WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2024-25 Premier League Under-18 (South)
Manager: Lauris Coggin - Kevin Keen Lead Professional Development Phase Coach
The 2024-25 Under-18 Premier League is the 13th 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. Chelsea are the defending champions.
ARSENAL
Little Heath
2 - 3 (Hargan, Sowunmi [pen])
17 August 2024
Hooper
Medine
Adiele (Kamara)
Golambeckis
Oyebade
Nwosu
Sowunmi (Balogun)
Fearon
Halim (Chigwada)
Caliste (Hargan)
Dike
West Ham United’s U18s were narrowly defeated by Arsenal at Little Heath. Despite goals from Elisha Sowunmi and Riley Hargan, the young Hammers were edged out in a closely contested match. West Ham started by inviting pressure, playing out from the back to create spaces behind Arsenal's defence. This strategy was effective, though Arsenal took the lead after 20 minutes through Ceadach O’Neill, who capitalised on a counter-attack rather than West Ham’s progressive play in their own third. The Hammers quickly responded. Fresh off his first Premier League 2 goal for the U21s on Friday night, Emeka Adiele earned his side a penalty after being brought down in the box. Sowunmi calmly converted to level the score. Just after the restart, captain Preston Fearon nearly put West Ham ahead. Winning possession in midfield, he led a charge forward and unleashed a shot from outside the box that clipped the outside of the post.
After half-time, West Ham controlled possession, with their skillful wingers keeping Arsenal’s defenders on their toes. However, against the run of play, Andre Annous restored Arsenal’s lead just before the hour mark. Just when it looked like the Gunners would comfortably close out the game, the Hammers set up a tense finale. Despite their significant height advantage in the box, Hargan put the Hammers within one as he headed home a dinked ball from Fearon. Despite the unrelenting pressure on Arsenal’s goal, the Gunners would hold on to take all three points.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
American Express Elite Performance Centre
1 - 1 (Golambeckis)
24 August 2024
Hooper
Medine
Kamara
Golambeckis
Jonyla
Nwosu
Sowunmi
Hargan (Balogun)
Halim (Chigwada)
Caliste
Dike (Beckford)
REPORT:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Premier League Cup (Group D)
Little Heath
2 - 0 (Golambeckis, Nwosu)
27 August 2024
Awesu
Medine
Scanlon
Golambeckis
Jonyla
Nwosu
Sowunmi
Fearon (Hargan)
Halim (Beckford)
Caliste
Dike (Balogun)
With only a couple of days of rest, the U18s returned to action on Tuesday at Little Heath against Nottingham Forest. Goals either side of half time from centre-half pairing Golambeckis and Chinaza Nwosu secured all three points in their U18 Premier League Cup Group D opener. The Hammers will face group leaders Everton on 29 October before their final group game against Southampton on 23 November.
LEICESTER CITY
Leicester City Training Ground
1 - 1 (Sowunmi)
14 September 2024
Hooper
Medine
Scanlon (Beckford)
Golambeckis
Jonyla
Hargan (Ehbo)
Sowunmi
Fearon
Halim (Clairmont)
Caliste
Dike (Chigwada)
A youthful West Ham United U18s side battled to a 1-1 draw against early U18 Premier League pace setters Leicester City, in a tightly contested encounter at Leicester City Training Ground.
With several players returning from international duty and others sidelined due to injury, some of the younger Hammers from the U16 set-up were given a chance to step up. Strong defensive displays from both teams turned the match into a tactical contest, where opportunities were hard-earned. Elisha Sowunmi gave West Ham the lead on 69 minutes, but a late equaliser from Josh King ensured the points were shared in a closely-fought clash.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
WBA Training Centre
2 - 2 Caliste, Golambeckis)
21 September 2024
Hooper
Medine
Kamara (Ebho)
Golambeckis
Jonyla
Nwosu (Hargan)
Dike (Balogun)
Fearon
Caliste
Sowunmi
Chigwada (Halim)
West Ham United U18s earned a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion continuing their unbeaten start on the road this season.
Airidas Golambeckis was on target again for his side with his third goal in five competitive games this season to put the young Hammers ahead. Strikes either side of half-time gave the Baggies the initiative going into the final half-an-hour. But a well worked West Ham move finished off by Mauritius international Gabriel Caliste rescued a point for Lauris Coggin’s side and ensured the Hammers did not leave the West Midlands empty-handed.
CHELSEA
Rush Green
2 - 3 (Ajala, Halim)
28 September 2024
Hooper
Medine
Kamara (Hargan)
Golambeckis
Oyebade
Nwosu (Jonyla)
Dike (Chigwada)
Fearon
Ajala (Halim)
Sowunmi
Caliste
West Ham United U18s fell to a narrow 3-2 Premier League South defeat to Chelsea at Rush Green Stadium.
It was a match that fairly fizzled and crackled from the off, swung one way then the other throughout. Striker Josh Ajala gave the hosts a tenth-minute lead, expertly steering home Gabriel Caliste’s low cross from close range.
Chelsea hit back ten minutes later as Sol Gordon latched onto a long ball forward from goalkeeper Hudson Sands and lifted it over Finley Hooper. The Blues edged ahead after the restart when Chizaram Ezenwata netted on 48 minutes, but Mehmet Halim climbed off the bench to seemingly rescue a point for the Hammers with 19 minutes to play.
But Ollie Harrison had the last word for Chelsea on 83 minutes as he struck the decisive blow from the penalty spot to hand the west Londoners three points.
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