Two graduates of the Academy of Football enjoyed wins on loan in the English Football League over the weekend.
In League Two, Olatunji Akinola recorded his second clean sheet and victory in the space of five days as Leyton Orient bested Stevenage 2-0 on Saturday.
The 21-year-old defender, who joined West Ham United aged eight-years-old and has long been considered a promising prospect in defence, played the full 90 minutes at Broadhall Way.
The first half proved an entertaining, if goalless, encounter, during which Akinola and his defensive teammates were kept on their toes, before a more dominant second 45 minutes in the east London side’s favour.
In the end, victory on Akinola’s fifth appearance for the club came courtesy of two quickfire second-half goals from Jordan Maguire-Drew and Connor Wilkinson respectively, lifting the O’s up to 14th in the table.
The three points arrived hot on the heels of Leyton Orient’s 1-0 win at Tranmere on Tuesday evening, during which Akinola made an impressive six tackles – more than any other Orient player in the league this season.
His overall numbers and performance throughout the full game at Prenton Park earned Akinola a spot in the WhoScored Team of the Night for his division.
?️ No way through! ?️
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) October 21, 2020
Tunji Akinola's SIX tackles last night is the most recorded by an Orient player in the league this season.
His performance earned him a spot in the WhoScored team of the night too - well in Tunji! ?#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient pic.twitter.com/PWUEASJfUI
Akinola and Leyton Orient’s next league fixture is at home to Exeter City at The Breyer Group Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Another young West Ham United player helping his adopted team to victory in the Football League this weekend was Dan Kemp.
Making his fourth appearance for the Tangerines, the 21-year-old winger emerged from the substitutes’ bench after 72 minutes to help Neil Critchley’s side hold on to a 1-0 win at home to MK Dons.
Sully Kaikai had put Blackpool ahead shortly beforehand with a powerful finish which was enough to settle a game of few chances at Bloomfield Road.
Now sitting in 17th in League One, Kemp and Blackpool will look forward to a trip to face AFC Wimbledon at the Dons' temporary home of Loftus Road on Tuesday night.
Elsewhere, Felipe Anderson was an unused substitute for FC Porto as they defeated Gil Vicente 1-0 in Primeira Liga.
