Reading U18s 1-4 West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Bearwood Park, Saturday 26 October 2024, 11am BST
Elisha Sowunmi was the hat-trick hero as West Ham United U18s recorded a second successive league win with a 4-1 victory over Reading at Bearwood Park.
Emeka Adiele fired the young Hammers ahead early from the penalty spot, with the hosts scrambling to find their feet in the game before our Academy of Football forward took centre stage.
A well-placed finish in first-half stoppage time was followed up with two exquisite strikes in the second period to earn a deserved victory.
After a thrilling win against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, signs of confidence were clear in an energetic contest.
It took only a couple of minutes for a first chance, Adiele showing his pace and grace to motor down the left wing and pick out Preston Fearon, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. Following that was a left-footed strike effort from Fearon, which flew just wide of the right post.
The Irons were relentless in attack, and it was no surprise when the opener came in the 15th minute.
Driving in from the left, Adiele was brought down in the box and converted the penalty himself, sending home goalkeeper Josh Welland the wrong way.
West Ham continued to come forward over and over again and almost doubled their lead immediately as Adiele dispossessed Dajara Martin before teeing up Gabriel Caliste on the edge of the box. The 17-year-old’s effort looked destined for the back of the net, but unluckily, it was cleared off the goalline.
As the 30-minute mark approached, Reading managed to force their first shot at goal. Carter Bowdery dropped his shoulder to beat his marker, and his deflected effort landed just wide of Finley Hooper’s left-hand post.
The young Royals then spurned another gilt-edged opportunity to level. The hosts countered at pace through Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith, who raced towards goal but, under pressure from Aaron Kamara, swept his effort wide of the far post.
And Reading were made to pay for their earlier profligacy when a clever passing move, with Fearon at the heart of it, resulted in Sowunmi caressing a crisp first-time effort into the far corner to double our advantage.
The second period continued as the first had left off, and Sowunmi gave us breathing room in the 53rd minute when a second spot-kick was awarded for the in the game. The Hammers’ No.7 dusted himself down after being upended by Phillip Duah to fire into the roof of the net.
However, the hosts gave themselves an unexpected lifeline just before the hour mark when Coke-Miles-Smith drilled a low angled shot into the far corner before a Trialist’s stooping header went just over.
Lauris Coggin then handed U18s debuts to 16-year-old Bulgaria youth international Martin Peychev and U15s defender Emmanuel Nuelf from the substitutes’ bench, while another substitute Majid Balogun struck the ball wide after being played in behind one-on-one.
The pick of Sowunmi’s treble was still to come.
Fearon passed to Sowunmi in the box, who was fronted up by a couple of Reading defenders. The young forward shifted the ball on to his left foot and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner beyond Royals goalkeeper Welland.
West Ham United U18s: Hooper, Medine, Kamara, Golambeckis, Scanlon, Hargan (Peychev 78), Fearon ©, Adiele (Nuelf 84), Sowunmi, Caliste, Halim (Balogun 65)
Sub not used: Nightingale (GK), Oyebade,
Goals: Adiele 15, Sowunmi 45, 53, 88
Booked: Hargan, Adiele
Coggin: "It was a really positive day"
West Ham United U18s lead coach Lauris Coggin says Saturday’s win at Reading was a culmination of the hard work they've put in since the start of the season.
The young Hammers were dominant in a 4-1 win at Bearwood Park, thanks to a hat-trick from Elisha Sowunmi and Emeka Adiele.
Coggin was also delighted to be able to hand debuts to talented West Ham teenagers Peychev and Nuelf.
“I thought it was a really professional performance,” said Coggin. “We were dominant throughout, especially in the first half. Looking ahead to Tuesday in our cup game with Everton, we controlled the game in the right way in the second half.
“We’re really pleased and delighted we were able to introduce some of our younger players as well. That’s why we’re all here [to give the people the opportunity] and we want as many U18s in the U21s and U16s in the U18s as possible, and it’s our job to give these players the pathway to shine.
“The boys are now getting the results that they deserve because of the hard work they’ve put in since the start of the season. It’s been really positive. We had a good win over Spurs last weekend, and we were able to solidify that against Reading today.
“We’re really pleased for Elisha [Sowunmi], but more so in his work off the ball today. It’s something that we strive for, and he showed all of our values and was a real example to our young players today. It was a really positive day.”
Sowunmi: "I'm happy with my goalscoring form"
West Ham United U18s striker Elisha Sowunmi has declared himself happy with his goalscoring record this season.
The 17-year old has netted six goals in the opening seven U18 Premier League South games, but insists the most pleasing thing was helping his side claim victory in an important fixture.
“I think it was a good performance from the boys," said Sowunmi. "We know we could’ve played better in the first half but were able to get the two goals, and in the second half we controlled the game but are disappointed to have conceded and not kept the clean sheet.
“The win against Spurs last weekend definitely boosted our confidence. We’ve now scored eight goals in two games and are happy to get back-to-back league wins.
“I’m obviously delighted to get a hat-trick, but I can’t do it without my team-mates. Preston [Fearon] provided me with another assist this afternoon. We’re a team, and that’s how we’re scoring our goals week in and week out.
“It’s been a good start to the season on a personal note, and I just want to keep going and add more goals and assists to my game. I’m delighted with my start, but hopefully the goals can keep coming.”
