Premier League 2

West Ham United 1 v 2 Everton
27^th August 2022 @ 12pm
Rush Green Stadium (Home)

WH Goals: Ekwah 76,

West Ham United PL2: Hegyi, Greenidge, Clayton (Robinson 57), Ekwah, Laing, Forbes (Potts 79), Swyer, Woods (Coddington 89), Mubama, Earthy (Appiah-Forson 45), Okoflex
Subs not used: Kinnear, Baptiste,

Saturday’s game vs Everton saw Archie Woods and George Earthy earn their first Premier League 2 starts of the season. Meanwhile, with Dan Chesters and Mipo Odubeko leaving on season long loans, Divin Mubama was also called up to the starting 11.

A strong start to the season by Everton meant this match at Rush Green was never going to be an easy ride. Both teams started the game well with West Ham pressing the visitors for the early possession. That determination saw an early yellow card waived in the direction of Armstrong Okoflex after just 8-minutes – who has since joined Swansea City on-loan for the season.

Both teams worked hard on-and-off the ball, but the deadlock was broken on 36-minutes as Everton’s Issac Price finished from close range. It could have been a second just moments later, as Everton came close once again with Charlie Whitaker striking the woodwork.

Keenan Appiah-Forson replaced George Earthy at the start of the second half, but just 2-minutes in, Divin Mubama was shown a straight red for a foul on Everton’s Sean McAllister. Despite playing with 10-men, our boys dug deep and continued to create chances. Appiah-Forson showed his strength holding off the Everton defence to strike a powerful shot goal bound and forcing the save from Zan-Luk Leban.

On 74-minutes, Okoflex collected a brilliant over-the-top pass from Greenidge, to follow up with a strike at Everton’s near post forcing another good save. Two-minutes later the hammers got their rewards, with a superb strike from Pierre Ekwah drawing the 10-men of West Ham level. Unfortunately, just 2-minutes later Everton were back in front after a powerful effort from Halid Djanktara crept past West Ham’s young keeper, Hegyi.

Late drama saw West Ham grab an equaliser in the 93rd minute, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Next up is a trip to Manchester on 3rd September to take on City’s young academy starlets.

Next Match: Manchester City v West Ham United
3^rd September 2022 @ 2pm
Academy Stadium (Away)

Premier League U18s South

Fulham 4 v 5 West Ham United
27^th August 2022 @ 11am
Motspur Park (Away)

WH Goals: Marshall (3, 55), Kodua (30, 79) Orford (50)

Another win and another 3-points for West Ham’s young hammers see them maintain a 100% winning start to the 2022/23 season.

Callum Marshall gave West Ham the lead inside 3-minutes, heading in from close range in what would be a thrilling London derby. However, it was to be a lead short-lived when the Cottagers stormed ahead with goals from Luc De Fougerolles and Aaron Loupalo making it 3-1 to the home side. Young Gideon Kodua pulled one back for the hammers at the half-hour mark, but it would take the second half for West Ham to regain the momentum.

An early second half goal from Lewis Orford was followed by a fantastic strike from Callum Marshall on 55-minutes to score his second of the game. On 79-minutes Gideon Kodua’s followed suit grabbing his second and making it 5-3 to the hammers. Despite a fourth goal and late pressure from Fulham, West Ham held on to take maximum points.

That win makes it a perfect 3 in 3 for West Ham who will be hoping to keep up their winning form as they take on Fulham again in the Premier League Cup at the start of September.

Next Match: Fulham v West Ham United
17^th September 2022 @ 12pm
Little Heath Sports Ground (Home)

Watch the action from West Ham U18s win over Fulham