West Ham United U21s 1-0 Norwich City U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 30 August 2024, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Rush Green Stadium thanks to a second-half effort from Josh Ajala, maintaining their perfect start to the season with three wins from three games going into the international break.
The match began with West Ham pressing high up the pitch, nearly capitalising on an early mistake by Norwich goalkeeper Caleb Ansen. Kamarai Swyer's clever interception set up Lewis Orford for a shot from the edge of the box, but his effort sailed just over the bar. The Hammers continued to apply pressure, with Sean Moore and Swyer both coming close to breaking the deadlock, but neither able to guide their efforts on target.
Norwich gradually grew into the game, and as the first half wore on, they began to create chances of their own. Finlay Herrick produced a crucial save to deny Daniel Ogwuru's powerful header, keeping the score level as the visitors pushed for an opener. Despite Norwich's late surge before half-time, the teams went into the break still deadlocked.
West Ham emerged from the interval with renewed energy. Luizão nearly opened the scoring with a towering header that narrowly missed the far post. The breakthrough finally came in the 63rd minute when Orford won the ball deep in Norwich's half. His cross found Swyer, whose blocked effort was retrieved by Ajala. Despite calls for offside, the flag stayed down, and Ajala calmly slotted home from close range to give the Hammers a vital lead.
Norwich pressed hard for an equaliser in the final minutes, forcing West Ham to defend resolutely, seeing out the game to earn all three points.
The victory, built on a solid defensive performance and a well-taken goal, sees West Ham maintain their 100 per cent record in the Premier League 2.
West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Battrum, Luizão, Mayers, Robinson, Orford ©, Akpata (Tarima 90+3), Adiele, Moore, Swyer, Ajala
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Rigge, Dolaghan, Brown
Goal: Ajala (64)
Booked: Ajala (90+1)
Robson: We dug in and saw the game out
Although the win was perhaps not as convincing as their first two this season, West Ham's U21s showed a different side to their game against Norwich, displaying grit and determination to secure a 1-0 victory, their third win from three matches. After taking the lead just after the hour mark, Mark Robson’s men dug deep to keep a clean sheet and maintain their perfect start to 2024/25.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Robson acknowledged the team’s resilience. He said: “I said to the boys at the end of the game that we didn’t play as well as we have done in the first two. But what we did do is we dug in and saw the game out. It’s pleasing to get off to such a great start.
“Losing Kaelan [Casey] and Ollie [Scarles] gave an opportunity to a couple of our other boys. They’ve stepped in and done a great job. Ryan [Battrum] playing as a centre-half was a new challenge for him, and he did really well. I was particularly impressed with Lewis Orford and Emeka [Adiele], and I’m very pleased for Josh [Ajala] for getting another goal. It was a hard-fought game.”
Ajala: My immediate thought was to smack it in the corner!
When the ball fell kindly in the penalty box on 63 minutes, Ajala was ready to capitalise. The young striker, who had initially misjudged Orford’s cross, quickly recovered to feed off Swyer’s blocked shot, calmly slotting home the winner to make it three goals in his last two appearances.
“Three wins out of three and joint top of the league is the best possible way to go into the international break,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to get the winning goal for your team. Lew [Orford] was on the right wing, put a cross behind me, and I ended up on the floor. I managed to get up quickly, got to Kam’s deflected shot, and my immediate thought was to smack it in the corner!”
