Colchester United 0-1 West Ham United U21s
Pre-season match, Wallace Binder Ground, Friday 28 July 2023, 7.30pm GMT
A positive stride towards our Premier League 2 opener was made as West Ham United U21s beat Colchester United 1-0 in a pre-season fixture on Friday evening.
The U21s kept the ball brilliantly in Essex and saw an aggressive press reap reward when Patrick Kelly won the ball back and combined with Gideon Kodua, before George Earthy was released inside the area.
The No11 then shifted the ball on his left foot, past former Hammer Will Greenidge, and found the bottom corner with ease to cap a delightful move on ten minutes.
Expertly playing their way out from the back once more, another chance soon fell the way of those in Claret and Blue.
Joseph Anang to Michael Forbes to Archie Woods to Earthy, with Kodua, after a great through ball from the No11, unable to finish the move when left racing through on goal.
Goalkeeper Anang did make a hatful of saves in a lively first half, with the No1 off his line well to deny Donell Thomas an equaliser with an instinctive stop from close range, but it was the Hammers who continued to dominate the ball and the chances.
A brilliant move after the break almost doubled the Irons’ lead as Kelly, Earthy and Kodua combined, before the No11 sliced his attempt at second of the night over bar. Archie Woods also sent a free-kick narrowly off target, while Orford was again denied late on.
In the end the Hammers didn’t need a second, and were thankful a late effort from the hosts struck the post to avoid a share of the spoils.
West Ham United U21s: Anang, Laing (Tarima 75), Luizão, Forbes, Scarles (Moore 68), Woods, Kelly, Chesters, Orford, Earthy (Marshall 68), Kodua
Subs not used: Knightbridge (GK), Terry (GK)
Goal: Earthy 10
Robson: I'm pleased with the 'positive showing' in Essex
Lead coach Mark Robson was impressed by the football played by his side as the U21s zipped the ball around with confidence and plenty of poise against Colchester United.
The game’s only goal was just one of the many occasions the Hammers’ forwards and midfielders combined to cut their opponents open as the U21s started to find their form ahead of their PL2 opener.
Robson said: “We played some really good football, both individually and as a team, it was really good.
“I thought the three boys in midfield [Patrick Kelly, Lewis Orford and Archie Woods] were really good, some of their play was brilliant and they really made us tick. They allowed us to control the game.”
A young side for the Premier League 2 has seen the more experienced heads in the development squad head out on loan over the past week.
Goalkeeper Kristian Hegyi and midfielder Freddie Potts, both of whom excelled at the PL2 level last season, are now seeking to impress in the football league, with Hegyi joining EFL League One outfit Stevenage Town and Potts making the move to third-tier Wycombe Wanderers for a season-long loan.
The lead coach was pleased the duo are making the move and was confident football league experience will only further their development upon their return to east London.
“If they are not quite making it into the first team, the challenge is can we give them that next bit that they need,” Robson said. “I think playing senior football is going to be really important for them.
“It will still be a learning curve for both of them but hopefully one they grasp and it’s a platform for the next part of their career.”
Earthy continues to shine this summer with winner in Essex
Following an FA Youth Cup triumph last season, George Earthy’s stock has continued to rise in east London this summer.
The attacking midfielder joined the first team in Australia for their pre-season tour to Perth and continued to shine back in England, showing a neat touch and poise to open the scoring on Friday evening.
Combining with Gideon Kodua and Patrick Kelly, the trio exchanged passes neatly before the No11 fired past Colchester United stopper Sam Hornby expertly. It was the game’s only goal and a finish well worthy of winning the match.
Earthy said: “It is something we have been working on in training, getting the ball out of your feet in the area and shooting at goal. And it worked tonight and went in the back of the net.”
Part of the hatful of U18s to make the step up to Premier League 2 level this season, Earthy is well aware of the challenges to come.
PL2 will be more physical, quicker too. But Earthy wants to make his mark. A sequence of extra runs after the full-time whistle shows this is a player well aware that he needs plenty of graft to match his skills. Fresh from his experience with the first team is Australia, he is ready to make his mark in 2023/24.
He added: “It was a great experience being in Australia and with the first team. It was exciting but you just want to get out there and show the Gaffer what you can do.
“I know making the step up to 21s, you’ve got to be sharper and quicker. You are playing against bigger players, so you’ve got to sharpen up. You’ve got to be quicker. You get a lot less time than did with the 18s.”
Up next
West Ham U21s will be next in action against Elche B as part of a pre-season tour of Spain.
The young Hammer's final pre-season fixture will take place against Canvey Island on Tuesday 8 August.
