THREE goals in 13 minutes rescued the Hammers from a very
embarrassing defeat as a brace from second-half substitute Tony
Stokes gave West Ham United Under-18s a 3-3 draw against
Everton.
The Hammers made a positive start from the very first minute when
Kyel Reid crossed from the left and found Jack Collison who shot
over the cross-bar.
On 10 minutes, Zavon Hines was fouled outside the Everton penalty area, and Hogan Ephraim's free kick found James Tomkins who headed wide of the far post.
On 12 minutes the visitors took the lead when Bjarni Vidarsson flicked-on a corner and Matthew Holt powered home a header past David Blackmore.
On 23 minutes James Tomkins cut out further danger from an Everton attack when he conceded a corner. Again the visitors capitalised from the set-piece, Irving giving Everton a 2-0 lead.
Minutes later David Blackmore had to glove the ball away from
goal as the Merseysiders looked to inflict further damage with
another attack.
On 38 minutes James Tomkins played a ball up field from defence,
which Hogan Ephraim collected, exchanged passes with Ishmael Welsh
and prodded the ball into the Everton penalty area. This put
Zavin Hines clear on goal but he was thwarted by a late
challenge.
HT: 0-2
Tony Carr made a half-time substitution bringing on the more experienced Tony Stokes as the Hammers tried to rescue what seemed a lost cause. Almost immediately following some good work from James Tomkins, Tony Stokes made room for himself and shot from 30 yards but his effort on goal was deflected for a corner.
On 50 minutes, Jack Collison shot from inside the Everton
penalty area and placed his low strike well, only for Everton
keeper Shaun Lake to parry the ball aside.
Six minutes later, Everton were awarded a free-kick some distance
from West Ham's penalty area. The free-kick was sent deep into
Hammers box, where Downes got behind Lorcan Fitzgerald to squeeze
the ball home and give Everton a 3-0 cushion.
With all looking lost, Ishmael Welsh delivered the perfect cross from the left wing, the ball was headed on by Hogan Ephraim and looked certain to hit the inside of the far post but Shaun Lake somehow managed to save with his outstretched hands. Tony Stokes picked up the loose ball and got a boot on it, and with Lake understandably not having both hands on the ball, allowed the ball to cross the line. This sparked controversy but the referee after consulting his assistant allowed the goal to stand and gave the Hammers a small glimmer of hope at 3-1.
West Ham reduced the arrears again on 71 minutes, Kyel Reid sent Ishmael Welsh away along the left touchline and crossed low into the Everton penalty area for Tony Stokes who rammed the ball home to make it 3-2.
Three minutes later David Cowley, who was also a second-half
substitute, flighted the ball into the area after some intricate
ball work in midfield. James Tomkins was waiting at the far post to
head home and level the scores, completing a brilliant comeback by
Tony Carr's side.
WEST HAM UNITED: David Blackmore, Ryan Andrews, Lorcan
Fitzgerald, Liam White, James Tomkins, Lee Hales (David
Cowley 57 minutes), Kyel Reid, Jack Collison (Jack Jeffery 62
minutes), Zavon Hines (Tony Stokes 46 minutes), Hogan Ephraim,
Ishmael Welsh. NOT USED: Erem Kamal: Densal Davidson