West Ham United U18s continued their incredible perfect run through the 2022/23 season with a 5-2 victory away to Aston Villa.
It was a hard fought encounter at Bodymoor Heath Training Ground with powerful winds sweeping across the pitch, but Callum Marshall gave the young Hammers an early lead before Gideon Kodua quickly fired the visitors two goals ahead.
Aston Villa halved the deficit before the interval but the Irons responded quickly after the break through Patrick Kelly. Kodua’s second goal of the match and Favour Fawunmi’s late strike put the result beyond all doubt before an unfortunateWest Ham own-goal rounded off the scoring.
The Hammers have now won all 12 of their matches in the league so far this season, and U18s coach Gerard Prenderville was delighted with the side’s performance in an impressive victory.
“We’re really happy with the performance today,” Prenderville told whufc.com. “Aston Villa are a tough opponent and the conditions were tough so 5-2 is a top result. We scored some good goals and played some brilliant football at times.
“We’re a little bit disappointed with the goals that we conceded but overall we’re pleased. It’s another three points and a good performance so we’re very happy.”
The first big opportunity of the match fell to the hosts after a long ball over the top of the Hammers’ backline. Mason Terry raced out, forcing Lott wide, narrowing the winger’s angle at goal. The No11 pulled the ball back to Charlie Pavey, who fired over the bar.
After withstanding early pressure, the Irons took the lead on eight minutes. Aston Villa were careless in possession and Marshall capitalised on a defensive error inside the 18-yard-box. James Wright charged down the striker’s initial shot, but the ball fell to George Earthy, who squared the ball back to Marshall. The No9 slotted the ball into the corner with his second effort.
The Hammers doubled their lead just minutes later. Liam Jones pounced on a misplaced pass and the wing back squared the ball to Earthy who immediately slid the ball through to Marshall. The striker’s powerful strike was not held and Kodua was on hand to poke the ball into the net from close range.
Aston Villa pulled a goal back before the interval after the Lions were awarded an indirect free kick for a back-pass. Pavey’s strike deflected wickedly off of the Hammers’ wall and Lott was on hand to tap the ball into the net at the back post.
Terry was on hand to make a crucial save moments later, tipping Omari Kellyman’s deflected strike over the crossbar to preserve the Hammers’ lead.
After a difficult end to the first half, Kevin Keen’s side started the second half full of intent, immediately restoring their two goal lead. The ball broke to Kelly on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder was on hand to score his first goal of the season.
The Irons scored their fourth goal of the match on 65 minutes. Earthy’s superb turn in the final third opened up space for the attacking midfielder and the 18-year-old played a perfect through ball to Kodua. The West Ham No10 raced onto the pass, before smartly lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to secure his brace.
Fawunmi put the result beyond all doubt with four minutes remaining. The second half substitute found space on left side of 18-yard-box and unleashed a low, venomous strike to beat Wright at his near post.
Aston Villa scored a late consolation goal after a long ball caused confusion in the Hammers’ back line. Josh Briggs attempted to head the ball back to the onrushing Terry but the wind carried the ball past Terry and into the net.
Prenderville was delighted to see the team perform so positively in difficult, windy conditions.
“The boys adapted really well today,” Prenderville reflected. “The wind was sweeping across the pitch whilst we were warming up so we knew that it was going to be tough.
“The conditions didn’t really benefit either side. I thought that we dealt with it really well, especially in the first half. We got the ball down and played some good football which was a real achievement in those conditions.”
Prenderville was full of praise for his side’s positive response after conceding a controversial goal before half-time.
He continued: “It was a strange decision that went against us. Over the course of every season you get some decisions that go your way and some that go against you and one went against us today at a crucial moment of the match.
“We spoke to the boys about it at half time and we spoke about the reaction that we needed. We couldn’t feel sorry for ourselves, we needed to get out there and go again.
“We wanted to get back on the front foot, we wanted to be aggressive in our press and we wanted to return to the standards that we set when we were 2-0 up.”
The coach was also delighted with his side’s game management in the second half, whilst also highlighting the importance of the whole squad.
“We managed the game really well in the second half,” Prenderville evaluated. “We were disappointed to concede twice but we still managed the game well.
“We made several subs and all of the boys that came on had a positive impact on the match. The whole squad deserve a lot of credit, whether they started, came off the bench or even if they weren’t involved.
“Everyone is continuing to do the right things every day in training, everyone is playing their part and that all comes to a fruition on match days.
West Ham United U18s: Terry, Falase, Bates, Tarima, Battrum, Jones (Briggs 66), Scarles (Akpata 72), Kelly, Earthy (Rigge 66), Marshall (Umolu 78), Kodua (Fawunmi 78)
Goals: Marshall 8, Kodua 13, 65, Kelly 48, Fawunmi 86
