Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Reserves FT

BLACKBURN ROVERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
MONDAY 28 MARCH 2011
KICK-OFF: 2PM

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Full-time score - Blackburn Rovers reserves 4-1 West Ham United reserves

92 mins - The final whistle is blown and it's handshakes all-round. Lomas tells opposite number Gary Bowyer that his side deserved to win and he's right. Blackburn were clinical in the early and late stages of the game. West Ham had a spell before and after scoring their goal, but it wasn't enough. Don't forget to keep an eye on whufc.com and West Ham TV for reaction and highlights. The reserves return to action on Friday, when Manchester United are the visitors to Bishop's Stortford FC.

90 mins - We're going to have at least two added minutes. It's been a tough afternoon for the young Hammers and one I'm sure they will learn from. It's always difficult to get back into a game when you concede twice in the opening ten minutes and that has certainly been the case this afternoon. It is not that West Ham have not given their all, but they have just been second-best on the day.

89 mins - Edgar sends a high free-kick to the far post where McNaughton wins the header, but he's penalised for a push.

87 mins - GOAL! He's not offside this time. Molina switches play with a fantastic pass to Evans that by-passes Driver. He plays a neat pass to the over-lapping full-back and when the ball is pulled back, Hitchcock belts a first-time finish high into the net. Clinical. The goal-scorer is rewarded by being replaced by Hanley.

86 mins - Blackburn have the ball in the net again, but Hitchcock is offside.

83 mins - From the corner, Pearson powers a header goalwards and Abdulla blocks on the line.

81 mins - Blackburn bring on Wylie for Knowles. From the kick-off, Rovers win the ball quickly and Osawe is in again, only for Abdulla to track back and make a fine challenge.

80 mins - GOAL! That's probably that. Blackburn win the ball back in midfield and substitute Osawe streaks away past McNaughton and belts his shot across Larkins and into the far corner. Fry was hurt in the build-up to that goal. It looks like a groin problem. Declan Hunt is on to replace him.

77 mins - Edgar is fouled wide on the right. Another chance to deliver some quality into the box. Lomas urges Fry and McNaughton to get forward for Abdulla's delivery, but it is headed clear of danger.

75 mins - Edgar sends in a fierce, dipping free-kick that is headed out for a corner by Molina. Edgar takes the left-wing corner and Molina is there again to head clear.

74 mins - Superb play from Lee as he chops back on his right foot and is brought down a couple of yards outside the box on the left. Edgar to take...

73 mins - Blackburn make their first chance, with Osawe coming on for MacLaren. The Hammers have got a boost from that goal and are pushing hard for an equaliser. Great spirit from the visitors.

71 mins - That's a let-off. Abdulla loses possession in midfield and Evans runs at Modelski and Edgar before slotting the ball inside. It is poked back into the path of the No7 but he can only drive a low shot wide from 20 yards.

68 mins - GOAL! The corner is a poor one but it finds Hall at the near post. He controls and shoots and the ball hits a Blackburn hand. The referee points to the spot. Edgar strolls up and strokes the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

67 mins - That's better. Modelski and Hall combine before Moncur finds Lee 18 yards out. He strikes the ball first-time and it flicks off a defender and wide.

66 mins - Lee gets involved, collecting a long pass down the left from Fry before winning a throw, but it comes to nothing.

64 mins - McCallum is the man to come off. Lee comes on for his reserve-team debut. West Ham go 4-4-1-1 with Hall behind Lee and Edgar wide on the right wing.

62 mins - Lomas has his three outfield substitutes warming up. Elliot Lee will be on shortly.

60 mins - That should be 1-2. Abdulla collects the ball from Fry inside his own half before turning and releasing Hall. He slots a pass inside for the advancing Modelski, who cuts it back into the path of the unmarked Edgar, but the No7 slides his left-foot shot wide of the far post from 12 yards.

58 mins - Montano has suffered a hamstring injury and is receiving treatment in the dressing room. Back on the pitch, it's still not happening for the Hammers, no matter how hard they are trying to get back into this game. Driver goes forward and beats one and then another before losing control as he enters the penalty area.

54 mins - Hall nicks the ball in midfield and tries to play in Subuola. It's close to being a great ball, but Pearson gets a foot in to intercept. That's a shame, because Subuola would have been in on goal.

51 mins - Hall takes the free-kick but it's cleared to Driver on halfway. He lofts the ball back in, but it's too high for Fry and Kean collects on the bounce.

50 mins - Blackburn counter-attack through Morris, but his left-foot shot flies a long way over the top. West Ham immediately go forward again and Ramm brings down Hall. A chance for the Hammers to deliver some quality into the area.

49 mins - Edgar works Kean with a savagely-dipping shot from 25 yards. The goalkeeper plunges to his right and helps the ball around the post. Moncur takes the corner, but it's easily cleared at the near post.

48 mins - The Hammers have started on the front foot, but two attempts from Hall to get the ball into the penalty area are unsuccessful.

46 mins - Blackburn get the second half underway shooting from right to left. Lomas demands that his players start the second half at a high tempo.

Half-time score - Blackburn Rovers reserves 2-0 West Ham United reserves

Montano has taken a whack to the back of his leg. He has been taken into the training ground building treatment room for a check-over, but hopefully it will not be too serious.

48 mins - That's half-time. Lomas calls his players together for a chat by the away dugout, He needs to rally his troops ahead of the second 45 minutes.

45 mins - Montano needs to be stretchered off. I'm not sure of the extent of his injury, or even what part of his body the No11 has hurt, but I'll do my best to find out. The medical staff are taking their time before bringing Montano off. After three minutes or so, Subuola is on.

43 mins - Henley tries to pick out the run of right-back Ramm, but Montano is there with the header back to Fry. Ramm runs into the Colombian and Montano is down and needs treatment. He's not going to be able to continue and Subuola is immediately told to get ready by manager Lomas.

41 mins - That's West Ham's best period of possession of the game so far. The Hammers switch flanks a couple of times and pull Rovers around a bit. Moncur finally finds Edgar in plenty of space, but his shot is scuffed and rolls well wide. McCallum tries to make something of it, but he is offside as he slides in.

38 mins - It has been a largely frustrating opening half so far, but at least West Ham are still putting in 100 per cent. Abdulla finds Montano, who turns his defender and shoots low and hard from 25 yards. It's straight at Kean, though, who collects at the second attempt.

36 mins - Driver is back on and tells manager Lomas he is OK to continue.

34 mins - Hitchcock is the first player to be booked after catching Driver on the left ankle as the full-back cleared his lines. Driver needs the physio on.

29 mins - Good save by Larkins to prevent a third goal for Blackburn. Evans skips past Montano and Driver before crossing for the No9, who catches his volley well. It is going in at the near post until Larkins dives low to his left to keep the ball out with a strong arm. Fry completes the clearance.

27 mins - Chance for Rovers. Morris beats his marker down the left flank and cuts the ball back to MacLaren on the edge of the penalty area, but he screws his left-foot volley well wide of the near post.

25 mins - There are probably about 100 people watching the game this afternoon. It's a beautiful afternoon and the birds are singing in a very idyllic setting, but unfortunately it is Blackburn who are enjoying the surroundings more than their opponents. West Ham certainly haven't given up the ghost, though, and a goal back could change the whole face of the game.

23 mins - Better from the visitors. Fry and Moncur before the latter finds Edgar. He feeds McCallum and the ball drops to Hall. The England U18 forward takes it forward and shoots from 25 yards. It's a low shot and goalkeeper Kean does well to catch at the first attempt.

21 mins - Driver defends a long ball well and finds Edgar, who smashes a superb 40-yard ball diagonally across the pitch to Modelski. He releases Montano, but left winger Evans is lightning quick and forces the No11 to concede a goal kick.

18 mins - West Ham are working hard for an opening, but not much is working at present. The ball is given away in midfield and worked inside to Knowles. The No8 has time to take a touch, but his 25-yard shot flies well over the crossbar and into some rather tall trees behind the goal.

15 mins - Blackburn look full of confidence, while West Ham look a bit shell-shocked after their two early mistakes led to goals for the home side. Blackburn have another chance as Abdulla concedes a free-kick wide on the left level with the edge of the Hammers box. The ball is delivered and McCallum heads powerfully clear.

13 mins - Lomas tells his players to keep trying to pass the ball and do the right things. It's going to be a real test of character now, though.

11 mins - Montano goes through on to Abdulla's pass and tries to poke the ball past the goalkeeper but Kean is out fast and smothers the ball bravely at the forward's feet.

10 mins - GOAL! It goes from bad to worse. Fry's back pass is a bit short and Larkins is challenged by Hitchcock on the edge of the penalty area. The ball runs just a few yards to Knowles, who slots into the unguarded net.

8 mins - Moncur plays a neat ball through for McCallum, but the No9 is a yard offside.

5 mins - GOAL! Moncur is penalised for a soft free-kick about 35 yards out, just right of centre. Josh Morris sends the ball into the penalty area left-footed and McCallum heads the ball past his own goalkeeper. Rovers take the lead in unfortunate circumstances.

2 mins - Good again from the visitors as Modelski beats his defender and crosses towards McCallum, but goalkeeper Kean is there to claim.

1 min - Some encouraging stuff early on from West Ham as Hall and Montano combine before Moncur finds Edgar wide on the right. He tries to play the ball inside to Abdulla, but the central midfielder slips.

1,58pm - Abdulla and Hall kick-off...

1.56pm - I have never seen two teams ready earlier for kick-off! The two sets of players are on the pitch waiting for the officials to get the game underway!

1.50pm - I'm going to apologise now if there are any lapses in the live text updates. The internet connection is not that strong up here in the Lancashire hills. I'll do my very best to keep you updated as often as possible. Both teams are wearing their home shirts, with West Ham in claret and blue and Blackburn in blue and white halves. The Hammers are sporting light blue shorts and light blue socks.

1.35pm - The two teams are out on the pitch warming up. The playing surface looks superb from up close. With so many players away on international duty, today's match features two very young and inexperienced teams. However, it does offer West Ham a chance to continue their superb recent run in the Barclays Premier Reserve League. Manager Steve Lomas has not suffered a single defeat since taking over last month, and the former Hammers midfielder will not want to chalk up his first loss this afternoon.

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Good afternoon and welcome to Blackburn Rovers' training ground for today's Barclays Premier Reserve League fixture. It is a bright, sunny yet somewhat chilly day in the north east of England.

West Ham can close to within one point of Southern Group leaders Arsenal with victory in Lancashire today. The Hammers would still have a game in hand on the Gunners, too. However, Steve Lomas and his players face a difficult task against a Blackburn team that sit atop Northern Group B.

Lomas has brought a very young and inexperienced side to Blackburn, with Matt Fry (pictured) and Anthony Edgar the only players on duty to have played senior football. Fry has spent the majority of the 2010/11 season on loan at League One outfit Charlton Athletic, while Edgar has previously spent time with AFC Bournemouth and has made one first-team substitute appearance for West Ham this term.

Alongside them will be first-year professionals Callum McNaughton, Ahmed Abdulla and Cristian Montano and scholars Filip Modelski, Callum Driver, George Moncur, Robert Hall and Paul McCallum. The bench will also be filled with four scholars and promising schoolboy forward Elliot Lee.

Montano has been in excellent form in recent matches, scoring four times in his last five reserve league matches, while McNaughton has impressed in captaining the side in victories over Newcastle United and Blackpool.

There has already been good news for Moncur and Hall this morning as both have been included in England's U18 squad for a friendly international against Italy in Carpi on Tuesday 12 April.

Blackburn Rovers reserves: Kean, Ramm, Henley, Molina, Pearson, Parry, Evans, Knowles (Wylie 81), Morris, Hitchcock (Hanley 87), MacLaren (Osawe 73)
Subs: Dilo, Edwards

West Ham United reserves: Larkins, Modelski, Driver, McNaughton, Fry (Hunt 80), Abdulla, Moncur, Edgar, Hall, Montano (Subuola 45), McCallum (E.Lee 64)
Subs: Cowler, Powell