West Ham United U18s 3-2 Fulham U18s
U18 Premier League South, Rush Green Stadium, Saturday 29 April 2023
West Ham United U18s were awarded the U18 Premier League South trophy on Saturday after coming back to beat Fulham U18s 3-2 at Rush Green Stadium.
The young Hammers had already secured their status as regional champions, but Kevin Keen’s side were determined to finish their league campaign in style, after winning the FA Youth Cup five days earlier.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the visitors an early lead but Callum Marshall's brace saw the Hammers take the lead before there were 30 minutes on the clock.
The Cottagers equalised after the break through Chibuzo Nwoko but Favour Fawunmi’s late strike was enough to claim all three points, as the Irons secured their 19th win of the 22-game season.
U18s coach Gerard Prenderville was full of praise for his players after a fantastic league campaign.
“I’m super proud of the boys,” Prenderville told whufc.com. “It has been a tremendous season and today was all about going again after Tuesday night. We patched ourselves up and some of the boys played last night with the U21s, so it was a really pleasing performance to cap off a wonderful season.
“The boys showed tremendous character and that is something that they have shown all season. The boys have demonstrated all of the right traits from the first game of the season right through until today. I’m really delighted for everyone at the club today.”
Despite the visitors dominating early possession, it was the Hammers who registered the first opportunity of the match. Divine Mukasa chipped a wonderful pass into Favour Fawunmi’s path and the winger took the ball in his stride before striking against the outside of the post.
Fulham were also denied by the woodwork just moments later. Delano McCoy-Splatt robbed Billy Bates of possession and forced Finlay Herrick into a low safe before Callum Osmand smashed an effort onto the crossbar on the rebound.
The visitors took the lead after eleven minutes when Loupalo-Bi raced onto a bouncing ball before calmly slotting the ball past Herrick.
The Irons responded and forced a deserved equaliser on 24 minutes. Liam Jones delivered a superb cross from the left wing and Marshall was on hand to tap the ball into the net after Fawunmi’s initial header was well saved.
Marshall had his brace six minutes later. Jones’ inswinging corner was cleared as far as the edge of the box where Marshall clinically swept the ball into the bottom right corner and beyond the reach of Alfie McNally, who had made a remarkable save to keep the West Ham striker out just moments before.
The visitors pressed for a second at the start of the second half and Loupalo-Bi came close to finding it. The No9 found space in the West Ham penalty area and smashed the ball towards the top right corner, but his effort was denied by a fantastic Finlay Herrick save.
After a spell of heavy pressure, Fulham equalised with an hour played. Osmand’s shot was superbly saved by Herrick, but Nwoko was well positioned to tuck the ball into the empty net from close range.
The Hammers came close to finding an immediate response when Blaise Uwandji raced onto a through pass. The second half substitute forced a smart stop from McNally and Fawunmi was unable to find the target on the follow up.
Orford saw his powerful effort cleared off the line by Jonathan Esenga and Jones’ in swinging corner caused problems for McNally before Fawunmi put the Hammers back in front in the closing stages.
Uwandji cleverly threaded the ball through to Fawunmi and the winger slotted the ball into the net, claiming all three points for the young Irons to cap off the U18 Premier League South season in style.
Prenderville said that the victory demonstrated the mental strength of the young side.
He continued: “The boys have a tremendous work rate, application and energy again today. We didn’t start the game very well, but I think that the players demonstrated a real togetherness once again.
"We have been behind on several occasions so far this season, and as the boys have done all season, they dug in and came back into the game.
“Fulham are a top side, and they are going to finish as runners-up in the league. It was nice for the boys to be able to play with a bit of freedom but we also knew that we needed to be at our best because they have some top players. It was two good teams out there today and it was a really good advert for U18s football.”
An inter-division play-off against Manchester City on May 10 is next up for the Irons, who are looking to claim their third trophy of the season.
Whilst Prenderville is delighted with an outstanding season so far, the U18s coach is looking ahead to the final game.
“It has been an unbelievable season but there is still one more game to go. I always say it, we will be back in and we will work hard on and off the pitch. We will also have players who go off with the U21s for their final game against Tottenham.
“But it has been a superb season so far and today is another fantastic day for this football club.”
West Ham United: Herrick, Tarima, Bates (Battrum 67), Falase, Jones, Fawunmi, Orford ©, Akpata (Clayton 61), Mukasa (Kelly 67), Rigge, Marshall (Uwandji 61)
Subs not used: Terry (GK)
Goals: Marshall 24, 30, Fawunmi 85
Fulham: McNally ©, De Jesus, Esenga, Tabares, Park (Slade 45), Nwoko, Olyott (Gofford 71), Mccoy-Splatt, Loupalo-Bi, Osmand, Bogal-Campbell (Gordon 56)
Subs not used: Quashie, Ali Wahid
Goals: Loupalo-Bi 11, Nwoko 60
Referee: Graham Swanton
