Colchester United 0-4 West Ham United U21s
Bristol Street Motors Trophy, JobServe Community Stadium, Tuesday 5 December 2023, 7.30pm GMT
West Ham United U21s reached the last 16 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy for the first time in the Club’s history.
A stunning 4-0 win over Colchester United saw the young Hammers record their fourth win of the competition and also stretch an unbeaten run to 15 games.
Battling down the right throughout, Dan Chesters opened the scoring on eight minutes when he headed home a delicious cross from the impressive Callum Marshall.
After the break, the Hammers found their groove and an attacking trio of Divin Mubama, George Earthy, and Marshall showed their class again.
With the experience of Ben Johnson and Conor Coventry too, the U21s went on to control the game with ease.
Chesters found Earthy, whose thumping finish made it two-nil, before Lewis Orford sent West Ham’s third into the top corner from distance.
Mubama then rounded off a superb victory when he found the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The result means the U21s have now beaten Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Newport County, and Colchester United in the competition.
They have scored 12 goals in those four games and conceded just once. The task now is to continue the run into the last 16.
West Ham United: Anang, Chesters (Laing 82), Johnson, Casey, Luizão, Scarles (Clayton 82), Coventry, Kelly (Orford 46), Earthy (Moore 87), Mubama, Marshall (Kodua 87)
Subs not used: Knightbridge (GK), Forbes
Goals: Chesters 8, Earthy 57, Orford 78, Mubama 82
Booked: Marshall 30
Scarles praises brilliant team performance
Ollie Scarles was proud to make history for the Academy of Football once more.
Part of the U18s side to win the FA Youth Cup last season, Scarles is part of a talented group now making their mark at U21 level.
Four wins from four in this competition is an impressive feat, though, and one Scarles isn't taking lightly.
“The boys were brilliant to get another win,” Scarles explained. “We’re doing really well at the moment and hopefully, we can keep this run going.
“It's a massive achievement [to reach the last 16]. We have such great chemistry and the way we are playing at the moment let’s see how far we can go.”
Showing pace down the left, Scarles was as impressive in defence as he was in attack in Essex.
Holding himself against senior professionals is an impressive feat for someone with so much learning still to come.
“I feel like it is a good test playing against league players,” he explained. “But I think all of us boys have shown we can compete at this level and win games.
“We have worked really hard in training every day and there is such good chemistry between the boys and that is what wins us games.”
Up Next
West Ham United U21s are next in action away to Crystal Palace.
The match will be played on Monday 18 December, with kick-off set for 7pm.
