West Ham United U18s 1-0 Norwich City U18s
U18 Premier League South, Little Heath Training Ground, Saturday 5 April 2025, 12.30pm BST
West Ham United U18s returned to winning ways with a tightly-contested 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Little Heath training ground.
Josh Landers' sixth goal since arriving in January from Hibernian proved decisive in a closely-contested affair, with Fin Hooper also playing a crucial role in preserving the lead thanks to a fine penalty save.
The young Hammers enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the early stages. A well-worked move inside the opening ten minutes saw Elisha Sowunmi test Canaries goalkeeper Henry Bullen after some composed build-up play. At the other end, Norwich struggled to break through a resolute West Ham back line, but did fashion a half-chance on 28 minutes when Gabriel Keita’s cross was met by Hugo Valencia Gómez. His header, however, was comfortably saved by Hooper.
The first real opening of the game arrived shortly after the restart, and it fell to the hosts. A defensive error from Norwich allowed Sowunmi to pounce in the penalty area, and although he was quickly closed down by the goalkeeper, the ball broke kindly for Lewis Beckford. The winger spotted Landers in space, but the Scotland youth international dragged his effort wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.
That miss almost proved costly. Valencia Gómez turned provider moments later, this time finding Finlay Corke in space, but the Norwich No9 pulled his shot beyond the far post.
With the game finely poised entering the closing stages, the breakthrough finally arrived on 68 minutes, and it came via another defensive lapse from the visitors. Goalkeeper Bullen's under-hit pass was seized upon by Majid Balogun, who smartly shifted the ball to Landers. The forward, having pressured the goalkeeper moments earlier, made no mistake at the second time of asking, slotting home with his weaker foot to put the young Hammers in front.
Norwich responded well and twice came close to equalising. Corke hit the side netting after a clever move down the left, before the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to level from the penalty spot. Corke stepped up to take it, but Hooper guessed correctly and produced a strong save to preserve his side’s lead.
Lauris Coggin’s side then saw out five minutes of stoppage time with discipline to claim a deserved three points.
West Ham United U18s: Hooper, Ebho, Adiele (Balogun 65), Medine, Oyebade ©, Golambeckis (Dike 65), Hargan, Nwosu, Landers, Sowunmi (Unwin 83), Beckford
Subs not used: Awesu (GK), Chigwada
Goal: Landers 69
Booked: Golambeckis, Hooper
Norwich City U18s: Bullen ©, Oligbo, Williams, Keita, Okpiahele (Madu 71), Domeracki, Daley, Ofori-Manteaw, Corke, Valencia Gómez (Bracking 76), Owen
Booked: Williams
Coggin: Pleased that we saw out the game with intelligence
Lead coach Lauris Coggin praised his side’s composure and control as they returned to winning ways with a victory and clean sheet over Norwich.
“A clean sheet has been something that we've been working towards for a number of weeks,” Coggin explained. “We were really dominant with the ball. To show grit and determination and intelligence in the final minutes to see out the game was really pleasing.”
With Fin Hooper returning between the sticks and producing a crucial penalty save late on, Coggin also reflected on the strong competition between his goalkeepers.
He said: “We love that the goalkeepers that we have really push each other to be better every day. And you can see the rewards that you get for that personally. So, really pleased with Fin stepping back into the team, showing his quality in an important moment for everyone.”
There was also recognition for first-year scholar Lewis Beckford, who put in a solid display on his second U18s start, one that saw him switch from winger to full-back as the game entered the closing stages.
Coggin added: “We just spoke to the group in the changing room around Lewis. Stepping into the team, finding his feet as a scholar. He’s had some injury troubles early on in the season. So to come through that, earn his place in the team through the work he does day-to-day in training and then also show adaptability, stepping into left-back in a difficult moment in the game was fantastic for him and will allow him to continue growing in confidence.”
Hooper: Saving a penalty is a great feeling
Post-match, goalkeeper Fin Hooper reflected on a challenging afternoon at Little Heath, one made more difficult by windy conditions in east London.
He said: “It was a tough game. From a goalkeeping perspective, the wind played a big part. Playing into it in the first half, trying to go longer was practically impossible.
“We adapted well to it though, played short, created opportunities. We should've scored a couple more, but in the grand scheme of things, the game was good.”
The key moment in the contest for Hooper came midway through the second half, when Norwich were awarded a penalty. With the pressure on, Hooper produced a great stop to preserve the Hammers’ one-goal lead.
He continued: “I've got all the staff around me giving me a good indication of what he's going to do. I've also seen his last three penalties and he’s gone the same way every time. Obviously, that gave me a massive indication about going that way, so I went for it.
“Saving a penalty is a great feeling. It gives you a bit of a buzz, wanting to win the game more and keep a clean sheet as well.”
With Lanre Awesu delivering a man-of-the-match performance in the previous game, Hooper was handed the gloves for the visit of Norwich, and responded with a confident display of his own.
Hooper added: “It's always great to have competition. You're never going to improve without it. It's great to have such a good ’keeper in Lanre up against me.”
