Hammers In Narrow Defeat To Saints

WEST Ham United Reserves lost 2-1 to Southampton at the Glyn Hopkin Stadium, Dagenham and Redbridge despite taking the lead through Tony Stokes after only four minutes.

All the goals came in seven frantic first-half minutes as this game started in a blaze of activity.

Kevin Keen fielded a young line-up with two first year and four second year Academy scholars among his side.

On a balmy evening at Dagenham and Redbridge it was Hammers who made the brighter start.

With barely a minute played Zavon Hines, making his full debut for the Hammers Reserves, almost embarrased Saints goalkeeper Alan Blayney as he beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball 20 yards out, but his toe-poked effort came off the post with the keeper stranded.

Three minutes later Kevin Keen's men converted their dominance into the game's first goal. After a patient build-up the ball was worked to midfielder Tony Stokes on the angle from 10 yards out and he fired low across Blayney into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Saints looked to hit-back straight away and on seven minutes levelled through a well-taken curling strike from David McGoldrick. The midfielder wriggled free from his marker on the edge of the box and hit a low drive that appeared to take a deflection as it beat Matt Reed low to the goalkeeper's left to make it 1-1.

The blockbuster start to the game continued when just a minute later a raid by the Saints down the West Ham left produced the game's third goal to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

This time McGoldrick was the provider as his powerful shot was blocked by Reed at his near post. The ball bounced up off the keeper's body and onto the crossbar, and as it deflected back into the penalty area Yoann Folly was on hand to nod the ball home from close range.

After a frenetic opening 10 minutes the game settled down and drew its breath. Zavon Hines' pace was causing problems for the Saints defence and he was booked on 12 minutes for an alleged dive after going down under a challenge from Michael Svensson.

On 21 minutes Reed had to be alert to tip over a well struck 25 yard free-kick from Saints striker Marcel Tejera, while at the other end Hines headed wide from David Cowley's pin-point corner.

With half an hour played Hammers did everything but find an equaliser. A wonderful turn by debutant Jack Jeffery started the chain of events and his rifled 20 yard drive was well saved by Blayney going to his left. The ball dropped to Hines on the angle, but his effort canoned back off the upright and away from danger.

Saints very nearly hit West Ham on the break when from a free-kick the ball was cleared up to the marauding McGoldrick who raced clear and attempted an audacious lob which Reed reached with his fingertips to turn the ball over.

With six minutes to go Reed was forced into another good save, punching away Tejera's volley at the back post. Hammers were not short on application, forcing Saints back as they searched for an equaliser. But there was no way through and Hammers went in trailing 2-1 at the break.

HT: 1-2

Just as they had done in the first, Hammers made a bright start to the second-half and Ishmael Welsh got behind Martin Cranie with four minutes gone and would have gone clear had the full-back not dragged him down.

Jack Jeffery had the ball in the net moments later but his effort was ruled-out immdiately for a foul as the young striker broke clear on goal.

Saints first real chance of the half came when McGoldrick whipped in a cross from the right and that Theo Walcott hit on the volley, but his effort was dragged well wide.

The visitors began to apply some pressure and it was McGoldrick who was at the heart of all their good work. But Hammers held firm, their enthusiasm and determination for the task a credit to Kevin Keen as they looked to get back into the game.

But Southampton were still looking dangerous, the point emphasised when Walcott used his pace to burst into the penalty area and flick the ball over the onrushing Reed, but his effort was wide of the post.

With nine minutes to go Clive Clarke fed a free-kick to Cowley on the edge of the box and he let fly with a thunderous effort that Blayney did well to parry.

Cowley had another effort blocked by the Saints defence as Hammers through everything at Southampton in the closing stages. But there was no way back into the game for Kevin Keen's men as Hammers went down 2-1 in this closely fought encounter.

WHU: Reed; Henry, Clarke, White, Cohen, Stokes, Cowley, Andrews, Jeffery (Hales 70) , Hines (Davidson 60), Welsh (Widdowson 81). Subs unused: Blackmore (GK), Collison.
Goal: Stokes 4
Booked: Hines 12, Andrews 38, Jeffery 65, Hales 90.