HAMMERS Under-18s have gone out of the FA Youth Cup to
Southampton, losing 4-1 in the Quarter-Final tie at Upton Park.
Tony Carr made two changes from the side that defeated Leyton
Orient in the Fifth Round, David Cowley replacing David Shaw, who
sprained his ankle in the 3-2 win over the O's, and Darren
Behcet replacing Matt Reed in goal.
Heavily favoured Southampton started the better and had a great
chance after only three minutes when Theo Walcott sprung the
offside trap and raced through on Darren Behcet, but the recalled
goalkeeper blocked brilliantly with his legs.
Hammers had to wait until the 14th minute for their first chance,
Kyel Reid twisting past Craig Richards and crossing for Moses
Ashikodi, but his shot was blocked to safety.
The game was stuttering into life, although the elaborately named
Feliciano Condesso threatened to inject some unwanted sparkle for
Southampton when he hopelessly sliced a clearance from
Ashikodi's cross that goalkeeper Andrew McNeil had to gather.
But two minutes later the Saints found some magic at the right end
when Theo Walcott found room to cross and his pinpoint centre was
met by Lloyd James, whose diving header scrapped under Behcet.
Confidence lifted, Southampton began to dictate the game. On the
half hour mark Leon Best showed his ability, jinking through the
Hammers midfield before unleashing a shot from the edge of the area
that had Behcet beaten but came back off the post.
Seconds later Best was at it again, this time using his strength to
unsettle Behcet and the ball broke loose to Walcott, but his shot
from a tight angle was cleared by the sliding James Tomkins.
Behcet then had to be alert to block Walcott's thumping drive
at the near post, before Tony Stokes fired high and wide for a
Hammers side that was struggling to find its rhythm.
Eight minutes from half-time Tim Sparv caused Behcet a nervous
moment, swinging in a cross that the goalkeeper plucked from the
air almost under his crossbar. In response, Ashikodi did well to
turn his marker and fire off a shot, but the save was routine for
McNeil down low to his left.
The Hammers showed plenty of endeavour in the closing stages and
Kyel Reid almost surprised McNeil with a cross that the Saints
'keeper had to turn behind at his near post, but Tony
Carr's men left the field trailing 1-0 at half-time.
HT: 0-1
Whatever Tony Carr said at half-time it certainly had the
desired effect. His side came out in much more determined mood, and
equalised within three minutes of the restart.
Hogan Ephraim's mazy run took him to the edge of the penalty
area where he slid Ollie Allen in. The right midfielder powered an
angled drive from 12 yards out that was too hot to handle for
McNeil, crashing through the goalkeeper at his near post on its way
into the net.
Southampton looked to hit back quickly through Nathan Dyer, but his
shot was comfortably saved by Behcet, while a similar effort from
Ephraim dipped tamely into McNeil's body.
But on 57 minutes one of the simplest goals Leon Best will ever
score re-established Southampton's advantage. Theo Walcott was
again the provider. He surged past Chris Cohen and his cross
wrong-footed Behcet, allowing Best a tap-in from close range to
make it 2-1.
Behind for the second time in the match, Tony Carr's side
showed tremendous character to push forward again in search of an
equaliser. Moses Ashikodi broke through on goal, but before he
could get his shot off Sean Rudd got around to tackle.
With 15 minutes left goalscorer Allen was replaced with Densal
Davidson, shortly before Best's second of the game all but
ended Hammers chances of getting back into the tie.
Tim Sparv won the ball back in midfield and played it forward.
Condesso found Best, who had sprung the offside trap, and the
striker's finish was clinical giving Behcet no chance as he
fired high into the top corner of the net.
In response to the goal Tony Carr sent on Ryan Andrews for the hard
working David Cowley, but it wasn't long before the tie was
sealed by the Saints. Nathan Dyer cut in from the left, ghosted
past Jemel Henry and fired inside Behcet to make it 4-1.
It was quite a night for 15-year-old striker Jack Jeffrey to make
his youth team debut, replacing Ashikodi for the final five
minutes.
But it was one hurdle too far for Tony Carr's men as they went
out of the FA Youth Cup at the Quarter Final stage, losing 4-1 to
Southampton.
WHU: Behcet; Henry, Cohen, White, Tomkins, Allen (Davidson 74),
Cowley (Andrews 79), Stokes, Ephraim, Ashikodi (Jeffrey 85), Reid.
Subs unused: Reed (GK), Nicholson.
Attendance: 1,607