An excellent performance by West Ham United U18s secured a deserved 1-0 win away to Leicester City to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League South U18 table.
George Earthy’s tenth goal of the season in all competitions for the U18s was the difference in a highly competitive fixture against the Foxes, with the midfielder superbly controlling Asher Falase’s cross before volleying into the Leicester net.
The win keeps the young Irons undefeated in league action since the start of October, a run that includes 17 matches, and was the team’s tenth clean-sheet in the competition this campaign.
U18s assistant coach Mark Phillips said: “I have to say it was a good advert for U18s football. I was impressed with Leicester and how they played. We just shaded it and created a few more chances, which allowed us to go on and get the win.
“Leicester certainly had a couple of chances and I don’t think we could have complained too much if they’d taken a share of the points. I think we just did enough to win and it was a superb performance in a really good game.
“We’re so proud of the team. It was a nail bitter of a final few minutes after we got the opening goal but we’re taking a lot of satisfaction from winning this game. It was a tough place to come and the boys did superbly.”
Leicester, sat sixth in the table, proved a difficult test for the Irons to break down and almost took the lead through a fantastic effort. Goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge was forced into a phenomenal save to deny the Foxes, tipping the effort onto the woodwork to deny the home side the opener.
The save from the shot-stopper would prove crucial, providing the framework for the team move that allowed Falase to cross in for Earthy’s fine finish, prompting jubilant celebrations from the travelling side.
Phillips reflected: “It was a great winning goal. It was brilliant. It was a great first touch by George and then a superb finish.
“Funnily enough, we did a finishing drill on Friday, working on volleys, and for whatever reason they weren’t falling for George. Maybe he saved it for the game, but what a goal it was.
“Our analyst, Dylan, had been stressing to the players all week about how Leicester have the second-best goals conceded record in the league this season, but how ours was marginally better. So, we knew they were going to be hard to break down, but we’re delighted to come away with the win.”
With clean-sheets for the U18s now in the double figures for the 2021/22 campaign, Phillips was delighted to once again be talking about another game in which the side kept their opponents from scoring.
“Clean-sheets are so important. It’s the base for us to go on and win games from. I said it to the lads before and after the match as well. If we’re keeping clean-sheets and then winning games by one goal at a time, then I think that’s the mark of a good team.”
Victory over Leicester puts the Hammers five points ahead of Southampton at the top of the division but the Saints do hold two games in hand over the Irons, ensuring a tight race to claim top spot between now and the end of the campaign.
With four matches still to play for West Ham, at home to Tottenham and Chelsea before a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and a season finale at home to Norwich City, Phillips knows his side are in a good position but need maximum points from their remaining fixtures.
He added: “We’re keeping our feet on the ground but the signs are encouraging. We’re in a good place and we don’t want to get carried away.
“We know there is still a lot of football to play and we’ve got some hard games, as have the teams around us. In our eyes, we’ve got four finals left this season that we want to maximum points from.”
West Ham United U18s: Knightbridge; Falase, Casey, Forbes, Robinson, Woods, Earthy (Coddington 86), Clayton, Orford (Scarles 76), Mubama, Kadua (Marshall 79)
Substittues not used: Terry
Goals: Earthy 74
