Birmingham City reserves 2-1 West Ham United reserves HT
A spirited second-half display was not enough to help West Ham United against a strong Birmingham side in Monday night's Barclays Premier Reserve League South encounter at Solihull Moor FC.
The Blues had gone into the contest on a high after beating Chelsea last week and took the lead on 16 minutes through Jake Jervis, who was able to score from ten yards out. A deflected Damien Johnson effort put Birmingham 2-0 up on the half-hour but Frank Nouble gave the visitors hope early in the second half. The powerful forward won a penalty with some bright play before getting up and converting the spot-kick himself but that was to be the end of the scoring.
The Hammers had their moments in the first half. Terry Dixon, partnering Nouble again after their impressive partnership in last week's 5-2 defeat of Stoke City, had the chance to equalise Jervis's effort on 23 minutes but his shot was saved by Colin Doyle. The game seemed up when Johnson tried his luck and saw his shot deflect off Bondz 'Gala, back from a loan at Scunthorpe United, beyond the helpless Peter Kurucz.
The goalkeeper had better fortune just before the interval when diving to his right to save well after a close-range Jervis effort. The home side had several players in their starting lineup with first-team experience including Franck Queudrue, Gregory Vignal, Lee Carsley and Gary McSheffrey. For the visitors, Josh Payne, Kieron Dyer and Nouble were the only players to have tasted Barclays Premier League action.
Nouble's penalty, awarded by referee Amy Rayner following a foul by Johnson, offered plenty of hope after half-time but the second goal was not forthcoming. In truth, Birmingham finished the stronger despite Alex Dyer throwing on Eoin Wearen and Cristian Montano into the attack in a bid to find an equaliser.
West Ham United: Kurucz, Eyjolfsson, 'Gala, Daprela, Ferrari, Payne, Dyer, Kearns, Nouble, Dixon, Edgar
Subs (from): Loveday, Modelski, Zola, Wearen, Grasser, Montano