Goals from Sebastian Nebyla and Kai Corbett were enough to give West Ham United U18s a winning start under Kevin Keen in the U18 Premier League South.
Taking on Swansea U18 at a windswept Little Heath Sports Ground this morning, the young Hammers fell behind to a 19th-minute effort from the visitors’ striker.
Having missed the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot shortly afterwards, Nebyla would go on to level the scores in the 29th minute.
It then fell to Corbett to win the game within the first-half, striking a top-quality free-kick from 25 yards in the 41st minute which granted Keen the perfect start to league life as Lead Coach of the Academy side, having returned to the club in early July.
The 2-1 victory places West Ham U18s fifth after the first round of U18 Premier League South fixtures, as Keen looks to build on their eighth-placed finish last season.
The Hammers’ next fixture in the U18 Premier League South will be against Chelsea U18 at Cobham Training Ground at 11am on Saturday 17 August.