season. Swansea City have dropped out as they leave Category One status.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Little Heath
1 - 4 (Forbes)
12 September 2020
Roach
Robinson
Adebayo
Forbes
Evans
Potts
Woods (Veliky)
Perkins (Mubama)
Kileba (Coddington)
Simon-Swyer
Corbett
In their first competitive fixture in just over six months, lead coach Kevin Keen’s U18s were looking to build on a strong end to their last campaign and a productive pre-season, but came unstuck at the hands of a visiting side who finished clinically.
West Ham fell behind after just two minutes played when Tottenham full-back Kallum Cesay drilled in from the corner of the penalty area.
The Hammers recovered from that early blow when Michael Forbes rose highest to emphatically head home Kai Corbett’s sweetly struck corner and haul his side level. Unfortunately they were unable to consolidate on that position, and Tottenham regained the lead just three minutes later through Dane Scarlett.
Despite showing plenty of intent following the restart, however, it was Tottenham who scored the next goal. Counter-attacking at pace from a corner, Scarlett won the visitors a penalty and subsequently stepped up to find the bottom corner with the resulting kick.
West Ham keeper Josh Roach produced some fine saves to stop Scarlett from getting a hat-trick, but could do nothing to prevent Tarrelle Whittaker’s looping finish off the inside of the woodwork with 13 minutes remaining.
CHELSEA
Cobham
1 - 4 (Potts)
19 September 2020
Hegyi
Heale (Robinson)
Forbes
Adebayo
Adu
Potts
Simon-Swyer
Corbett
Kileba
Perkins (Woods)
Veliky (Mubama)
The Hammers were on the wrong end of an impressive display of first-half finishing from their hosts at Cobham on Saturday morning.
Bryan Fiabema put Chelsea ahead with a volleyed finish after 14 minutes, and with the Blues dominating proceedings, they netted two more either side of the half-an-hour mark: Jude Soonsup-Bell finished off a flowing move, before Harvey Vale found the top corner.
A number of fine saves by West Ham goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi were required to keep the score down, with the Irons' only half-chances falling to defender Iyiola Adebayo and forward Kamarai Simon-Swyer.
The second half saw West Ham regain their confidence, playing with a new shape, starting brightly, and getting their just rewards on the hour mark.
Christian Veliky picked up the ball and floated a cross towards the back post, where Freddie Potts produced a firm header, looping the ball over the Chelsea goalkeeper and into the back of the net to reduce the deficit to two.
The Hammers were playing the better football but, despite Hegyi’s best efforts, it was Chelsea who ultimately concluded the scoring, Jimi Tauriainen putting the three points beyond all doubt for his side with a tap-in inside the last 15 minutes.
FULHAM
Little Heath
1 - 2 (Corbett)
26 September 2020
Hegyi
Robinson (Fevrier)
Adebayo
Forbes
Woods
Corbett
Potts
Perkins (Clarke)
Kileba
Veliky (Coddington)
Simon-Swyer
The young Irons went into the match against last season’s U18 Premier League South champions looking to build on a promising second half against Chelsea last time around, and they successfully carried that momentum into the early stages at Little Heath.
Fulham ‘keeper Damian Las was much the busier custodian in the opening exchanges, with the Hammers testing him from long range and generally having the better of the play as they pushed for a first lead this season.
When West Ham’s goal did arrive, it did so in admittedly fortuitous circumstances: on 20 minutes, Kai Corbett floated a free-kick towards goal and Las allowed the ball to squirm through his legs, sliding beneath his grasp and into the net.
Disappointingly, however, Fulham were level within two minutes, a well-worked goal seeing Luke Harris clinically converting after a powerful cross made its way through to the back post.
The game could have changed when with 15 minutes remaining when a counter-attack led by Fulham’s Ibane Bowat led to a penalty being awarded, but West Ham shot-stopper Krisztian Hegyi made a good save down the middle of the goal to deny Mika Biereth. The Irons’ reprieve proved only temporary, however, as Fulham snatched a goal from a corner eight minutes from time, Kayden Harrick getting the final touch to divert a Harris volley into the net.
ARSENAL
Little Heath
3 - 2 (Corbett, Fevrier, Woods)
3 October 2020
Hegyi
Thomas
Forbes
Adebayo
Evans (Robinson)
Corbett
Woods
Potts
Fevrier (Kileba)
Simon-Swyer
Mubama (Velicky)
West Ham United U18s were in front after just 12 minutes at a drenched Little Heath, the returning Fevrier applying the finishing touches after a defence-splitting pass from Kamarai Swyer. Midway through the first half Arsenal were reduced to ten men when Levi Laing’s late challenge left the referee with little option other than to send the defender off.
Minutes later West Ham made the extra man count, extending their lead through Archie Woods. The visitors failed to clear a West Ham corner and the ball fell to Woods on the edge of the box, the midfielder’s low-driven effort doubling the Hammers' advantage.
The visitors responded nearly immediately to reduce the arrears before the break.
The young Gunners found an equaliser on 61 minutes, with Kido Taylor Hart finishing well past Krisztian Hegyi after a neat passing move. Not to be deterred, West Ham United U18s seized back the momentum and began to carve out chances of their own, and the pressure told with just over twenty minutes remaining. A flowing counter-attack began with Gael Kileba being released down the left hand side. The winger traveled strongly at the retreating Arsenal defence before squaring to Kai Corbett to apply the finish.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Amex Elite Performance Centre
3 - 2 (Perkins 2, Corbett)
24 October 2020
Hegyi
Robinson (Orford)
Clayton
Potts
Thomas
Adebayo
Corbett
Woods
Mubama (Falase)
Kileba (Casey)
Perkins
Despite blustery autumnal conditions, the Hammers took the lead after 20 minutes through Perkins, midfielder collected a pass from Gael Kileba just outside the area, stepped inside his marker and unleashed a fierce shot which faded away from the goalkeeper to give West Ham United the lead.
Clear shooting opportunities proved relatively scarce but when Brighton had one four minutes before half-time, Todd Miller took full advantage with a good individual effort to equalise.
The Irons regained their lead once more through Perkins just before the break with a right-footed effort inside the far corner to yield a 2-1 advantage.
Brighton had the better of the play at the start of the second half without creating much, and it was a profligacy which West Ham took full advantage of ten minutes from time. Having seen his side win a direct free-kick on the edge of the ‘D’, forward Kai Corbett stepped up and fooled everybody by firing it low towards the goalkeeper’s side – the pace on the strike ensuring it beat Fynn Talley all ends up. Brighton did eventually manage to pull one back, Matt Everitt capitalising on a defensive error as the game ticked into injury time, but the Hammers had already done enough by then to seal three impressive points on the coast.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Little Heath
1 - 2 (Mubama)
7 November 2020
Sanneh
Robinson
Clayton (Earthy)
Potts
Forbes
Adebayo
Fevrier
Woods
Kileba (Mubama)
Corbett
Perkins (Thomas)
A late goal condemned West Ham United Under-18s to an unfortunate and arguably undeserved 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
It was the visitors who made the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half, however, when Omilabu, bursting into the area, was brought down by Sanneh, with the Hammers’ custodian being cautioned. The Palace striker converted the subsequent penalty.
Both sides traded opportunities in the period of the game which followed, with Corbett particularly lively for West Ham and Junior Robinson having one promising chance closed down inside the area. The Irons’ reward for their perseverance arrived after 72 minutes when 16-year-old forward Divin Mubama – who scored a hat-trick for England U16s in the recent international break – netted his first goal in Claret and Blue at U18s level.
The second-half substitute was typically clinical in pouncing on a short back-pass from Thisleton, prodding it between Goodman’s legs to equalise for Keen’s side.
Unfortunately, however, parity did not last long. On the counter-attack, Fionn Mooney curling the ball in off the post with ten minutes remaining to tip a balanced game in the visitors’ favour with ten minutes to go.
READING
Bearwood Park
2 - 1 (Mubama, Perkins)
21 November 2020
Sanneh
Robinson
Clayton
Potts
Forbes
Thomas
Fevrier
Woods
Mubama
Perkins (Jones)
Coddington (Earthy)
West Ham United Under-18s picked up their third win in four league games after seeing off a second-half fightback from Reading to win 2-1 on Saturday morning.
A proverbial game of two halves took place at Bearwood Park Training Ground, with the Irons fully deserving of a 2-0 half-time lead given to them by England youth internationals Divin Mubama and Sonny Perkins.
The hosts came roaring back in the second half, however, netting early on through Michael Stickland, before drawing a fine penalty save from West Ham goalkeeper – and fellow Young Lion – Serine Sanneh, later on.
The three points move West Ham up to eighth in the U18 Premier League table.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Birmingham County FA
2 - 2 (Earthy, Mubama [pen])
28 November 2020
Hegyi
Robinson
Clayton (Evans)
Earthy
Thomas (Tichmarsh)
Casey
Coddington
Woods
Mubama
Diallo (Kileba)
Perkins
West Ham United’s youth team put in a good performance to claim a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday morning.
On 17 minutes, George Earthy, making his first start at U18s level, took two touches to open his body up before unleashing a fierce strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The visitors’ lead didn’t last long, Mo Faal slid in and poke home an equaliser three minutes later.
The Irons would retake the lead after 58 minutes when Divin Mubama powered a penalty kick high into the side-netting for his third league goal in as many games.
But West Brom once again provided an immediate response when, five minutes later, Aurio Teixeira slipped his way into the penalty area and, from the by-line, pulled back for Alex Williams to tap in.
The two teams continued to exchange chances with both goalkeepers excelling, Krisztian Hegyi producing several fine stops in the West Ham goal, but Keen was pleased his young side showed maturity in claiming a hard-fought point from the midday kick-off.
LUTON TOWN : FA Youth Cup (Third Round)
Kenilworth Road
3 - 3 (Fevrer 2, Simon-Swyer) Won 4-2 pens
3 December 2020
Hegyi
Thomas
Baptiste
Potts (Earthy)
Forbes
Adebayo
Fevrier
Woods
Corbett (Kileba)
Simon-Swyer
Perkins (Mubama)
It took longer than West Ham United U18s would have liked to get to Kenilworth Road for Thursday’s FA Youth Cup third-round tie with Luton Town. The young Hammers overcame a traffic jam on the M25, a 45-minute delay, a stubborn opponent, extra-time and a penalty shootout to book their place in the fourth round for the first time in eight years.
After nearly three hours of see-saw action, goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi was the hero, saving from Callum Nicolson and Ed McJannet as the Irons prevailed 4-2 on spot-kicks. Much earlier, the Hammers ignored any stiffness in their legs after a longer-than-planned journey by going in front inside two minutes, as left winger Swyer showed a centre-forward’s instinct to get in front of his marker and head Kai Corbett’s right-wing free-kick down and inside the far post.
West Ham’s fast start continued as both the goalscorer and Sonny Perkins went close before Archie Woods was pulled back 25 yards from the Luton goal. Up stepped Fevrier to curl an unstoppable, dipping left-foot free-kick into the top left-hand corner of Horlick’s net. However, just when it looked like West Ham might run away with things, Luton pulled a goal back on 26 minutes. It was a scrappy affair, as the visitors failed to deal with low cross and Tyrelle Newton slammed a first-time shot high past Hegyi.
Luton visibly grew in confidence after scoring and they were back on level terms seven minutes before half-time when Ben Stevens took advantage of a slip to thump a 25-yarder in via the underside of the crossbar. After four early goals, the 20-minute period either side of half-time was much quieter, before West Ham burst back into life in the final half-hour of normal time.
Horlick was made to work overtime, saving from Corbett on no fewer than three occasions, holding Perkins’ shot, punching a corner clear and finally parrying a powerful strike from Swyer in the space of ten minutes. The pressure continued to build, with the lively Corbett twice firing over the top as the game drifted towards full-time with only one team looking like finding a winner.
As it was, West Ham had to wait until two minutes into extra-time to find the net for a third time and it was Fevrier – the Club’s youngest-ever reserve-team player – who smashed a left-foot shot into same top corner of the net he had found nearly two hours earlier. But, just as they had done previously, the Hammers relinquished their advantage, allowing Stevens to equalise after Hegyi had failed to hold a rasping drive.
However, the Hungarian still had time to make himself the hero, saving miraculously from substitute Tra Lucas with a minute of extra-time remaining, then even more dramatically from Nicolson and McJannet in the shootout to send his team through to the fourth round for the first time since 2012/13.
NORWICH CITY
Little Heath
0 - 3
12 December 2020
Sanneh (Knightbridge)
Woods
Evans (Kileba)
Potts (Adu)
Forbes
Adebayo
Coddington
Ireland
Mubama
Earthy
Perkins
The Hammers made a brighter start in east London, striking the outside of the post after just three minutes through Sonny Perkins’ shot from the edge of the box.
Their confidence continued to swell and came close after George Earthy going one-on-one with Norwich ‘keeper Sam Blair; his effort beat the shot-stopper, but also the far post.
The game gradually evened out, leading to Oscar Thorn – with his third shooting opportunity in the first 18 minutes – putting Norwich ahead, finding the bottom corner with a controlled finish.
Just five minutes before half-time, however, Norwich’s lead began to look insurmountable. Following a West Ham corner, the Canaries countered at pace and after a strike towards his near post was parried away by Serine Sanneh, Joe Duffy powered the ball home.
A 2-0 deficit was a harsh reflection on a half in which the Hammers had more than played their part, but the match slipped further away from them in the opening minutes of the second period.
Moments after second-half substitute goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge had done brilliantly to deny Thorn with his legs from a one-on-one, Manos made no mistake from outside the box with a low curling effort.
CHELSEA
Little Heath
0 - 4
23 January 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Evans (Clayton)
Thomas
Forbes
Adebayo (Potts)
Earthy
Woods
Mubama
Kileba (Adu)
Perkins
With the Academy of Football closing its facilities earlier than planned for the festive break as a precautionary measure, the youth team only resumed training earlier this month and, on Saturday, played their first game since 12 December.
West Ham’s U18s began the match brightly with plenty of intent, but were indebted to goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi for two good stops from Chelsea’s Silko Thomas and Ronnie Stutter.
Chelsea then took the lead when Luke Badley-Morgan pounced inside the area after the Hammers had failed to clear their lines from a corner.
George Earthy had perhaps the Hammers’ best effort in the first half with a long-range drive – ultimately off-target – but could have gone in further behind were it not for the woodwork denying Stutter.
West Ham rallied in the second half and enjoyed the majority of possession without creating too many chances, and it was another corner-kick which doubled the visitors’ advantage on 72 minutes, Alfie Gilchrist powering home a near-post header.
Chelsea then struck twice late on to give the score-line a harsher glint, Charlie Webster and Leo Castledine both converting crosses from the right from close range.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Rush Green
2 - 6 (Fevrier, Simon-Swyer)
30 January 2021
Knightbridge
Robinson (Evans)
Clayton
Potts
Forbes
Thomas (Adu)
Fevrier
Woods (Earthy)
Mubama
Simon-Swyer
Perkins
West Brom took the lead after just five minutes when the ball dropped to Tom Fellowes on the edge of the box and fired low past Jacob Knightbridge to put the Baggies in front.
The visitors extended their advantage in the 32nd minute and then
Shepard got his second – and West Brom’s third - of the game just before the break. The West Ham defence failed to deal with a long ball forward and the midfielder’s left-footed effort crept into the net, sending Kevin Keen’s side into the break with work to do.
West Ham United responded well after half-time and deservedly got a goal back through Jayden Fevrier in the 53rd minute. A mazy-run from the 17-year-old culminated in searing right-footed strike that went high across the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit.
Six minutes later and it was 3-2. Kamarai Swyer on the edge of ‘D’, and the No10 dropped his shoulder and rifled his shot past the Albion keeper to put the Hammers firmly in the contest with half an hour to play. West Brom restored their two-goal lead just moments after conceding. Another long ball from the Baggies this time fell to Javan Malcolm, and the No9 took an exquisite touch past two defenders before curling past Knightbridge to all but seal the three points for the visitors. Mo Faal and Reyes Clearly added two more for West Brom in the dying embers.
ASTON VILLA
Rush Green
1 - 1 (Corbett)
6 February 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Clayton (Adu)
Potts
Laing
Adebayo
Fevrier (Perkins)
Woods
Corbett (Mubama)
Simon-Swyer
Leahy
Kai Corbett netted on the stroke of half-time as West Ham United U18s recovered from an early goal to claim a well-earned point against Aston Villa.
Corbett’s fifth Academy goal of the season arrived courtesy of some strong work from teammate Jayden Fevrier at Rush Green Stadium. That strike cancelled out an early opener from Taylor Jay-Hart which could have damaged the Hammers’ confidence as they sought to recover from a heavy loss to West Bromwich Albion the weekend before.
Following a run on the outside from Villa’s Hayden Lindley, the left-back produced an accurate cross for Jay-Hart to volley home from inside the area. But West Ham were not bowed by the early setback and only grew into the game from there, forcing Villa ‘keeper Oliwer Zych into some good stops in the first half.
Neither side were able to add to their tally in an open and entertaining second period, with Villa defender Paul Appiah collecting a second yellow card as the game ticked into injury time.
ARSENAL
London Colney
0 - 1
16 February 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Clayton
Potts
Laing
Adebayo
Fevrier
Woods (Heal)
Corbett
Simon-Swyer (Perkins)
Leahy (Mubama)
West Ham United U18s were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal U18s in their latest U18 Premier League South fixture at the Shenley Training Centre. A 92nd minute strike from Khayon Edwards snatched all three points for the Gunners in north London after a tightly contested affair.
The loss sees the Hammers stay 10th in the league table, still waiting for their first win of the calendar year.
In a game of few opportunities, it was Jayden Fevrier who went closest for the boys in Claret and Blue.
The 17-year-old winger crashed his first-half effort off the post after skipping past two Arsenal defenders, going agonisingly close to giving West Ham United the lead.
Both teams equipped themselves well defensively throughout and the game looked destined to be heading for a stalemate until the Hammers conceded a free kick in stoppage time wide on the left-hand side.
A whipped cross from Omari Hutchinson evaded the Irons defence and found Edwards at the back post, the forward applied a simple finish past Krisztian Hegyi to ensure the three points stayed in north London.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Little Heath
0 - 2
27 February 2021
Hegyi
Heal (Robinson)
Clayton
Potts
Adu
Forbes
Fevrier
Woods
Mubama (Kolli)
Simon-Swyer
Perkins (Kileba)
Going up against the Seagulls at Little Heath Sports Ground, Kevin Keen’s youth team were seeking a first win of the calendar year.
An entertaining contest ensued in east London, with both teams creating clear chances in the first half without being able to take them. The Irons’ best opportunity came midway through the first half when Jayden Fevrier picked out Divin Mubama with a pinpoint cross, but the England youth international saw his effort smothered by Brighton goalkeeper Toby Bull.
When the opening goal did arrive early in the second half, it went to Brighton substitute Marcus Ifill, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when his chance arrived.
West Ham failed to clear their lines from a long ball and Ifill found himself in too much space from a Claret and Blue perspective to rifle home the breakthrough.
As the Hammers sought to fight their way back into the game, the introduction of a second-half Trialist from the bench saw the youngster thrice denied by fine stops by Bull, the best of which was a superb reflex save from a tight angle.
And the game was ultimately sealed by Ifill in the first minute of stoppage time as Brighton again found their No14 through the direct route, whose good finish put an unfair gloss on a largely even game.
SOUTHAMPTON
The Snows Stadium, AFC Totton FC
1 - 1 (Mubama [pen]
6 March 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Forbes (Clayton)
Potts (Kileba)
Laing
Baptiste
Corbett (Earthy)
Perkins
Mubama
Simon-Swyer
Kolli
West Ham United U18s came within minutes of securing their first league win of the calendar year on Saturday morning, only to be denied by a fortuitous late goal from Southampton at Snows Stadium.
The Irons were seemingly on course to claim a valuable three points on the south coast following Divin Mubama’s seventh-minute penalty, but – despite goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi’s spot-kick save later in the half – were denied by an injury-time deflected clearance off Lewis Payne.
As the game ticked beyond the 90-minute mark, Southampton claimed an equaliser when Hegyi – racing off his line to meet a long ball – produced a clearance which cannoned off Payne and hit the back of the net.
ASTON VILLA
Bodymoor Heath
2 - 2 (Perkins, Appiah [og])
13 March 2021
Hegyi
Adu
Clayton
Earthy (Heal)
Laing
Casey
Robinson (Falase)
Kileba (Titchmarsh)
Mubama
Simon-Swyer
Perkins
West Ham United U18s held Aston Villa U18s to a 2-2 draw in their latest U18 Premier League South fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielder Sonny Perkins gave the Hammers the lead midway through the first half before the hosts hit back through Kahrel Reddin.
Villa took the lead in the second period through Tommi O’Reilly, but Kevin Keen’s side stuck to their task and got a deserved equaliser late on when Paul Appiah steered into his own net.
The draw sees the U18s remain eleventh in the U18 Premier League South on a proud day for the Academy of Football, with as many as six schoolboys featuring in Claret and Blue.
West Ham United U18s produced a first-class display at Carrow Road to book their place in the FA Youth Cup fifth round with an emphatic 5-0 win over Norwich City U18s. Kevin Keen’s youth team can take great pride in an excellent all-round display, being steadfast in their defending, efficient in their attacking – and decisive in the moments that mattered either side of half-time.
After soaking up some early pressure, the Irons took the lead early on when Mipo Odubeko collected Kai Corbett's pass, turned and swept the ball into the bottom corner after ten minutes.
An end-to-end encounter saw chances traded at both ends, but the young Hammers took command before the break when Odubeko tapped in captain Jayden Fevrier’s pinpoint low cross and – on the stroke of half-time – Fevrier capped a fine Kamarai Swyer pass with a powerful finish.
Norwich came out of the traps with renewed vigour, but rigorous defending – including one particularly impressive save by Kristzian Hegyi – kept Norwich at bay, before Jamal Baptiste’s header from a Corbett corner - and a low rocket from the latter - coated gloss to the scoreline.
NORWICH CITY : FA Youth Cup (Fourth Round)
Carrow Road
5 - 0 (Odubeko 2, Baptiste, Corbett, Fevrier)
22 March 2021
Hegyi
Potts
Laing
Baptiste
Fevrier (Diallo)
Woods
Perkins
Clayton (Robinson)
Simon-Swyer (Mubama)
Odubeko
Corbett
LEICESTER CITY
Little Heath
2 - 1 (Corbett, Perkins)
27 March 2021
Shala
Robinson
Forbes
Woods (Heal)
Laing
Baptiste (Potts)
Fevrier (Corbett)
Perkins
Simon-Swyer
Earthy
Diallo (Evans)
Brandon Cover’s good finish from outside the area midway through the second half had put Leicester on course for victory, but two good strikes in the closing stages from Kai Corbett and Sonny Perkins – within a minute of one another – gave West Ham a richly deserved three points.
It looked like West Ham would pay for such spurned opportunities, however, when Leicester – who improved after the break – took the lead with 62 minutes on the clock.
Joe Wormleighton’s in-swinging cross from the right was headed clear by Levi Laing – but only as far as Cover who, on the edge of the box, showed great composure to flick the ball past his man and hit a rising shot into the corner. Lead coach Kevin Keen responded by introducing some fresh blood from the Hammers’ bench, and, having continued to push forwards, it was a second-half substitute who drew the home team level after 83 minutes.
Corbett – who had recorded a goal and two assists at Carrow Road earlier in the week – showcased excellent technical ability to whip a free-kick from the edge of the ‘D’ around both wall and Foxes’ goalkeeper Arlo Doherty, nestling into the far corner.
The joyful celebrations doubled down within two minutes when Michael Forbes carried the ball over the halfway line and played the ball into playmaker George Earthy’s feet. The No10 was alive to the opportunity and span to set Isaac Evans down the left on the overlap. His low pull-back found Corbett in space on the penalty spot but – having seen the initial effort blocked, then half-cleared, near the line, Perkins promptly dispatched the loose ball to complete the comeback in style.
FULHAM
School of Economics Sports Ground
0 - 4
30 March 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Forbes
Potts
Laing (Earthy)
Baptiste
Perkins
Woods
Corbett
Simon-Swyer
Clayton (Diallo)
West Ham United U18s were beaten 4-0 by U18 Premier League South leaders Fulham on Tuesday afternoon.
Kevin Keen’s youth team were four games unbeaten in all competitions going into the tie, but could not respond to goals from Jay Stansfield, Kieron Bowie (two) and Mika Biereth either side of half-time.
Coming off back-to-back wins in the FA Youth Cup and league last week, the Hammers made a bright start in the opening minutes at the London School of Economics Sports Ground.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace Training Ground
1 - 5 (Diallo)
6 April 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Evans
Heal (Clayton)
Forbes
Laing (Bates)
Diallo (Simon-Swyer)
Woods
Mubama
Kileba
Perkins
A much-changed West Ham United U18s side suffered a 5-1 loss away at league leaders Crystal Palace U18s on Wednesday morning.
Palace took a 2-0 lead inside the first half when a seventh-minute David Omilabu penalty was added to by Jack Wells-Morrison's sharp finish.
Whilst Amadou Diallo was able to respond for West Ham with a spot-kick of his own just before the break, Palace raced away in the second half, Omilabu completing a close-range hat-trick – including another penalty – before Daniel Quick completed the scoring for the home team.
READING
Little Heath
4 - 1 (Mubama 3 [1 pen], Earthy)
10 April 2021
Knightbridge
Robinson
Clayton (Evans)
Tichmarsh
Forbes
Thomas
Kileba
Perkins
Mubama
Earthy (Heal)
Simon-Swyer (Kadua)
West Ham United U18s produced an excellent final league performance ahead of their FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie, seeing off Reading U18s 4-1 at Little Heath Sports Ground on Saturday morning.
Forward Divin Mubama – a 16-year-old recently called up by England U17s – scored a second-half hat-trick as the young Hammers dominated the Royals after the interval.
Fellow West Ham U16s midfielder George Earthy also found the back of the net, one of seven schoolboy players to feature in the Claret and Blue matchday squad.
ARSENAL : FA Youth Cup (Fifth Round)
Rush Green
1 - 3 (Mubama)
16 April 2021
Hegyi
Laing
Clayton (Mubama)
Potts
Forbes
Baptiste
Corbett
Woods (Diallo)
Odubeko
Simon-Swyer (Robinson)
Perkins
West Ham United U18s' FA Youth Cup campaign drew to a close in the fifth round with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal U18s at Rush Green Stadium on Friday evening.
Goals from Omari Hutchinson (2) and Khayon Edwards were enough to see the Gunners through in east London, despite Divin Mubama’s late effort.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground
1 - 1 (Mubama [pen])
20 April 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Thomas (Bates)
Laing
Forbes
Evans
Woods
Perkins
Earthy (Heal)
Kileba (Coddington)
Mubama
West Ham United U18s put in an improved second-half display to claim a 1-1 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur in U18 Premier League South. The young Hammers looked rusty in the opening exchanges, and could consider themselves fortunate to only go in at the interval 1-0 down, with Tottenham hitting the woodwork three times inside the first half.
Yet the visitors’ luck ran out after 17 minutes when an in-swinging ball from the right fell at the feet of Roshaun Mathurin, who took his opportunity with aplomb. Tottenham continued to lay siege to the West Ham goal, with captain Michael Forbes called upon to make a couple of good blocks and Tottenham’s Yago Santiago and Jordan Hackett hitting both post and crossbar respectively within a couple of minutes of one another.
When West Ham re-emerged following the interval, however, they looked a different team.
Within minutes, midfielder George Earthy had a fine individual effort fly narrowly wide, before the Irons were awarded a penalty when Hackett handled inside the box. The final half-an-hour proved an end-to-end affair, with Hegyi making a number of brilliant saves, most notably from Mundle’s attempted chip and Jamie Donley’s close-range header. In the offensive third, Mubama enjoyed the Hammers’ best chance after going clean through, one-on-one – but his effort was this time smothered by Hayton, and both teams were ultimately forced to settle for a point on the day.
NORWICH CITY
Lotus Training Ground
3 - 3 (Earthy 2, Coddington)
24 April 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Rew
Woods (Heal)
Forbes
Laing
Coddington
Earthy (Clayton)
Mubama
Bell
Perkins
West Ham United U18s rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Norwich City U18s at the Lotus Training Centre on Saturday afternoon.
George Earthy had put the young Hammers ahead after just eight minutes, but a frantic five-minute spell saw the hosts hit back with three goals of their own midway through the first half.
Earthy grabbed his second of the contest shortly after the half-hour mark, and the comeback was subsequently completed by Remy Coddington’s exquisite lob with little under 20 minutes remaining.
The draw sees West Ham United U18s stay tenth in the U18 Premier League South table with only two fixtures remaining.
SOUTHAMPTON
Rush Green
3 - 2 (Mubama 2 [1 pen], Earthy)
1 May 2021
Knightbridge
Robinson
Clayton
Heal (Kileba)
Thomas (Bates)
Laing
Coddington
Khaleel
Mubama
Earthy
Perkins
West Ham United U18s recorded their fourth consecutive unbeaten game in U18 Premier League South with a thrilling 3-2 win over Southampton U18s on Saturday morning.
Having been set the challenge by lead coach Kevin Keen and assistant coach Mark Phillips of avoiding defeat in their last five games of the season, it was the younger members of the side who ensured that mission remained on course against the spirited Saints.
Schoolboy striker Divin Mubama recorded a brace – his sixth and seventh goal respectively in his last five games, making him the U18s’ top scorer this season – whilst a fellow U16, midfielder George Earthy, also scored his third goal in his last two U18s games.
LEICESTER CITY
Seagrave Training Ground
1 - 1 (Earthy)
8 May 2021
Hegyi
Robinson
Clayton
Heal (Tarima)
Casey
Laing
Coddington
Khaleel (Richards)
Mubama
Earthy
Perkins
West Ham United’s youth team were held to a 1-1 draw away at Leicester City on Saturday, concluding their 2020/21 season five games unbeaten in U18 Premier League South.
Recently challenged by lead coach Kevin Keen and assistant coach Mark Phillips to avoid defeat in those five fixtures, the U18s completed that task with a well-earned point in the Midlands, but will reflect on spurned opportunities to take all three. The young Hammers were already assured of their tenth-placed finish in the table ahead of the match, but can consider themselves unfortunate not to have made it three wins from their final five fixtures. Despite West Ham dominating the early exchanges, Leicester took the lead in the seventh minute of the game thanks to an accurate Terell Pennant cross and a fine volley from Will Russ which gave Jacob Knightbridge little chance in the visitors’ net.
The Hammers were not deterred by the early concession nor the heavy rain, however, and continued to create plenty of shooting opportunities, without quite managing to find the requisite finishing touch. When their goal did arrive after 25 minutes, it was a superb one, a free-flowing move from back-to-front instigated by defender Junior Robinson, who exchanged passes with Remy Coddington on the halfway line.
