West Ham United U18s 2-1 Southampton U18s
U18 Premier League South Division, Rush Green Stadium, Saturday 24 February 2024, 11.30am GMT
West Ham United U18s remained top of the Premier League South Division after a tense 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday lunchtime.
Forward Josh Ajala struck a first-half brace to set an eleventh league win of the season in motion as Kevin Keen’s side moved three points clear of second-place Chelsea with victory.
A neat reverse pass from Tyron Akpata left Ajala with a tap-in to open the scoring with 21 minutes played.
Henry Upstell then gifted the Hammers a second when the Southampton goalkeeper’s pass was intercepted by Ajala, who gratefully struck home 15 minutes later.
A third West Ham goal almost arrived when the No9 headed a hat-trick chance over and Emeka Adiele hit the crossbar, as the Hammers were good value for their two-goal lead by the break.
Southampton, though, fought their way back into the fixture when Nicholas Oyekunle found the net from the spot with 50 minutes played.
And so, West Ham, who should have out of sight in the first half, after chances for Ryan Battrum, Akpata, and Elisha Sowunmi went unconverted, looked for a third to confirm victory.
Dan Rigge led the charge and skipped into the area, only to be denied by a neat save from Southampton stopper Upstell, while Battrum powered his way through on goal to force another stop, and then Ajala again went close.
And yet, despite a late flurry of Saints pressure, the young Hammers stuck to their task and did not need a third, with Aridas Golambeckis’ late challenge - the last kick of the game - securing a welcome response to a 5-2 defeat by West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.
West Ham United U18s: Herrick, Medine, Golambeckis, Oyebade, Mayers, Adiele, Akpata, Battrum ©, Sowunmi (Halim 87), Ajala, Rigge
Subs not used: Abraham (GK), Hargan, Unwin, Kamara
Goals: Ajala 21, 36
Booked: Battrum, Adiele
Keen praises resilient Hammers
When Southampton pulled a goal back with 50 minutes played, the Hammers had to dig deep in east London to secure victory, despite a first-half brace from Josh Ajala.
Football is like that, though, and as the momentum shifted in the second half the Hammers had show another side to their performance.
In particular, the back three of Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers, and Rayan Oyebade responded well to the visitors’ pressure to see out the win, with the lead coach pleased with the character his side showed to remain top of the tree.
Keen stated: “In the second half, Southampton changed a few things and you saw a different side to our team, where we had to work hard for each other, dig in and defend, and put our bodies on the line.
“It’s pleasing because we've had a couple of defeats recently against Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion, so it was important to get the win and stay in and around the top of the league.
“You see it in senior football when the opposition have the momentum [it can be difficult], so I am really proud of the group because it was a good, solid, performance and there was a couple of super finishes from Josh Ajala too.
“I also thought Rayan Oyebade was outstanding. He had a tough match against West Brom last week, but today he defended well and covered his teammates and was calm in possession.”
Up Next
West Ham United U18s continue their league campaign away to Norwich City on Tuesday 5 March. Kick-off is set for 1pm at Lotus Training Centre.
