West Ham United U18s 3-0 Reading U18s
U18 Premier League South Division, Rush Green Stadium, Saturday 27 January, 11am GMT
There were plenty of plaudits from assistant coach Lauris Coggin as West Ham United returned to the top of the U18 Premier League South Division following a comprehensive 3-0 win over Reading on Saturday.
A Josh Ajala brace, taking his season-tally in the league to six goals, would grab the headlines in the young Irons’ ninth league win of the season.
Responding well to their FA Youth Cup setback last time out, first-year scholar Emeka Adiele was also on the scoresheet as the Hammers swept past the visiting Royals.
Consecutive league wins to start 2024 saw the U18s leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur and lead the pack, with their 12 games played one game less than their North London rivals in second.
Coggin was delighted to see the U18s move to the top of the table and challenged his side to keep their levels high ahead of a Premier League Cup quarter-final away to Manchester City on Saturday 3 February.
It was nice to get back up and running after the FA Youth Cup loss because we wanted to respond well.
Reading is a tough side and gives you a lot of problems in transition, but the boys played with real maturity and control. The first goal was outstanding and settled the game and we were pleased with the performance.
Emeka Adiele is one we are excited about, and I thought he was the best player on the pitch against Reading.
He is the youngest player in our squad and as a first-year scholar has played his way into the team, which is not an easy thing to do. He caused their right-hand side a lot of problems when he got forward down the left and made a real impact when he got on the ball. His finish for the goal was really good. He needs to keep working hard to keep getting results on the pitch.
Rayan Oyebade came into the side - and was exceptional against Reading.
He found key passes going forward but most of all I was pleased with his performance in defence. He is a versatile player and has played wing-back, full-back, and centre-half, which I think is his strongest position, this season. But the way he has been training this year has been impressive, and we saw that in his performance against Reading which was at a high level.
Josh Ajala joined us from Chelsea in the summer and has fitted in well for the group.
He always trains at a high level, and I was really pleased to see him get those two goals against Reading because it was what his performances in recent weeks have deserved. It comes down to his attitude – his quality – every day and then it is about how he shows that on the pitch.
Our league position has maybe surprised a few people but for me, it is about how we act, how we train, and what we are learning as a team.
Results are just part of those things and how we play on the weekend. It is about those elements which help players progress into the U21s and then have loan opportunities – like Callum Marshall with West Bromwich Albion.
Manchester City in the Premier League Cup is an exciting opportunity for us to test ourselves against really good opposition.
It is another important game that will challenge us differently and it is an away game at a fantastic venue. It is one we are looking forward to, for sure!
West Ham United U18s: Herrick, Battrum ©, Mayers, Briggs, Oyebade (Medine 78), Adiele, Akpata, Caliste (Halim 79), Fawunmi (Nwosu 63), Ajala (Umolu 79), Rigge
Subs not used: Abraham (GK)
Goals: Ajala 2 64, Adiele 45+3
Booked: Akpata, Briggs
