Tiptree United v West Ham United U18
Pre-season friendly
Chapel Road
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Full-time - Tiptree United 2-2 West Ham United U18
90 min - The final whistle is blown and the game ends in a draw. That was just about a fair result after an exciting second half here. Keep an eye on whufc.com for a full match report and reaction.
87 min - It's really livened up again here. Owen is given far too much space and shoots from 25 yards. Larkins pushes the ball over the top. Owen takes the corner and Bristol flicks on at the near post, only for his header to thud against the far upright and bounce to safety!
86 min - GOAL! How the game changes! West Ham break and Moncur lets fly from 20-plus yards, giving Belcher no chance. The ball flies into the net past the goalkeeper's despairing dive. George's Dad would have been proud of that goal, I can tell you.
85 min - Underwood rattles the crossbar with a searing effort after latching on to a loose clearance. That would have been game over.
84 min - The evening's 13th and final substitute is on in the shape of West Ham goalkeeper Jake Larkins, who naturally replaces Mehmet for the final six minutes or so.
82 min - Ward comes within inches of scoring, smashing a first-time shot narrowly wide after the ball broke to him 20 yards from goal. Mehmet could only watch and hope as the ball flew wide of the post.
81 min - Mehmet does well to deny Tiptree a third goal again, beating Brown's shot aside after Underwood had teed up the substitute.
80 min - West Ham need to find another gear from somewhere. Incidentally, the U18s will return to action on Saturday morning, when they make the short trip to face their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts.
78 min - Underwood comes close to a third Tiptree goal, forcing Mehmet into a fingertip save with a fine 30 yard curler. The Tiptree striker is a bit of a goalscoring hero in north Essex, having banged in a hatful for Ridgeons League side Harwich and Parkeston in the past. How's that for knowledge?!
75 min - West Ham appear to be running out of steam a bit here. Tiptree are looking the more likely scorers, but the Hammers have 15 minutes to turn things around.
70 min - Mehmet makes a fine save to deny Bristol a third Tiptree goal. West Ham break but Purdy shoots straight at Belcher after a strong run through the midfield.
69 min - Tiptree make their final change, bringing on No15 Brown for No8 Clarke.
68 min - Ooooooooooh! That was close. Fanimo runs at the Tiptree defence again before finding Turgot, whose first-time shot beats Belcher but cannons back off the inside of the far post.
67 min - Powell makes an almost instant impact, but Belcher dives low to his left to push the ball into the side netting. The ensuring corner is cleared.
65 min - Turgot takes the flag-kick, but McNaughton can only head wide of the target. More changes for West Ham. Subuola is replaced by Jack Powell, while Wearen is off and Dominic Vose is on.
64 min - Typical! Fanimo almost creates an equaliser out of nothing, picking the ball up 40 yards from goal, skipping inside Beale and unleashing a wicked effort with the outside of his left foot that Belcher does well to parry aside for a corner.
63 min - If it was a test of character for the Hammers before, it is doubly so now. Tiptree have got their tails up and are pushing for a third.
61 min - GOAL! Tiptree come from behind to take the lead. Owen plays in Underwood and the striker clips the ball past the advancing Mehmet.
60 min - Two changes for both sides. Brown and Lampe are replaced by Callum Driver and Paco Craig for West Ham. Tiptree replace goalkeeper Ruthers and left-back Loonan with Belcher and Nobbs.
59 min - The equaliser was a shame for the visitors, who probably just about deserved their lead. It will now be a test of character for Hilton's youngsters, who need to respond in kind.
56 min - GOAL! Talk about an impact. Nelson scores with his first touch, knocking the ball into the net from close-range following good work from fellow replacement Bristol. Sanchez won't be too happy with his role in that goal, however, as his clearance was charged down in the lead up.
55 min - GOAL! What did I tell you?! Fanimo slips Sanchez in behind the back-four and he fires the ball high past Ruthers from an acute angle to give West Ham the lead. Tiptree respond by replacing the No10 for real this time. No12 Nelson is his replacement. No11 Illott also goes off, with Bristol the substitute.
54 min - Before we get the opening goal, which is coming soon (I can feel it!), I think it right that I mention that the social club here at Chapel Road is called the 'Jambusters Bar''! Very apt...
52 min - A couple of Tiptree players complain too vociferously about a throw-in decision that goes against them, earning them a talking to from the referee. No cards are shown, though.
50 min - Position-wise, Fanimo is now the central striker, with Subuola wide on the left and Purdy wide on the right. Sanchez is at right-back with Turgot in midfield alongside Wearen and Moncur.
49 min - Two of the replacements come close in quick succession. First, Purdy heads wide from close-range, then Fanimo drags his shot wide from 20 yards.
46 min - We're under way again and West Ham have made three changes. Jake Purdy, Blair Turgot and Mathias Fanimo are all on, with Werndly, Smith and Hunt the men, or should that be boys, replaced. Sanchez has gone to right-back.
Ok, to clear up the confusion over the substitution... Tiptree did not make a change after all. Another player was wearing the No10 shirt on the bench, but he didn't come on for his counterpart!
49 min - The half-time whistle is blown with the game still goalless. I expect West Ham will make some changes at the break, but we shall see.
48 min - The neverending first half is ending in exciting fashion. Moncur's shot is blocked before Werndly sees his low cross flash across the face of goal.
45 min - Tiptree make a change. The injured English is replaced by another No10! Very confusing! I will investigate...
44 min - Ruthers covers himself in glory again, racing off his line to save bravely at the feet of Subuola.
42 min - Lovely football again from West Ham. Werndly and Sanchez combine to find Smith, whose deep cross looks destined for Subuola's head before being flicked out for a corner. Moncur delivers the corner kick and a loose Tiptree header puts Ruthers under pressure, forcing him to punch the ball clear with both fists from under his own crossbar.
40 min - Hilton will be pleased with the application and attitude of his youngsters against a much older Tiptree side. They have not been overawed and have stuck to their principles of passing football. All they need is to add a goal to what has been an encouraging display so far.
39 min - A loose McNaughton back-pass puts Mehmet under pressure. His clearance is charged down, but the ball bounces out for a throw-in and the Hammers recover.
37 min - Another chance for the home side. English finds Underwood in space, the striker cuts inside Calum McNaughton but his shot is straight at Mehmet.
36 min - A sight of goal for Tiptree No8 Clarke, but his left-foot shot flies over the crossbar, the club bar and into the car park.
35 min - A headed clearance falls to Sanchez 25 yards from goal, but his half-volley bounces harmlessly wide.
32 min - It appears there is some speculation over whether George Moncur is related to former Hammer John. I can confirm that he is the great man's son. Not only is there a family resemblance, but George is also putting himself about in the centre of midfleld, just like his Dad used to do a decade ago.
31 min - Underwood is up again and hobbling off. It was his hip it seems. He's walking a bit gingerly but he won't want to go off. Sure enough, after a short interlude, he is back in the fray.
30 min - Underwood is still down. It looks like his back is the injured part of his body. He looks in a bit of pain and might have to be replaced.
28 min - A superb tackle from Lampe denies Tiptree forward Underwood. The striker felt that challenge and requires treatment from the physio.
26 min - Smith rolls the ball to Sanchez, who is in an unaccustomed wide right position. Unfortunately, the Spaniard fires a shot harmlessly over the top when a cross to Werndly on the pback post looked a better option.
24 min - Big chance for Werndly after he latches on to Sanchez's superb through pass, but the midfielder's touch lets him down and Ruthers is able to smother.
23 min - Plenty of intricate passing from both teams, but Werndly's early volley is the closest either side have come to opening the scoring.
20 min - This is a good, even contest so far. A word about the pitch. It is in immaculate condition and both teams are using the facilities well. Neither set of defenders are hoofing the ball long. Both are looking to build from the back, which is making the game easy on the eye.
18 min - We're back under way again and Wearen immediately lets fly from 30 yards. His drive is well-struck but easily held by goalkeeper Ruthers in front of his face.
17 min - There is a brief pause as Tiptree player Owen receives treatment for a leg injury. Hammers manager Paul Hilton is using the break to issue some instructions to his players.
16 min - Lampe does well again to get in the way of a goalbound shot from Owen.
15 min - Tiptree forward English puts a dangerous cross into the West Ham penalty area, but Jack Lampe gets back well to hook the ball clear.
14 min - West Ham are starting to take control of the game now. A fluent passing move spans the width of the pitch, but Miles Smith's cross is too close to the goalkeeper.
12 min - Jordan Brown goes on a buccaneering run down the left wing, hurdling two challenges before rolling the ball to Declan Hunt, but his shot flies over the crossbar from 25 yards.
11 min - Eoin Wearen sends Danny Subuola away down the inside-left channel. He unleashes a shot, which is blocked. The ball rolls back to the striker, but again his shot is blocked by a Tiptree defender.
10 min - The good news is that the rain has stopped. It's now a very pleasant evening in the town made famous by the nearby Wilkins jam factory.
9 min - Both teams are taking advantage of the slick surface by keeping the ball on the ground. We're nearly ten minutes in, but the game has yet to settle down fully.
7 min - Deniz Mehmet does well to beat away a shot from Illott, but the Tiptree attacker was in an offside position.
6 min - West Ham are seeing the majority of the ball early on. The Hammers are playing a 4-1-4-1 formation with Sergio Sanchez in a holding midfield role.
3 min - Jack Werndly works home goalkeeper Ruthers with a snap volley that the stopper does well to beat away.
1 min - We're under way here and the rain has started again at Chapel Road.
Welcome to Chapel Road for tonight's pre-season friendly between West Ham United's Under-18 side and Essex Senior League outfit Tiptree United.
The weather is a bit changeable here in Essex, but the pre-match rain shower appears to have ended just in time for kick-off.
West Ham United U18: Mehmet (Larkins 84), Smith (Turgot 46), Sanchez, McNaughton, Lampe (Craig 60), Brown (Driver 60), Moncur, Werndly (Purdy 46), Wearen (Vose 65), Subuola (Powell 65), Hunt (Fanimo 46)
Tiptree United: Ruthers (Belcher 60), Harvey, Loonan (Nobbs 60), Beale, White, Owen, Ward, Clarke (Brown 69), Underwood, English (Nelson 55), Illott (Bristol 55)