WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM
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Final score - Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves 3-1 West Ham United reserves
92 mins - West Ham come forward one last time through Collison, but Driver loses control and fouls Forde. The Hammers break through Moncur but his pass for Hall is wayward and as Ihiekwe intercepts. A second or two later, referee Fletcher blows for full-time. West Ham finish fourth in the Southern Group behind Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa, but ahead of West Bromwich Albion and Wolves. Highlights and exclusive reaction from this evening's match will appear on whufc.com soon. Until next season...
90 mins - We're going to have at least two more minutes.
89 mins - It has not been West Ham's night in any way shape or form, but let's not forget that they have enjoyed a fairly successful season.
86 mins - Gorman is replaced by Sam Whittall. The winger gets a decent reception from the small crowd.
85 mins - Hall tries to pick out Collison's run. Ihiekwe intercepts but Hall wants a free-kick for handball. The referee waves away his appeals.
84 mins - Moncur lobs the ball over the top for Edgar to chase. He looks as if he is in on goal, but the ball just gets away from him far enough for Ihiekwe to get a foot in and it rolls harmlessly through to Ikeme.
82 mins - Rooney shoots powerfully from 25 yards. His effort flicks off Wearen and behind for a corner. Rooney takes it left-footed and Boffin comes to claim. The Belgian has had a busy night tonight.
79 mins - It just isn't happening for West Ham in the final third. They are still working hard, but the attacking moves and passing are just not coming off.
75 mins - Fifteen minutes to go and if any team looks like scoring the next goal, it's going to be Wolves. Rooney crosses but it turns into a shot and Boffin pushes the ball aside for a corner. Gorman takes it and it flicks off a player's head for another corner. McNaughton heads it clear.
73 mins - Collison gives the ball away from a quickly-taken free-kick and Wolves break again down their right. Doherty crosses and Rooney picks the ball up, but the Northern Ireland international screws his shot well wide.
72 mins - Moncur has some time to come forward before shooting low from 25 yards, but he drags his low effort wide of the near post.
70 mins - Potts is replaced by Sanchez for the final 20 minutes. The Spaniard goes to right-back, with Driver coming across to the left.
69 mins - Gorman and Doherty combine again down the right - they've been a constant menace - before the right-back pulls the ball into the path of Rooney. He shoots powerfully, but Boffin beats the ball away.
67 mins - Gorman is a talented dribbler and he leaves Potts for dead inside the penalty area before crossing low across the face of goal. The ball is no more than three yards from the line, but there is no player in old gold to apply the finish.
65 mins - McAlinden should make it 4-1, but his header from Forde's left-wing cross is too high. Two changes for West Ham - Hall and Wearen on for Tombides and Abdulla. For Wolves, Ebanks-Landell is replaced by Sam Griffiths.
64 mins - There are some frustrated players out there in claret and blue, but they need to pick themselves up as a goal could change this game immediately. Tombides gets some space inside the box and lays the ball back for Moncur. He chooses to take a touch instead of shooting first-time and the chance is lost.
60 mins - West Ham's chance to have a go. Tombides holds the ball up and Edgar runs at the Wolves defence. He shoots from 25 yards at least, but the ball flies and dips just wide. The attendance is announced as 176.
58 mins - Wolves just keep coming forward. Forde this time, running past Driver and shooting low and a yard wide of the far post.
57 mins - Another great chance for Wolves. Griffiths again has time and space to pull the ball back for Rooney, but he leans back and his left-foot effort flies over the top.
56 mins - This could get ugly if the Hammers don't up their game. The ball drops to Rooney about 30 yards out and he shoots early. The ball flies a couple of yards wide of the target with Boffin at full stretch.
54 mins - GOAL! West Ham have a mountain to climb. Gorman picks up the ball near the corner flag before running at Potts, cutting on to his left foot and curling a fantastic shot over Boffin's outstretched left hand and into the far top corner.
53 mins - That's a better moment for West Ham. Moncur frees Faubert and he out-paces Doherty before pulling the ball back for Tombides. He takes a touch and feeds Moncur 20 yards out, but the midfielder's shot is just too high.
51 mins - Driver needs the physio on after an aerial collision. I think he suffered a bang on the head there. After some treatment, he is fine to continue.
50 mins - GOAL! Wolves come again and Rooney has time and space in the centre of the field to find the rampaging Doherty. Faubert has not tracked the full-back's run and he has time and space to take a touch before hammering the ball past Boffin at the Belgian's near post.
49 mins - Chance for West Ham to threaten, but Faubert's pass for Collison curls away from the midfielder and into the arms of Ikeme. Wolves break immediately and Hemmings has space to shoot, but his effort flashes just past the angle of post and crossbar.
48 mins - Eyjolfsson does really well to repel McAlinden inside the box. Collison had passed the ball straight to Doherty, leaving Potts and McNaughton out of position and allowing Griffiths to run free down the right.
46 mins - West Ham get the second half underway... The floodlights have been turned on here, but it's still far from dark here in Shropshire.
The two teams emerge from the tunnel ahead of the second half - the final half of the Barclays Premier Reserve League season for both clubs. Can West Ham find the winner that sees them finish third in the Southern Group table? No sign of any changes from either manager.
Half-time score - Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves 1-1 West Ham United reserves
47 mins - That's half-time. West Ham started brightly and took an early lead, but Wolves have come back strongly and deserved their equaliser. Join us again in 15 minutes for the second half.
45 mins - We'll have one added minute...
44 mins - Better. Potts and Abdulla combine to win the ball from Griffiths on halfway. Tombides breaks clear down the left and crosses deep for Faubert. He takes a touch before pulling the ball into the path of Moncur, whose first-time shot flicks the side-netting. Close.
43 mins - Moncur makes a good run through the middle but Faubert doesn't spot him until late. The midfielder loses the ball. It's been that sort of half for West Ham,
41 mins - Driver looked to have been fouled by Forde there, but the referee gave nothing. Seconds later, a frustrated Driver kicks out at the No11. Mr Fletcher calls the two players together but doesn't show a card.
39 mins - McNaughton concedes a corner. Rooney crosses and Boffin punches powerfully clear. Wolves pick up possession and Ihiekwe wins a header inside the box, Griffiths keeps the ball alive and crosses, but McAlinden slices his volley well wide. Wolves have been the better team this half, of that there is no doubt.
37 mins - Abdulla loses the battle in midfield, allowing Rooney to hook the ball forward to Griffiths, who takes a touch but drags a low shot across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.
35 mins - Ebanks-Landell pushes Tombides over. Faubert delivers, Eyjolfsson flicks on and Harris needlessly concedes a corner. McNaughton wins the delivery, but his header bounces straight into the arms of Ikeme.
32 mins - Griffiths shoots but his effort hits Abdulla and spins wide right to Harris. He crosses for the striker, but Eyjolfsson gets enough of a head on the ball to concede a corner. Eyjolfsson clears the initial delivery, but Wolves keep it and Gorman crosses for McAlinden, but his header flashes well wide.
29 mins - West Ham come forward down the right and win a throw. Driver lobs it back to Eyjolfsson, but his cross is high and hanging and an easy catch for Ikeme.
28 mins - That lad Griffiths is at it again, running at McNaughton before Eyjolfsson comes across and blocks his cross. More cheers from the man in front of me and his friend.
26 mins - GOAL! Wolves are level and Griffiths is not involved. Harris picks out the run of right-back Doherty, who takes a touch and finishes confidently past Boffin.
25 mins - No9 Leigh Griffiths has caught the eye for Wolves. He is certainly the favourite of the man two rows in front who keeps shouting 'Come on Leigh'.
21 mins - Wolves' young team are full of energy and enthusiasm as you might expect, but West Ham still look dangerous. Tombides tries to spin away from Ebanks-Landell, but the defender is just too strong. Shame, as otherwise the Australian would have been clean through.
17 mins - The No9 beats Abdulla before nutmegging Driver and forcing Boffin into a plunging save. Potts heads half-clear and the ball is worked to Griffiths again. He finds Rooney, who blazes high and wide from a great position inside the box.
16 mins - Collison gets forward down the right and lays the ball back for Faubert. His curling cross is just too strong for Tombides but the ball is headed behind by Ebanks-Lindell. The corner is cleared and Wolves break through Griffiths.
14 mins - Lomas, his coaching staff and the substitutes are shielding their eyes from the sun on the far side. Over here in the main stand, it's a bit cool in the shade! West Ham have taken control again in recent moments and look a threat down both flanks. Tombides shows just that by controlling, beating a man and shooting wide from 20 yards.
10 mins - Eyjolfsson heads the ball straight to Rooney. When he plays the ball wide right, Edgar pushes Doherty to the floor. Free-kick about 35 yards from goal wide on the Wolves left. It's taken short to Gorman, but his cross is hacked clear at the near post by McNaughton.
8 mins - The home side have come back into things and are looking a bit more dangerous. A few loose clearances have given Wolves a chance to get on the front foot - something Lomas will want his players to cut out.
7 mins - Eyjolfsson is penalised for holding down McAlinden. Rooney delivers the free-kick and McNaughton heads it straight up in the air, but Boffin is there to catch the high ball.
6 mins - Wolves No9 Leigh Griffiths has the ball in the net from close-range, but one of his team-mates had long since been flagged for offside.
5 mins - West Ham have started really well. Tombides wins a free-kick, then does well to hold the ball up well again before Edgar crosses, but his delivery flies behind for a goal kick.
3 mins - GOAL! Faubert! Boffin's long straight clearance is allowed to bounce by the Wolves defence and the No11 uses his pace to get in behind. He looks up and carefully lobs the ball over the advancing Ikeme. Great finish to a very direct move!
2 mins - Tombides breaks the offside trap but he's got to hold the ball up and wait for support. Moncur and Collison play a one-two but the former is crowded out.
7pm - Wolves get us underway kicking from right to left as I look at it. Forde delivers the first cross from wide on the left but it's an easy catch for the towering Boffin.
6.57pm - Here come the West Ham players, led by captain Callum McNaughton. Jeff Beck's 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' welcomes the home side out of the tunnel a short time later. Our referee tonight is Russell Fletcher. I would think West Ham will employ a 4-3-3 formation, with Driver, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton and Potts across the back, Abdulla anchoring the midfield behind Moncur and Collison and Tombides leading the line ahead of Faubert and Edgar.
6.55pm - It is sunny but chilly evening at Telford as we eagerly await kick-off here at The New Bucks Head. I am afraid to say that my enthusiasm for the game has not been shared by too many supporters. A quick look around and I would say there are only about 100-odd people here this evening. That's a shame, because West Ham have plenty of promising youngsters on show, as I'm sure Wolves do too.
Good evening and welcome to the town of Telford for tonight's climax to the 2010/11 Barclays Premier Reserve League season.
West Ham United will be eager to finish the campaign on a high when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Steve Lomas's side looking to end a run of three matches without a victory at The New Bucks Head.
Blue Square Bet North side AFC Telford United's tidy stadium is bathed in warm late-April sunshine for what promises to be a keenly-contested affair between two young sides. For West Ham, however, Jack Collison, Julien Faubert and Ruud Boffin provide some welcome first-team experience and know-how.
At the other end of the age spectrum, first-year scholar Danny Potts makes his reserve-team debut, becoming the 49th player to turn out for West Ham's second-string this term. Midfielder Ahmed Abdulla makes his team-leading 18th reserve-team appearance of the season, while Callum McNaughton, George Moncur and Dylan Tombides will be keen to end encouraging personal seasons in style.
The Hammers defeated Wolves 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Bishop's Stortford on 22 February, with Cristian Montano and Anthony Edgar getting the goals. A victory tonight would lift West Ham above Aston Villa and guarantee them a third-place finish in the Southern Division behind Arsenal and Chelsea.
Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves: Ikeme, Doherty, Ebanks-Landell (S.Griffiths 65), Ihiekwe, Hemmings, Gorman (Whittall 86), Rooney, Harris, Forde, L.Griffiths, McAlinden
Subs not used: McCarey, Kempton
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Driver, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton, Potts (Sanchez 70), Abdulla (Wearen 65), Moncur, Collison, Edgar, Faubert, Tombides (Hall 65)
Subs not used: Larkins, Lletget