A very young West Ham United U23 side were beaten 2-1 by Everton in Premier League 2 on Monday night.
The Hammers, who lined up with six scholars in the starting XI, took the lead through first half substitute Veron Parkes early in the second half but were pegged back by Morgan Feeney’s equaliser.
And 12 minutes from time, the hosts got their winner as Bassalo Sambou finished from the penalty spot after Alfie Lewis had brought down a Toffee in the 18-yard-box.
The first half was a tight affair with neither side creating too much in the opposition’s box. The Hammers’ best opportunity of the 45 came a quarter of an hour in, when Manny Longelo slid a lovely through ball to Reece Hannam, but the No11 was unable to stretch and get on the end of the pass.
Everton tested Nathan Trott in the Hammers goal with eight minutes remaining but their best chance came a minute into injury time at the end of the first period when Nathan Broadhead dribbled past three Claret shirts before opting to square to Sambou rather than shoot himself, and West Ham could clear.
The sides came out the blocks much faster in the second half though, and within five minutes the visitors were in front. Parkes, picking up the ball in space on the left on just his second appearance for the U23s, drove forward and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner to bag his first at PL2 level.
The joy was short-lived for West Ham though, as moments later Feeney – also on as a first half sub – nodded home unmarked in the box after the dangerous Josh Bowler had crossed perfectly.
Minutes later, fellow substitute Fraser Hornby – a handful for Liam Manning and Steve Potts’ side throughout the second 45 – volleyed over from the edge of the six yard box when a second goal seemed inevitable.
Hornby then thought he had given his side the lead on the hour mark, only for the offside flag to rule out his tap-in after Bowler was again the creator.
The young Hammers – who also introduced Keenan Appiah-Forson for his first U23 appearance – worked hard and looked as if they were going to hold onto a draw, until the final ten minutes approached.
Bowler attacked down the right, drove into the box and was fouled by Lewis with the referee pointing to the penalty spot with no hesitation.
Sambou stepped up to fire in from 12 yards and ultimately give top-of-the-table Everton all three points in Premier League 2.
Everton: Hilton, Charsely, Galloway (Feeney 29), Markelo, Browning, Foulds, Bowler, Adeniran, Sambou, Evans (Hornby 59), Broadhead
Subs not used: Hewelt, Lavery, Mampala
Goals: Feeney 53, Sambou 78 (pen)
West Ham United: Trott, Johnson, Oxford, Alese, Barrett, Lewis, Rosa, Nebyla (Appiah-Forson 71), Longelo, Hannam (Parkes 18), Adarkwa
Subs not used: Okotcha, Anang
Goals: Parkes 50