West Ham United’s Under-23s have won their promotion play-off final at the home of Newcastle United this evening by two goals to one, ensuring a place at the top table of Premier League 2 football in 2017/18.
Terry Westley’s young Hammers had finished the regular season in fifth place, meaning they would not be able to play at home in the play-offs at either the semi-final or final stage. The Academy kids staged a late comeback in the semi-final at Wolves but faced a testing trip to the North East to face the Magpies, who had knocked the Irons out of the Premier League Cup earlier this year.
That test got even harder for West Ham when Newcastle striker Tom Heardman gave the hosts the lead on 19 minutes, tapping home after a corner had been headed back across goal.
But the visiting comeback kings weren’t about to give up without a fight – Spanish striker Toni Martinez, back from both injury and a loan spell at Oxford, fired home after being found in the penalty area by George Dobson, himself freshly-returned from League One football at Walsall where he has spent the season.
Injuries either side of the break to Noha Sylvestre and Nathan Holland did little to knock the Hammers out of their stride and they took the lead eight minutes into the second half when that man Martinez found the net with a brilliant strike from 25 yards. The Irons survived a 75th-minute goalmouth scramble before the final whistle sounded and promotion was secured.
West Ham United: Raphael Spiegel; Kyle Knoyle, Tunji Akinola, Declan Rice (captain), Noha Sylvestre (Stephen Hendrie, 45); George Dobson, Moses Makasi; Dan Kemp, Martin Samuelsen, Nathan Holland (Grady Diangana, 51); Toni Martinez (Joe Powell, 81).
The Academy kids will now be testing themselves against the best in their age group, competing against the likes of Everton, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man Utd in Division One next season. As I wrote back on 25th April when our play-off place was secured, exposure to playing against the best in their age group will be of great importance to the development of West Ham United’s young players, both now and in the future, and the significance of tonight’s victory cannot be underestimated.
Promotion and the subsequent place at the top table at Under-23 level will provide an extra key stepping stone for our current Under-23s to use towards hopefully developing into first-team Premier League players at our club, while paving the way for the current Under-18s (the future Under-23 team) to maintain their own progress by continuing to play against the best the country has to offer.
Well done to Terry Westley and all the kids who have played their part in what has ultimately proved to be a successful season.