Hammers Beaten By City's Slick First-half

WEST Ham United went out of the FA Youth Cup at the Fourth Round stage, losing 4-2 to Manchester City at Upton Park.

It was a first-half blitz from the visitors that put pay of Hammers chances of progressing, with four goals in the opening half hour.

Hammers fell behind after only six minutes when a faint from Kelvin Etuhu allowed him to power away from Liam White and burst towards the West Ham penalty area.

James Tomkins tried to come across, but Etuhu broke his tackle before firing low past Eren Kemal to put Manchester City 1-0 in front.

And with Hammers reeling it was just four minutes later when Etuhu made it 2-0. West Ham were unlucky to concede a free-kick just inside their own half, but when the ball was pumped into the home side's box Micah Richards won a good header against Tomkins and the ball fell to Etuhu.

The powerful striker did well to bring the ball down and with his next touched fired across Kemal into the far corner of the net to double City's advantage.

City then went 3-0 up on 13 minutes when a deep cross from Ashley Williams fell to his fellow winger on the opposite flank Karl Moore and he brought the ball down on his chest before volleying past Kemal from eight yards.

Hammers were desperately unlucky not to pull a goal back on 18 minutes through a wonderful piece of invention from Hogan Ephraim, the England forward flicking the ball up all of 25 yards out before hooking in a long-range effort that had Laurence Matthewson in the City goal well beaten before crashing back off the crossbar.

Zavon Hines was following up, but even though he headed against the post his effort would have been ruled out for offisde.

With Hammers finding some spark in attack David Cowley then drilled wide from 12 yards out.

Hammers looked to be getting back into the game, until City made it 4-0 on the half hour mark. Again it was from a long free-kick into the Hammers penalty area, the ball was flicked on and Daniel Sturridge worked loose from his marker to poke the ball underneath Kemal.

Etuhu then forced a smart block down low from Kemal, just after Paul Marshall curled a wonderful 20 yard free-kick against the base of the post.

City were piling on the pressure, but Hammers were throwing bodies in the way in a desperate rear-guard action, as the half ended with City in control, leading 4-0.

HT: 0-4

The start to the second-half saw Hammers still unable to get a foot-hold in the game, and it was not long before Jack Collison was introduced in place of David Cowley.

Kemal then did well to punch clear under pressure and recover quickly to block a long-range follow up volley from Karl Moore.

Approaching the hour mark a long range drive from Lee Hales was comfortably dealt with by Matthewson.

On 67 minutes Jack Jeffery replaced Kyel Reid, who had been struggling with an injury going into the game. City were also making use of their bench, introducing Ched Evans for scorer Daniel Sturridge and Clayton McDonald for skipper Micah Richards.

Hammers enjoyed more of the possession during the second-half, but struggled to break down a well-organised City defence. Hines did test Matthewson with a low shot and the effort from the home team to take at least some consolation from the game was admirable.

And they got it with six minutes left when Hogan Ephraim jinked his way into the box only to be stopped by some shirt pulling by a City defender.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and up stepped Ephraim to crash an unstoppable penalty past Matthewson to make it 4-1.

Soon after an excellent ball from substitute Tom Harvey deep on the right only needed a touch as it dived across the City penalty area.

But at the other end City also went close towards the end Michael Johnson crashing a wonderful drive from almost 30 yards onto the top of the crossbar.

There was to be more joy for Hammers before the final whistle, Ishmael Welsh with the goal of the night to make it 4-2. The winger received the ball from Harvey and from all of 30 yards unleashed a magnificent drive that took a deflection as it flew past Matthewson and into the net.

It was a terrific finish to the game for the Hammers, and no more than they deserved for a second-half performance full of character and effort. But it was to be Manchester City's match on the night, 4-2 winners.

WHU: Kemal; Andrews, Widdowson, White, Tomkins, Hales (Harvey 82), Welsh, Cowley (Collison 54), Hines, Ephraim, Reid (Jeffery 67). Subs unused: Blackmore (GK), Spence.
Booked: Hales 31, Tomkins 33
Scorers: Ephraim 84, Welsh 91

Man City: Matthewson; Obeng, Logan, Williamson, Richards (McDonald 72), Marshall, Williams, Johnson, Etuhu, Sturridge (Evans 65), Moore. Subs unused: Vadon (GK), Evans, Breen.
Booked: Logan 79, Johnson 92
Scorers: Etuhu 7, 10; Moore 13; Sturridge 30