FT: Dev Squad 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
90+3: The referee blows his final whistle and that's it! The Hammers are through to the semi-finals! A great achievement, that's extended their unbeaten run to ten games! Reaction to follow.
90+2: Brilliant play by Parfitt-Williams, when he dribbles Blackburn can't get it off him!
90: The Hammers win a free-kick in a dangerous position which helps to eat away more seconds. Luka Belic is on in place of Jaanai Gordon. Three minutes of injury time to be played.
88: Unbelievable save from Howes. That shot looked destined for the back of the net but he pounces to his right and gets a strong hand to it. Superb goalkeeping.
87: More great possession based play between Oxford and Dobson, into the final exchanges...
85: Sensible play by Neufville, Cullen and Dobson as they look to keep it in the corner, wasting valuable seconds!
83: Blackburn make the change, Connor Thomson is replaced by Dean Rittenberg. It's now or never!
81: Into the last ten minutes, can the Hammers hold on?
78: End to end! Rovers almost equalise from a corner, from which the Hammers spring forward with Parfitt-Williams who almost bursts through one-on-one but is crowded out at the last minute.
75: Reece Oxford goes into the book for a trip on Forrester.
74: Another great chance! Cullen lays an incisive pass through to Dobson who charges forward, gets to the byline and pulls it back for Gordon, at the back post, swings a boot and it smashes into the side netting. The home crowd thought it was in!
71: Cullen's delievery is cleared by the first man but it spins out for a coner, the second cross is fractionally too high for Oxford at the far post.
70: Another superb flowing Hammers' move! Cullen spreads to Parfitt-Williams, his first touch is exquisite and he tries to play in Makasi who has to check back. They maintain possession and recycle it well so that Gordon in behind and wins a corner...
68: So close! Moses Makasi almost restores the lead after intercepting Ryan Nyambe's loose pass however Fisher did well to make the save.
67: Sam Howes has to come racing off his line and makes the pass to Pike who, under pressure, clears his lines.
64: Speculative effort from Connor Mahoney as he tries to get his side back into the game. His shot however skews wide of it's intended target.
61: Further superb play by Neufville, hassling and harrying his man into winning back possession in a dangerous position.
58: Stop-start openings of the second half, neither team are giving an inch. A lot of hard work but little by way of openings.
54: Parfitt-Williams looks to break away but is tugged back in full flow, another Rover is booked.
52: Corner for the visitors cleared away by Dobson before Neufville deals with the second cross. Willem Tomlinson goes into the book for a late tackle on Cullen.
50: Reece Oxford carries the ball 40, 50 yards out of defence and into the attack, unfortunately the move breaks down but it looked like he was going to run the length of the pitch!
46: Back under way here at Rush Green and if the first half is anywhere to go by, we should be in for a cracker! One change for the Hammers as Amos Nasha replaces Marcus Browne who has impressed on his first start since recovering from injury.
45+2: The referee blows for half-time as the Hammers carry a slender lead in the break. All to play for.
44: Jaanai Gordon goes mightily close to restoring the lead however he fires over from a diffcult angle.
42: Goal for Blackburn and real lifeline. Anton Forrester shows a burst of pace to get away from his man and finishes coolly past Howes. 2-1.
40: Final five minutes of the half and the hosts are good value for their lead. Saying that, Blackburn are certainly not out of this and look dangerous going forward.
36: Jaanai Gordon tries his luck from distance but it flies wide.
33: Blackburn go close to halving the defecit as David Carson bursts through the defence yet Chambers, again, is on hand to clear the danger.
32: Which the Hammers score from!! GOOOOOAL!! Reece Oxford powerfully heads past Fisher from Josh Cullen's pinpoint header. 2-0.
31: Excellent move from the Hammers which starts with Cullen spraying it to Pike, involves more than half the team and results in a corner...
28: Cullen, busy as ever, almost capitalises as Tomlinson gets his feet in a muddle yet the defender recovers in the knick of time.
25: More good defending from Neufville who shepherds the ball out under pressure, the youngster looks more than capable at this level.
22: Marcus Browne goes into the book having being adjudged to have left a boot in during a 50/50. Harsh considering Cullen's attacker got off scott free.
20: Superb chasing by Makasi forces Fisher to put it straight out of play.
18: GOOOOOOAL!!! Djair Parfitt-Williams can't stop scoring! Five goals in four games as he strokes home Jaanai Gordon's effort! Credit to Gordon who twisted and turned to fashion the space in the first place.
16: Rovers go close with looping header from a corner that is shaves the top of the crossbar and out, such was the angle that it wasn't as threatening as 'hitting the crossbar' sounds.
15: Parfitt-Williams is absolutely brimming with confidence and so he should be after netting four in the last three matches. His pace, tough and creativity is a real assest, you get the feeling he is just warming into the game.
12: Real edge to this game as Josh Cullen is scythed down, it was strong to say the least. Thankfully, Cullen is made of strong stuff and he is OK to continue.
10: Free-kick to the Hammers after Reece Oxford is felled for the second time in quick succession, it's worked toward Djair Parfitt-Williams whose deflected effort almost wrong-foots Fisher yet he recovers well.
8: Mini break on for the visitors but Oxford does well to slow the move down, they burst forward again and this time Leo Chambers makes a terrific sliding challenge to avert the danger.
6: Vashon Neufville shows typical willingness to burst forward at every opportunity while George Dobson is already asserting himself in the middle of the park.
4: Rovers respond in kind with territory of their own yet Moses Makasi sticks in a strong foot to clear the danger.
2: Good start for the Hammers as Alex Pike does well to win a corner in a tight sapce...Cullen fizzes it in and Chambers connects well however Andrew Fisher scrambles it wide for another corner...from the second delievery Chambers' looping header nestles on the roof of the net.
1: Here we go! Reece Oxford leads the Hammers out, wearing their traditional claret and blue, tonight's opponents Blackburn Rovers are in Blue and White. The hosts get us underway, kicking left-to-right in the first half. COYI!
6.50pm: Just ten minutes to go now until kick off and Rush Green is filling up nicely, great support as ever, for youth football here at the Academy of Football.
6.40pm: Earlier in the season, the Rovers edged a seven-goal thriller at Ewood Park as the Rovers came from behind to win 4-3. Connor Mahoney scored a match-winning brace that day, and he's starting tonight...
6.20pm: Tonight's opponents Blackburn go into this game having beaten local rivals Burnley 3-1 away in the first round, before beating Leicester City 1-0 at home. The Rovers are currently eighth in Division Two, six points behind the Hammers who are fifth.
6pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage of the Dev Squad's Barclays U21 Premier League Cup quarter-final with Blackburn Rovers. Cup fever is most certainly in the air here at Rush Green!
U21: Howes, Pike, Neufville, Dobson, Chambers, Oxford (c), Browne (Nasha 46), Makasi, Gordon (Belic 89), Cullen, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: Kemp, T. Brown, Rice
Blackburn Rovers: Fisher, Nyambe, Askew, Tomlinson, Lavelle (c), Wharton, Mahoney, Rankin-Costello, Forrester, Carson, Thomson
Subs: Platt, Crump, Hardcastle, Green, Rittenberg
Referee: Elliot Kaye
90+3: The referee blows his final whistle and that's it! The Hammers are through to the semi-finals! A great achievement, that's extended their unbeaten run to ten games! Reaction to follow.
90+2: Brilliant play by Parfitt-Williams, when he dribbles Blackburn can't get it off him!
90: The Hammers win a free-kick in a dangerous position which helps to eat away more seconds. Luka Belic is on in place of Jaanai Gordon. Three minutes of injury time to be played.
88: Unbelievable save from Howes. That shot looked destined for the back of the net but he pounces to his right and gets a strong hand to it. Superb goalkeeping.
87: More great possession based play between Oxford and Dobson, into the final exchanges...
85: Sensible play by Neufville, Cullen and Dobson as they look to keep it in the corner, wasting valuable seconds!
83: Blackburn make the change, Connor Thomson is replaced by Dean Rittenberg. It's now or never!
81: Into the last ten minutes, can the Hammers hold on?
78: End to end! Rovers almost equalise from a corner, from which the Hammers spring forward with Parfitt-Williams who almost bursts through one-on-one but is crowded out at the last minute.
75: Reece Oxford goes into the book for a trip on Forrester.
74: Another great chance! Cullen lays an incisive pass through to Dobson who charges forward, gets to the byline and pulls it back for Gordon, at the back post, swings a boot and it smashes into the side netting. The home crowd thought it was in!
71: Cullen's delievery is cleared by the first man but it spins out for a coner, the second cross is fractionally too high for Oxford at the far post.
70: Another superb flowing Hammers' move! Cullen spreads to Parfitt-Williams, his first touch is exquisite and he tries to play in Makasi who has to check back. They maintain possession and recycle it well so that Gordon in behind and wins a corner...
68: So close! Moses Makasi almost restores the lead after intercepting Ryan Nyambe's loose pass however Fisher did well to make the save.
67: Sam Howes has to come racing off his line and makes the pass to Pike who, under pressure, clears his lines.
64: Speculative effort from Connor Mahoney as he tries to get his side back into the game. His shot however skews wide of it's intended target.
61: Further superb play by Neufville, hassling and harrying his man into winning back possession in a dangerous position.
58: Stop-start openings of the second half, neither team are giving an inch. A lot of hard work but little by way of openings.
54: Parfitt-Williams looks to break away but is tugged back in full flow, another Rover is booked.
52: Corner for the visitors cleared away by Dobson before Neufville deals with the second cross. Willem Tomlinson goes into the book for a late tackle on Cullen.
50: Reece Oxford carries the ball 40, 50 yards out of defence and into the attack, unfortunately the move breaks down but it looked like he was going to run the length of the pitch!
46: Back under way here at Rush Green and if the first half is anywhere to go by, we should be in for a cracker! One change for the Hammers as Amos Nasha replaces Marcus Browne who has impressed on his first start since recovering from injury.
45+2: The referee blows for half-time as the Hammers carry a slender lead in the break. All to play for.
44: Jaanai Gordon goes mightily close to restoring the lead however he fires over from a diffcult angle.
42: Goal for Blackburn and real lifeline. Anton Forrester shows a burst of pace to get away from his man and finishes coolly past Howes. 2-1.
40: Final five minutes of the half and the hosts are good value for their lead. Saying that, Blackburn are certainly not out of this and look dangerous going forward.
36: Jaanai Gordon tries his luck from distance but it flies wide.
33: Blackburn go close to halving the defecit as David Carson bursts through the defence yet Chambers, again, is on hand to clear the danger.
32: Which the Hammers score from!! GOOOOOAL!! Reece Oxford powerfully heads past Fisher from Josh Cullen's pinpoint header. 2-0.
31: Excellent move from the Hammers which starts with Cullen spraying it to Pike, involves more than half the team and results in a corner...
28: Cullen, busy as ever, almost capitalises as Tomlinson gets his feet in a muddle yet the defender recovers in the knick of time.
25: More good defending from Neufville who shepherds the ball out under pressure, the youngster looks more than capable at this level.
22: Marcus Browne goes into the book having being adjudged to have left a boot in during a 50/50. Harsh considering Cullen's attacker got off scott free.
20: Superb chasing by Makasi forces Fisher to put it straight out of play.
18: GOOOOOOAL!!! Djair Parfitt-Williams can't stop scoring! Five goals in four games as he strokes home Jaanai Gordon's effort! Credit to Gordon who twisted and turned to fashion the space in the first place.
16: Rovers go close with looping header from a corner that is shaves the top of the crossbar and out, such was the angle that it wasn't as threatening as 'hitting the crossbar' sounds.
15: Parfitt-Williams is absolutely brimming with confidence and so he should be after netting four in the last three matches. His pace, tough and creativity is a real assest, you get the feeling he is just warming into the game.
12: Real edge to this game as Josh Cullen is scythed down, it was strong to say the least. Thankfully, Cullen is made of strong stuff and he is OK to continue.
10: Free-kick to the Hammers after Reece Oxford is felled for the second time in quick succession, it's worked toward Djair Parfitt-Williams whose deflected effort almost wrong-foots Fisher yet he recovers well.
8: Mini break on for the visitors but Oxford does well to slow the move down, they burst forward again and this time Leo Chambers makes a terrific sliding challenge to avert the danger.
6: Vashon Neufville shows typical willingness to burst forward at every opportunity while George Dobson is already asserting himself in the middle of the park.
4: Rovers respond in kind with territory of their own yet Moses Makasi sticks in a strong foot to clear the danger.
2: Good start for the Hammers as Alex Pike does well to win a corner in a tight sapce...Cullen fizzes it in and Chambers connects well however Andrew Fisher scrambles it wide for another corner...from the second delievery Chambers' looping header nestles on the roof of the net.
1: Here we go! Reece Oxford leads the Hammers out, wearing their traditional claret and blue, tonight's opponents Blackburn Rovers are in Blue and White. The hosts get us underway, kicking left-to-right in the first half. COYI!
6.50pm: Just ten minutes to go now until kick off and Rush Green is filling up nicely, great support as ever, for youth football here at the Academy of Football.
6.40pm: Earlier in the season, the Rovers edged a seven-goal thriller at Ewood Park as the Rovers came from behind to win 4-3. Connor Mahoney scored a match-winning brace that day, and he's starting tonight...
6.20pm: Tonight's opponents Blackburn go into this game having beaten local rivals Burnley 3-1 away in the first round, before beating Leicester City 1-0 at home. The Rovers are currently eighth in Division Two, six points behind the Hammers who are fifth.
6pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage of the Dev Squad's Barclays U21 Premier League Cup quarter-final with Blackburn Rovers. Cup fever is most certainly in the air here at Rush Green!
U21: Howes, Pike, Neufville, Dobson, Chambers, Oxford (c), Browne (Nasha 46), Makasi, Gordon (Belic 89), Cullen, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: Kemp, T. Brown, Rice
Blackburn Rovers: Fisher, Nyambe, Askew, Tomlinson, Lavelle (c), Wharton, Mahoney, Rankin-Costello, Forrester, Carson, Thomson
Subs: Platt, Crump, Hardcastle, Green, Rittenberg
Referee: Elliot Kaye