West Ham United U18s 2-2 Fulham U18s
U18 Premier League South, Little Heath Training Ground, Saturday 15 March 2025, 11am GMT
West Ham United U18s were held to a 2-2 draw by Fulham in a hard-fought contest at Little Heath on Saturday, with the young Hammers twice taking the lead only to be pegged back by the visitors.
Both sides were evenly matched in the early exchanges, but it was West Ham’s Chinaza Nwosu who went closest to opening the scoring in the tenth minute. His well-struck free kick curled around the wall and forced a strong save from Dino Kaiser, who pushed the effort onto the post.
Lauris Coggin’s young Hammers then struck first on 16 minutes, thanks to a brilliant solo run from Riley Ebho. Picking up the ball in his own half, the full-back drove forward, brushing off challenges before sliding a perfectly weighted pass through to Josh Landers. The striker opened his body up and swept home confidently with his favoured left foot to give the Hammers the lead.
Buoyed by the goal, West Ham took control of proceedings, moving the ball with purpose and fluidity. A flowing team move saw Jonathan Unwin, making his full debut for the U18s, test Kaiser from range, while another set-piece delivery from Nwosu was met by Andre Dike, whose header drifted just wide.
Fulham had struggled to create openings, but against the run of play, they found a way back into the match in the 40th minute. Luca Picotto won a penalty after being challenged by Ebho inside the box. While the West Ham full-back did get a touch on the ball, the referee deemed the tackle to have also taken the player. Tom Wingate stepped up and sent Lanre Awesu the wrong way to level the score.
The Hammers responded well and ensured they went into the break ahead. In first-half stoppage time, Fulham failed to clear a Joe Scanlon cross, and Landers reacted quickest, rifling the ball into the roof of the net from close range for his second of the game.
After the interval, West Ham maintained their dominance, pinning Fulham inside their own half with composed possession play and an aggressive high press.
However, the visitors found another route back into the contest in the 76th minute. Substitute Aidan Evans forcing a turnover in West Ham’s third before finishing into an empty net.
The young Hammers almost mustered a response eight minutes from time when Fulham goalkeeper Kaiser’s slip gifted substitute David Chigwada a golden opportunity, but his effort skewed wide of the post.
Both sides had chances to snatch a late winner. In the third minute of stoppage time, Awesu came up with a crucial save to deny substitute Tarrell Cavell on the counter. Then, with the game’s final action, a deep cross from Riley Hargan found Rayan Oyebade at the far post, but Kaiser reacted well to keep out his low effort. Oyebade was first to the rebound, teeing up Aaron Kamara for one last attempt, but the Fulham defence scrambled clear to ensure the points were shared.
West Ham United U18s: Awesu, Ebho, Scanlon, Medine, Oyebade ©, Kamara, Unwin (Hargan 61), Nwosu, Landers (Chigwada 72), Beckford (Sowunmi 61), Dike (Balogun 72)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK)
Goals: Landers 20, 45+2
Fulham U18s: Kaiser, Walters, Picotto, Cooke ©, Schutter (Taylor HT), Chingwaro, Zepa, Khan, Dair, Wingate (Evans 62), Grant (Cavell 76)
Subs not used: Mayer (GK), Hall
Goals: Wingate (pen) 40, Evans 76
Booked: Chingwaro
Coggin: Maybe the game could have been out of sight half-time
While pleased with his side’s first-half performance, lead coach Lauris Coggin admitted they should have made their dominance count before Fulham snatched their second equaliser.
“I thought the performance, first half especially, was fantastic. With the ball, without the ball, we showed real intensity, enthusiasm, quality in everything that we did. Maybe the game could have been out of sight by half-time.
“We allowed them back into the game through moments of indecision, lapses of concentration, and it's a big learning moment for the young group that we've got. It’s a bittersweet result.”
Handing full debuts to first-year scholars Lewis Beckford and Jonathan Unwin, Coggin praised the two midfielders for helping West Ham impose themselves on the game.
“They've [Lewis Beckford and Jonathan Unwin] been incredibly patient. Both struggled with injuries this year. It was about time they had an opportunity to enjoy their life as a scholar, which they've done. And I think the 60 minutes that they both played, they showed their individual qualities and were a big part in an important team performance. It's fantastic to have them as part of the group and to be on the pitch, and I'm sure there's more to come.”
In wide areas, U16 wing-backs Joe Scanlon and Riley Ebho showed why they have been playing up the age groups, each of them registering an assist in the first half.
“They've played their way into the team and rightly so. They've both got different qualities and are exciting players. We love having them as part of our group, and again, with the ball and without the ball, showed aggression and quality.”
Finally, Coggin also had high praise for Landers, whose fine form in front of goal continued with a brace. The prolific striker has now netted six goals in six games since joining from Hibernian.
“He's incredible. He's settled in so quick. I think he's so unassuming. He doesn't know how good he can be. His work rate is a foundation for all of his performances. He puts so much energy into each game and the team.”
Landers: Fulham's the only game that I hadn't score in, so I wanted to get one up on them today
Thriving since joining West Ham United in January from Hibernian, Landers has six goals in six games in all competitions for Lauris Coggin’s U18s.
“That’s six in six now. I'm loving it so far, everything's going really well. Scoring goals, that's what I'm here to do, so it's good. I'm really enjoying everything. I've settled in nicely and all the boys are really good."
A goal against every U18s opponent he’s faced so far, the young striker was disappointed to not have come away with all three points.
“Fulham's the only game that I hadn't scored in, so I wanted to get one up on them today. I managed to get two, so that can equal out a bit now. But yeah, it was good, I thought we were the better team for the majority of the game. We dominated possession, created loads of chances as well. We just need to get better at winning games more consistently.”
