FT: Newcastle United U21 1-4 Dev Squad
90+3: Spiegel makes another great save and that's it! The Hammers have secured a deserved 4-1 victory! Reaction to follow!
90+1: Moses Makasi has been superb tonight, his vision, awareness and range of passing spot on. Akinola and Henry a real force at the back and Hendrie a willing runner all game. Excellent stuff all round.
89: Final exchanges and the Hammers look to be going fourth and strengthening their play off credentials...
86: The Hammers are just trying to take the sting out of the game. They are knocking it around nicely. Plenty of Man-of-the-Match contenders out there tonight. Substitute Anthony Scully has a lovely weight of pass, inside and outside the foot, lovely stuff.
82: Luka Belic is on for Dan Kemp, who has had a terrific first start for the U21s.
79: Spiegel tips over Roberts' arrowed free-kick.
77: Doneil Henry is penalised for an over-zealous tackle, nothing malicious, but forceful.
73: Newcastle are piling on the pressure, but the defence is withstanding the onslaught.
68: Anthony Scully comes on for Marcus Browne and he goes mightily close to scoring almost immediately!
66: Spiegel again is called to rush off his line, and instead of smashing it clear and passes it to Hendrie like a seasoned outfielder!
63: Henry gets a strong foot to take it off Roberts as he looked to burst forward, vital interception.
58: Sam Ford has led the line well is replaced by Jahmal Hector-Ingram, who almost makes an instant impact getting behind the defence but his pull-back is intercepted.
53: What a save that is from Raphael Spiegel! Longstaff looks certain to score yet the big Swiss somehow gets a hand to it. Great save!
51: Makasi plays another superb through-ball to Ford who bursts forward yet Pearson does well to tackle him. However the loose ball falls to Carter who shoots from distance and scores! 4-1. COYI
49: Early chance for the Hammers as Dan Kemp wins a free-kick which he takes himself
46: We're back under way here at St. James' Park. More of the same please!
HT: Referee Shaun Hudson brings the proceedings to a close and the Hammers have been superb so far. Here's hoping there is more to come.
45+1: Spiegel tips over a dangerous cross which was just about to creep under his crossbar. Corner...Matt Carter gets a good tackle in but it's another corner.
45: We did say there would be more goals...
41: Goal for Newcastle and this game may not be over just yet! Sean Longstaff runs onto a loose ball and rolls it home. 3-1.
39: GOAL! It's a third goal for the Hammers and a deserved one too. Stephen Hendrie has been terrific tonight and he lays a great ball into Kemp who slots it home calmly. A goal on his first start! 3-0. COYI!
38: Rafael Spiegel is quick off his line to clear the danger - he had to get the tackle just right and he did.
37: Kemp bares down on goal and has Makasi and Ford ahead of him but his attempted through-ball is cut out in the knick of time.
33: Laidler goes into the book after a late bodycheck on Akinola.
30: Henry's header away is only half cleared away and Hendrie has to make a good block from Dan Barlaser's effort.
27: GOAL! The Hammers have doubled their lead through Makasi who slots home coolly after a great move between Akinola and Ford. 2-0!
26: Noha Sylvestre goes for a 25-yard piledriver and it's not a bad effort! It nestles just over the crossbar.
25: Pike does well to win the ball back and get forward, his one-two with Ford sets him free yet his cross is cut out well by Curtis Good.
22: Another good passage of one-touch passing from the Hammers, they've been playing with a real identity for a number of months now, trying to play good, attractive football.
18: A really open games this, great entertainment! The Hammers are in search of a second, but their efforts are leaving them open at the back. Expect more goals tonight...
14: What a goal that would have been! Browne makes a darting run into the box and Makasi has the vision and ability to find him with an inch-perfect defensive pass. Goalkeeper Brendan Pearson is brave and dives at Browne's feet.
13: Deep-lying corner from the Magpies, however Spiegel rises to punch away with authority. Danger averted.
11: Excellent run by Stephen Hendrie to bring it forward 40 odd yards. Excellent positivity.
8: The Hammers' pressing is better this time and they force a mistake. Moses Makasi swings a ball into the box and Marcus Browne is on hand at the back post to cushion a volley home. Great start. 1-0. COYI!
6: Adam Laidler lays a good ball down the left-wing for Longstaff to chase, the referee deems Pike to have fouled his man and they have a free-kick in a dangerous position...they try to play it short and Pike clears with minimum fuss.
4: First real chance of the game and it falls to the hosts. Sean Longstaff has too much room on the edge of the box and he tries his luck from 20 odd yards, Spiegel looked like he had it covered as it falls wide of the left-hand post.
3: The visitors have settled well so far knocking it around nicely. Pike goes thundering into a typically robust challenge to win back possession, good work from the right-back.
1: Here we go then! Marcus Browne leads his side out - he looks like a natural fit as skipper. The Hammers go through their usual pre-match ritual of bursting out of a huddle and we're good to go. The Claret and Blues get us under way. COYI
6.55: Not long to go now! Let's hope the long journey has been worth it! More importantly, let's hope it's the start of a prosperous weekend for the Hammers!
6.40pm: A big night for several young Hammers our there tonight. Marcus Browne captains the side for the first side - the versatile midfielder has enjoyed a break-through season going from U18 to signing professional terms and making the first team bench on several occassions.
Elsewhere, Dan Kemp makes his first start for the U21s, he changed the game when he came on against Rovers. Likewise youngsters Matt Carter, Noha Sylvestre and Tunji Akinola have a perfect platform to show what they can do.
6.30pm: A quick look at the table sees West Ham in a comfortable sixth position - a win tonight could take them to fourth depending on any margin of victory. The Magpies, currently tenth, could close the gap on Blackburn and Fulham.
6.20pm: It's been a busy time for Terry Westley's men. They battled their way to a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Monday and now face Peter Beardsley's charges tonight. As if that were not enough, the Hammers host Liverpool on Wednesday 16th March, Rush Green, KO 7pm. What's more - it's FREE!
Newcastle United: Pearson, Bailey, Laidler, Satka, Williams, Good, Barlaser, Ward, Roberts, Longstaff, Smith
Subs: Smith, Cobain, Adu-Peprah, Spooner
U21: Spiegel, Pike, Hendrie, Sylvestre, Henry, Akinola, Kemp (Belic 80), Carter, Ford (Hector-Ingram 58), Browne (c) (Scully 60), Makasi
Subs: T. Brown (GK)
6pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's game, as the Development Squad play Newcastle United U21 and the ever so impressive St James' Park. We're on Rafa Benitez watch tonight, no signs as yet...
90+3: Spiegel makes another great save and that's it! The Hammers have secured a deserved 4-1 victory! Reaction to follow!
90+1: Moses Makasi has been superb tonight, his vision, awareness and range of passing spot on. Akinola and Henry a real force at the back and Hendrie a willing runner all game. Excellent stuff all round.
89: Final exchanges and the Hammers look to be going fourth and strengthening their play off credentials...
86: The Hammers are just trying to take the sting out of the game. They are knocking it around nicely. Plenty of Man-of-the-Match contenders out there tonight. Substitute Anthony Scully has a lovely weight of pass, inside and outside the foot, lovely stuff.
82: Luka Belic is on for Dan Kemp, who has had a terrific first start for the U21s.
79: Spiegel tips over Roberts' arrowed free-kick.
77: Doneil Henry is penalised for an over-zealous tackle, nothing malicious, but forceful.
73: Newcastle are piling on the pressure, but the defence is withstanding the onslaught.
68: Anthony Scully comes on for Marcus Browne and he goes mightily close to scoring almost immediately!
66: Spiegel again is called to rush off his line, and instead of smashing it clear and passes it to Hendrie like a seasoned outfielder!
63: Henry gets a strong foot to take it off Roberts as he looked to burst forward, vital interception.
58: Sam Ford has led the line well is replaced by Jahmal Hector-Ingram, who almost makes an instant impact getting behind the defence but his pull-back is intercepted.
53: What a save that is from Raphael Spiegel! Longstaff looks certain to score yet the big Swiss somehow gets a hand to it. Great save!
51: Makasi plays another superb through-ball to Ford who bursts forward yet Pearson does well to tackle him. However the loose ball falls to Carter who shoots from distance and scores! 4-1. COYI
49: Early chance for the Hammers as Dan Kemp wins a free-kick which he takes himself
46: We're back under way here at St. James' Park. More of the same please!
HT: Referee Shaun Hudson brings the proceedings to a close and the Hammers have been superb so far. Here's hoping there is more to come.
45+1: Spiegel tips over a dangerous cross which was just about to creep under his crossbar. Corner...Matt Carter gets a good tackle in but it's another corner.
45: We did say there would be more goals...
41: Goal for Newcastle and this game may not be over just yet! Sean Longstaff runs onto a loose ball and rolls it home. 3-1.
39: GOAL! It's a third goal for the Hammers and a deserved one too. Stephen Hendrie has been terrific tonight and he lays a great ball into Kemp who slots it home calmly. A goal on his first start! 3-0. COYI!
38: Rafael Spiegel is quick off his line to clear the danger - he had to get the tackle just right and he did.
37: Kemp bares down on goal and has Makasi and Ford ahead of him but his attempted through-ball is cut out in the knick of time.
33: Laidler goes into the book after a late bodycheck on Akinola.
30: Henry's header away is only half cleared away and Hendrie has to make a good block from Dan Barlaser's effort.
27: GOAL! The Hammers have doubled their lead through Makasi who slots home coolly after a great move between Akinola and Ford. 2-0!
26: Noha Sylvestre goes for a 25-yard piledriver and it's not a bad effort! It nestles just over the crossbar.
25: Pike does well to win the ball back and get forward, his one-two with Ford sets him free yet his cross is cut out well by Curtis Good.
22: Another good passage of one-touch passing from the Hammers, they've been playing with a real identity for a number of months now, trying to play good, attractive football.
18: A really open games this, great entertainment! The Hammers are in search of a second, but their efforts are leaving them open at the back. Expect more goals tonight...
14: What a goal that would have been! Browne makes a darting run into the box and Makasi has the vision and ability to find him with an inch-perfect defensive pass. Goalkeeper Brendan Pearson is brave and dives at Browne's feet.
13: Deep-lying corner from the Magpies, however Spiegel rises to punch away with authority. Danger averted.
11: Excellent run by Stephen Hendrie to bring it forward 40 odd yards. Excellent positivity.
8: The Hammers' pressing is better this time and they force a mistake. Moses Makasi swings a ball into the box and Marcus Browne is on hand at the back post to cushion a volley home. Great start. 1-0. COYI!
6: Adam Laidler lays a good ball down the left-wing for Longstaff to chase, the referee deems Pike to have fouled his man and they have a free-kick in a dangerous position...they try to play it short and Pike clears with minimum fuss.
4: First real chance of the game and it falls to the hosts. Sean Longstaff has too much room on the edge of the box and he tries his luck from 20 odd yards, Spiegel looked like he had it covered as it falls wide of the left-hand post.
3: The visitors have settled well so far knocking it around nicely. Pike goes thundering into a typically robust challenge to win back possession, good work from the right-back.
1: Here we go then! Marcus Browne leads his side out - he looks like a natural fit as skipper. The Hammers go through their usual pre-match ritual of bursting out of a huddle and we're good to go. The Claret and Blues get us under way. COYI
6.55: Not long to go now! Let's hope the long journey has been worth it! More importantly, let's hope it's the start of a prosperous weekend for the Hammers!
6.40pm: A big night for several young Hammers our there tonight. Marcus Browne captains the side for the first side - the versatile midfielder has enjoyed a break-through season going from U18 to signing professional terms and making the first team bench on several occassions.
Elsewhere, Dan Kemp makes his first start for the U21s, he changed the game when he came on against Rovers. Likewise youngsters Matt Carter, Noha Sylvestre and Tunji Akinola have a perfect platform to show what they can do.
6.30pm: A quick look at the table sees West Ham in a comfortable sixth position - a win tonight could take them to fourth depending on any margin of victory. The Magpies, currently tenth, could close the gap on Blackburn and Fulham.
6.20pm: It's been a busy time for Terry Westley's men. They battled their way to a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Monday and now face Peter Beardsley's charges tonight. As if that were not enough, the Hammers host Liverpool on Wednesday 16th March, Rush Green, KO 7pm. What's more - it's FREE!
Newcastle United: Pearson, Bailey, Laidler, Satka, Williams, Good, Barlaser, Ward, Roberts, Longstaff, Smith
Subs: Smith, Cobain, Adu-Peprah, Spooner
U21: Spiegel, Pike, Hendrie, Sylvestre, Henry, Akinola, Kemp (Belic 80), Carter, Ford (Hector-Ingram 58), Browne (c) (Scully 60), Makasi
Subs: T. Brown (GK)
6pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's game, as the Development Squad play Newcastle United U21 and the ever so impressive St James' Park. We're on Rafa Benitez watch tonight, no signs as yet...