Academy

Report & Highlights: Youthful U21s breeze past Canvey Island

8th August 2023

Canvey Island 0-2 West Ham United U21s
The Movie Starr Stadium, Pre-season fixture, Tuesday 8 August, 7.30pm

West Ham United U21s concluded their 2023/24 Premier League 2 preparations with a 2-0 win against Canvey Island.

Against the Isthmian League outfit, the young Hammers battled well, and asserted their early dominance with a flurry of half chances, the best of which saw George Earthy’s deflected shot arrow over the bar.

Canvey threatened to test local lad Mason Terry when Elliot Johnson fired wide of the post from the edge of the area. And although the stopper was relatively untroubled in the first half, he did see Kaelan Casey react quickly though to clear a goal-bound effort off the line, before the young Irons were back on the offensive.

A flowing move saw Keenan Appiah-Forson, Michael Forbes and Ollie Scarles combine to send the Hammers forward, before Gideon Kodua killed the ball with a glorious touch but could only fire over.

A hatful first-year scholars were also part of the action, with Liam Jones, Joshua Ajala and Ryan Battrum entering the field at half-time, before Earthy tricked his way through the yellow and blue shirts and struck wide.

After Billy Bates, Daniel Rigge, Tyron Akpata and Favour Fawunmi were later introduced, Terry was then called into action with a superb stop to keep the game goalless - his final act, before his replacement by Finlay Herrick, in his first action at Under-21 level, for the final 20 minutes.

And it was the younger lads who combined well for the Irons’ first of the night, with Canvey defender Tobi Tinubu getting the final touch after Jones’ delicious cross found Fawunmi at the back post.

Ajala then netted a stunning second from close range to round off the victory and ensure a side, with both U21s and U18s in its ranks, head into the season with a third straight pre-season win under their belts.

West Ham United U21s: Terry (Herrick 75), Robinson (Battrum 46), Tarima, Casey (Akpata 65), Forbes © (Bates 65), Scarles (Jones 46), Forson (Rigge 65), Woods, Moore, Kodua (Ajala 65), Earthy (Rigge 65)
Subs not used: Kelly

Goals: Fawunmi, Ajala

Robson praises U18s who more than stepped up against Canvey

Mark Robson was full of praise for the hatful of first and second-year scholars who featured against Canvey Island.

Billy Bates, Daniel Rigge, Tyron Akpata, Favour Fawunmi, Finlay Herrick, Liam Jones and Joshua Ajala made their mark in the second half, with the latter also finding the net late on the round-off the 2-0 win in Essex.

With a few U21s given the night off ahead of the fixture with Arsenal on Friday evening, the lead coach was delighted by the impact the U18s made from the bench.

Robson stated: “We were trying to get one or two a bit more game time ahead of Friday, but it was also a ready good opportunity to look at a few of the U18s as well.

“I have got to say I thought they freshened it up in the second half and turned the game around for us. And it was really pleasing to see.

“It was the first time I had seen a few play a game, and they did really well. I thought Josh’s goal was outstanding and it was a really good move and well-executed finish with his left foot.”

Results at this stage are of course pleasing heading into the new season, although the second-half performance showed there are plenty of Hammers pushing for U21s action across 2023/24.

The first fixture is on Friday and Robson is pleased to be heading to Arsenal with momentum from a successful pre-season, despite how youthful his side was in their pre-season finale.

“I rested some boys tonight after a lot of games and travelling over the past week," he added. "I think if we can do what we did last season by giving some of the U18s a chance at U21 level, I will be really pleased.

“We are always trying to look for the next player and people are looking to take someone’s place. When you have that competition, it is great for us. As a Club, it is what we need.”

Forbes ready for leadership role as Robson names his skippers

There was a smile on Michael Forbes’ face as he led his teammates out against Canvey Island.

The young defender, who spent nearly six months side-lined at the end of last season due to a mix of ankle ligament and cheekbone injury, has made a welcome return to match action over 2023/24 pre-season and has been named as skipper by Robson for the imminent PL2 campaign.

Vice skippers Gideon Kodua and Regan Clayton show a solid leadership group emerging at the development level, with Forbes thrilled to be given the extra responsibility of being a senior player – and also the armband.

“It was the longest I have been out of football, so it is great to be back playing,” he stated. “It was a nasty one, so I am happy to be around the boys again.

“With a lot of the boys who won the FA Youth Cup last year stepping up, it’s a young group so I have been taking a lot more responsibility, which I am enjoying.

“Being given the armband last week, I am really proud to get that role. Leadership is a huge part of my game and I think I can have a big role in the game with my voice and bring other players into the game too.”

A win in their final pre-season fixture means the Irons head into their PL2 opener with three straight victories under their belt.

Now, the focus is on Friday’s trip to Arsenal. The Hammers want to start as they mean to go on.

Forbes added: “In the first half, we were a bit disappointed with how we played but in the second half it was a lot better and a few of the younger lads did really well.

“Arsenal is a massive game to start the season and it won't be easy. I think if we can put in a performance and win that match, it will be a good platform for us to kick-on.”