West Ham United U21s superbly fought back to defeat Reading 4-2 in a behind-closed-door friendly on Friday.
Mark Robson’s side pulled level in the first half through Gideon Kodua, after the hosts had taken the lead through Jahmari Clarke.
Nahum Melvin-Lambert put Reading back in front before the young Hammers scored three times in the final 30 minutes, with Regan Clayton scoring twice before Callum Callum Marshall’s late strike.
The fixture was organised as part of the U21s’ preparation for the resumption of their 2022/23 campaign, with the Irons back in Premier League 2 action at Everton on 6 January.
Robson’s side started the match on the front foot and almost took the lead inside the opening fifteen minutes. Pierre Ekwah found Clayton in space on the left flank and the wing back took a touch before unleashing a venomous strike which forced the Reading goalkeeper into a smart stop.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half. A long ball over the top found Clarke and the Royals’ striker used his strength and power to claim the ball before smashing the ball into the net, leaving Kristian Hegyi with no chance.
The Hammers were not deterred and Robson’s side responded immediately. Ekwah worked the ball well down the right wing before sliding the ball across the face of goal to Kodua who tucked the ball into the net from close range.
After a scrappy start to the second half the hosts took the lead on minute 59. Melvin-Lambert was on hand to tap the ball into the net after a well worked Reading move down the left hand side.
Robson made a quartet of changes with just under half an hour remaining, with Junior Robinson, Lewis Orford, Patrick Kelly and Marshall coming on for Will Greenidge, Ekwah, Keenan Appiah-Forson and Kodua.
Robinson made an instant impact, providing a superb assist as the Hammers equalised for the second time in the match. The right wing back pulled the ball back to the edge of the box and Clayton smartly tucked the ball into the bottom left corner.
The Hammers took the lead for the first time in the match on minute 71. The two West Ham wing backs combined superbly for the second time in five minutes as Robinson once again pulled the ball back for Clayton who lifted the ball above the goalkeeper and into the net with his right foot.
The visitors continued in the ascendancy and Marshall grabbed the Hammers fourth goal of the match inside the last ten minutes. The Northern Irish striker finished superbly with a low driven strike into the bottom right corner to cap off a positive day for Robson’s side.
West Ham United U21s: Hegyi, Laing, Casey, Forbes (Woods 5), Clayton, Greenidge (Robinson 63), Ekwah (Orford 63), Potts (Kodua 76), Forson (Kelly 63), Earthy, Kodua (Marshall 63)
Subs not used: Knightbridge (GK)
