Leicester City U18s 1-3 West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Leicester City FC Training Ground, Saturday 22 April 2023, 12noon BST
West Ham United U18s secured a dominant 3-1 victory against Leicester City on Saturday.
The young Hammers have already secured their status as U18 Premier League South champions and Kevin Keen’s much-changed, inexperienced side were impressive again at the Leicester City FC Training Ground.
The Irons also now know they will face Manchester City in the inter-division play-off, after the Citizens beat second-place Sunderland to clinch the North title on Saturday.
Keen made ten changes to the side that beat Arsenal last time out to clinch the title, but that did not stop the Irons from making a rapid start in the East Midlands.
Goals from Blaise Uwandji and Liam Jones saw the visitors take an early two-goal lead before Amani Richards pulled one back with ten minutes remaining in the first half.
Uwandji secured his brace seconds after the interval to secure an 18th win of the season in 21 games for the regional champions.
U18s coach Gerard Prenderville was delighted with the performance of his side, saying: “It was a really pleasing performance. We had a game plan and the boys stuck to it really well. We went out and gave a good account of ourselves, especially after a difficult sort before we scored.
“We managed to get two goals in quick succession and we took complete control. Unfortunately they managed to get one back after we made a defensive mistake, but these things happen in development football.
“The message at half-time was to impose ourselves on them once again and to be a bit more aggressive. We managed to do that and we got a third goal. We possibly could have gone onto score a couple more too, so a really good performance.”
The hosts dominated possession in the opening stages but it was the Hammers who would land the first blow. A long ball over the top of the Foxes’ back line found Liam Jones in space and the No9 unselfishly squared the ball to Uwandji who tapped the ball into the empty net.
The Irons took a two-goal advantage on 25 minutes when Jones finished off a superb team goal. Tyron Akpata and Gabriel Caliste linked up fantastically on the right flank before working the ball to Jones on the edge of the box. The West Ham striker took a touch and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.
With ten minutes remaining in the first half, Richards halved the deficit. Logan Briggs pounced on a defensive error and squared it to his teammate who tapped the ball into the net from close range.
Dondre Abraham was called into action at the end of the first half as the hosts pushed for an equaliser, but the West Ham shot stopper stood firm to keep his side ahead on his first appearance for the U18s.
After a difficult end to the first half, the Hammers responded superbly after the interval, restoring their two goal advantage within a minute of the restart. Jones slid the ball through to Uwandji who cleverly poked the ball into the net.
Joshua King looked like he had secured his brace midway through the second half but celebrations were cut short after the striker was flagged offside after nodding the ball into the net.
The young Hammers were able to control possession during the second half and almost added a fourth, with chances falling to Dan Rigge, Josh Briggs and Emeka Adiele, but the three goals were enough to secure the three points and an 18th league win of the season.
Prenderville suggested that the victory demonstrated the strength of the U18 squad this season.
He continued: “It’s a brilliant thing that we can make ten changes and get a performance like we did today. It just shows that the environment is fantastic and that there is a real togetherness between the players and the staff. The atmosphere at Chadwell Heath is fantastic, there’s a desire to win and there’s a desire to develop.
“No matter the competition, no matter the team we put out, the boys know our expectations and they went out and met our expectations again today. It was a positive day and the younger lads that got minutes were all very impressive.”
Attention now turns to Tuesday night’s FA Youth Cup final against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Prenderville says that the group are fully focused on what promises to be a special night.
“We’ll just continue to do what we have done all season. We’ll get ourselves back out on the training pitch, get back in the analysis room and the classrooms. The lads will continue to work their socks off to become better players and better people.
“We’re looking forward to Tuesday and what will be will be on the night.”
West Ham United U18s: Abraham, Caliste, Mayers (Nallo 86), Briggs, Bates © (Oyebade 69), Adiele, Akpata, Rigge (Sowanmi 86), Mukasa, Uwandji, Jones (Fearon 69)
Goals: Uwandji 7, 46, Jones 25
Booked: Bates, Abraham
Leicester City U18s: Bausor, McAlinney, Grist, Gray, Fisken (Thomas 67), Lewis (Neale 60), Joseph, Ononaye, King, Briggs (Nyoni 45), Richards (Evans 45)
Subs not used: Donohue
Goal: Richards 35
Referee: Samuel Lee