Under-18s beaten in cup opener

Our Under-18s suffered a 2-1 defeat away to West Ham United in their Under-18 Premier Cup opener on Saturday morning.

The Hammers took the lead on 34 minutes as Sam Caiger ran unopposed before curling the ball into the top corner from 20 yards but after the break, Enock Asante brought us level, tapping in on 48 minutes. Yet, just six minutes later the home side would find their winner with Iyiola Adebayo converting at the back post.

Coming into the game off of a 2-0 win away in the league against Southampton, we started the game showing composure and confidence on the ball and had the better of the tie in the opening minutes. Asante got the first shot away on six minutes, a hooked volley towards goal that, in the end, was comfortable for West Ham’s goalkeeper Dan Jinadu. Rafferty Pedder then went close five minutes later, but his effort from distance was once again saved by Jinadu.

The home side gradually grew into the game and began to create chances of their own. On 21 minutes, after we lost possession of the ball just inside our own half, the Hammers quickly broke away. Amadou Diallo was picked out in the box before sending a low curling drive towards the far post, but Josh Oluwayemi managed to claw it away to safety. The keeper was then called into action just seconds later as Caiger nipped into the box with a neat one-two with Dan Chesters. The full-back tried to round Oluwayemi but our man between the sticks got an important touch on the ball to keep the scores level.

However, on 34 minutes, Caiger did get the better of him. The full-back received the ball just inside our half before charging towards goal. With defenders backing away, he lined up a strike before sending the ball into the top corner. We responded well and once again, we started our search for an opening. We didn’t find it before the referee blew for half-time but soon after the break, we were back on level terms. Chay Cooper was the creator as he found space on the left to swing a low, teasing cross towards the far post. Asante was the finisher, as he managed to get in front of his man and tap in from four yards out.

Despite that bright start, within just six minutes the Hammers were back in front as, following a set-piece, Adebayo was left unmarked at the back post to fire in. That hammer-blow of a goal did not damage our resolve though as we kept on pushing for our second and we should have found ourselves level through Dane Scarlett, after a hat-trick of chances came his way in the space of eight second-half minutes. First, the young forward flashed over the bar from range, before he volleyed a cross straight at keeper Jinadu just moments later. Then on 80 minutes, he was unable to get the desired connection on Kallum Cesay's pass when he had found space just inside the box.

As we chased the game late on, the home side could have found a third as they hit us on the counter, but substitute goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala was a match for the resulting fierce drive.

Key moment

Having shown the resilience to get ourselves level just after the break, it was frustrating then to fall behind once again just six minutes later.

We did create chances as we searched for our second equaliser of the match but we were unable to find a way past a determined West Ham defence.

Coach’s view

Under-18s Coach Matt Taylor admitted it was a disappointing performance and believes there are lessons from the game that the team must learn: “I think today it was a performance that was underwhelming in many aspects,” he said. “There wasn’t enough of the 11 players that performed to or beyond their capabilities and, therefore, we lost the game. On a positive note, the response to get back into the game inside the first five minutes of the second half was pleasing but, as a footballer, you have to be aware of what your jobs are and ultimately, we got punished because we didn’t do our jobs on a set-play. That’s the disappointing thing for me.

“The players have responsibilities at a set-play and we’ve been punished because we haven’t undertaken our roles correctly when the ball has come into the box. It’s a lesson we must learn. Then, as you expect, they sit in and ask you the question, ‘can you create a chance to score a second goal and get yourselves back into the game?’ and ultimately we couldn’t today."