West Ham U21
West Ham’s Development team beat Millwall Under 21’s in a penalty shoot out yesterday to progress in the Premier League Under 21 Cup.
The game was played behind-closed-doors at Rush Green after police advice feared it would attract trouble. Only players, staff, parents and press are allowed in to watch the match. Originally the game had hoped to be played at the Boleyn Ground with up to 10,000 fans expected to pay £10 each to watch the two local rivals.
West Ham Team: Howes, Westley, Fanimo, Makasi, Pask, Onariase, Bywater, Marlow, Lletget, Whitehead, Sadlier. Subs: Nasha, Bogard, Mavila, Gordon, Pike.
The match was goal less at 90 minutes and it wasn’t until the 118th minute in extra time that Millwall found a way through to take the lead, two minutes later a Jaanai Gordon header drew the Hammers level and the game went to penalties. A total of 16 penalties were taken with West Ham players converting all eight penalties!
West ham beat Millwall on penalties 8-7
West Ham Penalty takers: Sadlier, Lletget, Gordon, Mavila, Whitehead, Fanimo, Nasha
The man of the match was Hammer keeper Sam Howes who dived to his right to save Dylan Casey’s penalty. he also made a number of important saves earlier in the game.
Since the departure of Nick Heywood in mysterious circumstances Acadeemy Director Terry Westley seems to have taken over personal management of the team for the time being.
West Ham Under 18
Steve Pott’s West Ham Under 18 side were not so lucky losing 4-3 to Spurs Under 18’s today. With 84 minutes gone the West Ham youngsters were 4-1 down but late goals from Jerry Amoo and Oscar Borg for his second made the score line look more reasonable at the final whistle.
Team: Bogard, Pike, Neufville, Sylvestre, Akinola, Burke, Amoo, Browne, Parfitt-Williams, Bailey, Borg