Aston Villa U18s 1-3 West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South Division, Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Saturday 9 November 2024, 12noon GMT
Elisha Sowunmi fired in a hat-trick to help West Ham United U18s beat league leaders Aston Villa 3-1 at Bodymoor Heath and extended their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.
An incredible match that swung from end to end was won by two second half penalties from Sowunmi, who now has netted eleven goals in all competitions this campaign, including a second hat-trick in his last three U18 Premier League South Division appearances.
The action in North Warwickshire was preceded by a sombre minute’s silence to honour the memory of those from our Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
Once the action started, it was the young Hammers who got straight onto the offensive, creating a series of half-chances, most notably when Sowunmi shot straight at goalkeeper Owen Asemota.
Lauris Coggin’s side continued to be in the ascendancy throughout the first half and often looked threatening on the break. Then, midway through the opening period, our influential playmaker Preston Fearon fired a fizzing 20-yard free-kick just over crossbar.
The hosts then grew in stature as Bradley Burrowes registered Villa’s first shot on target with a right-footed effort that was easy for Finley Hooper, before Rodrigo Fortes fired a cut-back from Mason Cotcher just wide of the target.
The Irons came up with a swift response, as Josh Ajala prodded a header straight at Asemota from a promising position, while Andre Dike spurned a gilt-edged chance after being released one-on-one by Sowunmi. The forward tried to place the ball into the bottom right corner but was denied by an outstretched Asemota glove.
Both sides continued to trade chances, with Cotcher and Junior Wilson both having attempts go wide of the mark for the hosts.
West Ham took a deserved lead just moments later in first half stoppage time, however, via an in-direct free-kick through leading goalscorer Sowunmi in the most bizarre of circumstances. Emeka Adiele laid the ball off for Sowunmi, who took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and stroked the ball past the Villa No1.
The end-to-end nature of the first half continued as both sides probed for an early second half goal.
Gabriel Caliste’s goalbound effort was well saved by Asemota, before Fortes’ effort came off the inside of the far post, and then Cole Brannigan skewed an effort wide unmarked at the other end.
But it was the visitors who doubled their advantage from the penalty spot shortly before the hour mark, with Sowunmi converting after Adiele was fouled inside the area by Woody Burgess.
Aston Villa refused to lie down, though, and halved the deficit five minutes later when Brannigan capitalised on a loose ball from Fearon and found the corner from close-range.
Back came West Ham, who had the chance to double their lead again before long. Dike was sent free down the right, and when the forward attempted to latch on in the box, he went down under a challenge from Fortes.
The outcome? A second penalty to the young Hammers, and who else to step up but Sowunmi? Having been made to wait several minutes after Dike received treatment, Sowunmi showed all the composure to complete his second hat-trick in the space of three weeks.
Just when it seemed we had given ourselves some breathing room, Villa were awarded a spot-kick of their own almost instantly when Hooper brought down Burrowes in the box, but the Hammers goalkeeper redeemed himself with a brilliant low save to deny the forward.
Sowunmi continued to pose a threat to the hosts’ rearguard, and only two further full-stretch saves from Asemota stopped the 17-year-old from further adding to his incredible early-season tally.
Substitute Markie Meade had a chance deep into stoppage time to set up a nervy finish but saw his effort saved well by Hooper having been teed up by Burrowes, and despite late pressure, we held firm to earn an impressive win, which was our third win in our last four league games.
Aston Villa U18s: Asemota, Burgess, Wilson, Routh, Fortes (Bloomfield 80), Jenner, Quinn, Brannigan (Meade 80), Burrows, Cotcher, Mulley
Subs not used: Oakley (GK), Briscoe, Moreland
Goal: Brannigan 61
Booked: Wilson, Burrows
West Ham United U18s: Hooper, Medine, Golambeckis, Oyebade (Halim 90+7), Fearon ©, Kamara, Caliste, Dike (Hargan 66), Sowunmi, Adiele, Ajala (Balogun 84)
Subs not used: Awesu (GK), Nwosu
Goals: Sowunmi 45+3, 56 (pen), 67 (pen)
Booked: Hooper
Coggin: Hard work is paying off
West Ham United U18s lead coach Lauris Coggin believes his side’s recent form is simply a case of hard work paying off.
Saturday’s win at high-flying Aston Villa stretched our young Hammers’ unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches, and Coggin praised the leadership qualities and work-rate of his charges.
“I think the togetherness and the work-rate the boys put in from minute one all the way through to the end, including the difficult moments, was fantastic, and we controlled the majority of the moments, which was very pleasing,” said Coggin. “We’ve put a lot of work in over the last few weeks in regard to being brave and sticking to what we believe in, and I think we saw those positive qualities today.
“It’s all down to what the boys are doing every day, and we’ve put a big emphasis on us being together in every single moment, and we’re starting to see players coach, taking on leadership roles and stepping up on the pitch, which is really pleasing as a coach.
“I think the energy he [Elisha Sowunmi] is putting into the team through his hard work is fantastic, and he did that again today against Aston Villa. He works so hard on the training pitch and keeps pushing for more, so he’s getting what he deserves and doing what he’s capable of.”
Sowunmi: This team could be something very special
A second hat-trick of the 2024/25 campaign signalled further progress in Elisha Sowunmi’s exciting young career.
The 17-year-old is literally in the form of his life, with West Ham United reaping the rewards.
By scoring a further three goals against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, the forward took his goals tally for the season up to eleven in all competitions.
“I’m very happy again,” Sowunmi confirmed. “We knew that today was going to be a tough game against a team that’s top of the table, but I thought we did well, and on a personal note, I’m happy to score another hat-trick. I’m just delighted, really.
“It was a bit cagey in the first half, and both sides had spells of possession, but I think getting the goal just before half-time was key. We then came out with a positive mindset again in the second half and managed to get our second goal.
“We’ve got to thank Fin Hooper for the fantastic penalty save at 3-1 because if they scored it could have been a different, but it was a real team effort this afternoon and a positive result to go into the international break with.
“I’m absolutely delighted with my start to the season and scoring two hat-tricks already, but we’re all looking to build on what we’ve done over the last few weeks as we’re in a good place right now. We’re striving for improvement every day.
“This team could be something very special.”