DESPITE the creative drive of David Cowley in midfield West Ham United Under-18s could not break down a resilent Norwich City side, as their Premier Academy Under-18 League match ended 0-0.
Tony Carr's side stamped their authority on the game straight from the kick-off, Sos Yao going close after latching on to Jemel Henry's through ball.
Shots from Hogan Ephraim and Tony Stokes were comfortably dealt with by Norwich goalkeeper Joe Lewis, but when Cowley let fly with a swerving drive from all of 35-yards Lewis had to make a superb save down low to his left.
At the other end, Darren Behcet had to be alert to keep out Spillane's long range effort, but it was a rare sight at goal for the home side in a Hammers dominated first-half.
Just before half-time Cowley set in motion a sweeping West Ham move, which saw Ephraim find Yao with a great ball, only for the Hammers forward to shoot over the bar from a tight angle.
West Ham United, led by Kevin Keen in the absence of Tony Carr, began the second-half as they had finished the first, laying siege to the Canaries goal. Cowley's drilled shot on 54 minutes had Lewis beaten, but scraped the wrong side of the post.
Ten minutes later Cowley fashioned another great effort when Lewis' clearance dropped to him outside the area. His looping effort left the Norwich 'keeper stranded, but dipped just the wrong side of the bar for the Hammers.
The home side rallied late on, but never looked like breaching a well organised West Ham defence, as the match ended goalless.
WHU: Behcet; Shaw (Tomkins 51), Andrews, Liam White, Henry, Cowley, Yao, Stokes, Davidson (Ashikodi 71), Ephraim, Welsh (Allen 71).Subs Unused: Reed (GK), Reid.
Courtesy Tony Fowles, Ironworks Gazette