Perhaps spurred on by the motivation of avoiding relegation, or maybe just buoyed by playing at the Boleyn Ground, the West Ham Development Squad put on a fantastic display to emerge 2-1 victors over Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad. Dan Potts gave the Hammers an early lead with a well taken header before Adam Drury’s own goal put us 2-0 up just after half time. Olivier Ntcham gave the visitors hope with a late strike but West Ham held their nerve to complete a vital win in the bid for survival.
Lined up in a dynamic looking 4-2-3-1 formation, West Ham scored a well-deserved opener just ten minutes in. After Manchester City failed to clear a free-kick, Jordan Brown held the ball up well and offloaded to Djair Parfitt-Williams. The American winger’s quick feet allowed him the chance to float a cross to the back post and Danny Potts did the rest, directing an unstoppable header into the top corner.
Manchester City spent the remainder of the half slowly growing into the game and had a handful of chances to level before the break. Having already scored a goal, Potts replicated his heroism at the other end on three occasions; he cleared Jorge Intima’s low drive off the line then blocked George Glendon’s volley and diverted Jose Pozo’s goalbound effort wide with his head all within the space of ten minutes. City’s only other chance was dealt with competently by Raphael Spiegel as he pushed a Olivier Ntcham’s deflected, looping effort out for a corner.
But Nick Haycock’s half-time team-talk must have been more encouraging than counterpart Patrick Vieira’s as West Ham came flying out the blocks in the second half. Grady Diangana, whose set-pieces caused Manchester City problems all day, floated in a tantalising free-kick and Potts’ powerful header rattled the crossbar with Angus Gunn beaten. City breathed a sigh of relief but the Hammers delivered a devastating blow seconds later: Jordan Brown got to by by-line and his low cross was miscued by Adam Drury into his own net to give the home side a luxurious two-goal cushion with 54 minutes on the clock.
A Manchester City onslaught was expected and, sure enough, it came. They twice went close – but for Spiegel’s fingertips and a defensive block by Josh Pask – whilst West Ham aimed to wound City on the counter-attack. Trialist Joe Ward would consider himself unlucky to have not added a third as Angus Gunn rushed out to frantically smother his attempted chip shot.
As we entered the final fifteen minutes, the West Ham back line switched off momentarily and were made to pay for their lapse in concentration. A long ball forward evaded the West Ham defence and
Ntcham was somehow allowed to control it, take another couple of touches and then slot past Spiegel to half the deficit.
This sparked a late rally from Patrick Vieira’s side as Tom Holland’s long-range attempt was deflected wide before Jose Pozo was allowed time and space in the area to manufacture a shooting opportunity – thankfully his shot was closer to hitting the upper section of the Trevor Brooking stand than the back of the net!
As City threw on another striker and poured men forward, Jordan Brown probably should have put the game to bed on the counter-attack. Talented winger Parfitt-Williams ran confidently at the City defence before rolling a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Brown but unfortunately Angus Gunn was up to challenge, blocking the striker’s shot with his outstretched left leg. In the closing minutes, Spiegel produced a splendid one handed save to preserve our lead and Pozo’s 30 yard free-kick curled just wide of the post but West Ham showed enough grit and determination to hold firm and earn three massive points in their relegation dogfight.
Match ratings as determined by Jay Williams and Dean Ammi
Spiegel 7; Knoyle 5.5, Pask 6.5, Potts 9, Page 8; Ward 7.5, Makasi 6.5, Nasha 7, Diangana 7.5, Parfitt-Williams 9.5; Brown 7
Pike 6, Mavila 6, Westley N/A
MCFC: Gunn; Drury, Oliver, Smith-Brown, Horsfield; Intima, Glendon, Holland (Fernandes), Dilrosun (Nuttall); Ntcham, Pozo
