West Ham United U21s were rewarded for an excellent performance with a 2-0 victory over Woking in the National League Cup, their first competitive outing of the new campaign. After dictating much of the contest, two late goals from Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kanté sealed all three points which sees Mark Robson's side jump to second in Group C.

The young Hammers almost made the perfect start when Orford’s corner found Ezra Mayers unmarked at the back post, but the defender couldn’t quite convert. West Ham’s sharp pressing and intelligent build-up soon created further chances, while Woking’s main threat came through Innih Effiong and Josh Osunde whose early efforts were repelled by resolute defending, Luizão producing one outstanding recovery challenge to deny Osude a clear run on goal.

As the first half unfolded, the visitors grew in confidence. Orford weaved into the area before flashing a shot just wide, and from a corner Mayers’ header was cleared off the line by Caleb Richards. The hosts had their moments, a goalmouth scramble forcing a fine save from Fin Herrick, but West Ham’s attacking play continued to trouble the home defence, Orford again drawing an acrobatic stop from goalkeeper Tom Norcott before the break.

With Woking down to ten men after a second yellow shown to Sam Ashford, the second half saw the young Hammers take almost complete control, moving the ball confidently in the Woking half and patiently probing for an opening. Ryan Battrum’s thunderous strike against the crossbar came closest, while Preston Fearon, Regan Clayton, and debutant Mohammadou Kanté all helped keep the pressure on Woking’s deep-lying defence. Orford twice went close as the minutes ticked away, only to be denied by the home side’s man of the match, goalkeeper Tom Norcott.

That persistence finally paid off in the closing stages. On 90 minutes, Junior Robinson’s low cross was calmly tucked in by Orford to give West Ham the lead they had long threatened. Deep into stoppage time, on his West Ham debut, substitute Kanté stole the ball high up the pitch, galloped into the area and calmly converted to double the advantage and round off an excellent performance from Mark Robson’s young Hammers which puts them in the top two in Group C after matchday one.

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Woking:

Norcott, Hinds (Ward), Odusina (Drewe), Tu. Akinola, Richards, Turner, Andrews (Ti. Akinola), Osude (Hyde), Hall, Effiong, Ashford