West Ham United U21s 1-0 Sunderland U21s
Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 17 January 2025, 7pm GMT
In their first Premier League 2 game since November, West Ham United U21s marked their return to league action with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunderland U21s at Rush Green Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute with Josh Ajala’s third goal in as many games. A youthful Hammers side, featuring five U18 scholars in the starting lineup, defended solidly throughout, nullifying Sunderland’s attacking threat, securing their fourth consecutive win in all competitions.
The match began with both sides trading spells of possession, although without creating clear-cut chances. West Ham carved out their first significant opportunity in the seventh minute when captain Ryan Battrum’s corner found Luizão at the far post. Although the initial effort went across goal, Battrum retrieved the ball, before putting it back into the danger area, but Swyer was unable to find the finishing touch.
As Sunderland began to grow into the game, West Ham’s backline, comprising of Luizão and scholars Ezra Mayers and Airidas Golambeckis, held firm, restricting their opponents to half-chances. It would take almost half-an-hour for the young Hammers to concede a shot on target, albeit a tame one which goalkeeper Fin Herrick comfortably gathered. Shortly after however, Herrick was forced into a more complicated save, sharply diving to his right to deny Jack Whittaker’s volleyed strike. Despite both sides showing flashes of quality, the first half ended goalless, with neither able to find a breakthrough.
At half-time, West Ham were forced into a change as the injured Luizão made way for Sean Tarima. In the early exchanges of the second half, West Ham were forced into more defensive work, but the backline remained successful in thwarting the young Black Cats’ advances.
Withstanding the pressure, the young Hammers then delivered the game-winning moment just before the hour mark. A long ball from Herrick eventually found its way to Swyer, who patiently held up play before releasing Ajala on the right. The young forward skipped past his marker into the box and fired a clinical strike into the far corner to give his side the lead.
Ajala applies the finishing touch 🪄 pic.twitter.com/R6HeuC896g
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 17, 2025
Sunderland pressed hard for an equaliser but struggled to penetrate a well-organised Hammers defence. At the other end meanwhile, West Ham continued to threaten in transition; Junior Robinson and substitute Sean Moore coming close to doubling West Ham’s advantage.
Ten minutes from time, Regan Clayton made his long-awaited return to competitive action after nine months sidelined through injury, helping the Hammers see out the victory with a clean sheet.
The final moments saw Sunderland pile on the pressure with some late corners, but Herrick and his defence withstood the late surge to take a well-deserved three points, which sees them leapfrog Sunderland into tenth place in Premier League 2.
West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Golambeckis, Luizão (Tarima HT), Mayers, Robinson, Akpata, Fearon (Clayton 82), Adiele, Battrum ©, Swyer, Ajala (Moore 72)
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Rigge
Goal: Ajala 59
Booked: Fearon
Sunderland U21s: Chibueze, Lavery, Anderson, Bell, Bainbridge, Jaydon Jones, Middlemas ©, Jensen Jones, Whittaker (Neild 84), Walsh (Chungh 82), Abdullahi (Geragusian HT)
Subs not used: Cameron (GK), Holcroft
Booked: Bell
Robson: To come out of one of the toughest games of the season with three points is really pleasing
West Ham United U21s lead coach Mark Robson praised his young players for taking all three points in what he describes as one of the toughest games of the season.
“It was a really good result tonight,” Robson reflected. “It was a hard game. I was really impressed with Sunderland and the way they went about their business—one of the toughest games we’ll play this season. It was like a Football League game; they made it hard for us. We dug in. It was a hard, tough battle, and to come out with the three points is really pleasing.”
The victory caps off an excellent week for the Academy which saw 19-year-old Ollie Scarles earn his second senior start for West Ham United in Graham Potter’s first game in charge of the Hammers. Further demonstrating his belief in the Academy, Potter also named three home-grown talents in his first Premier League matchday squad on Tuesday.
“It tops a good week. Ollie Scarles starting in the FA Cup, and then coming on in the league at a really important time in the game. The belief of the new staff in our young players is something we’re delighted with. It’s been a great week for us.
"It’s a massive boost for everyone. The energy from the staff; it’s rubbing off on the players. Training has been excellent this week. The first-team staff have got their eyes on them; they’ve watched our training already. There’s a very good feel factor. We feel like we’ve got some good players at the Club in the Academy, so it’s great to see more coming through, and it’s given everyone lots of belief."
With five U18 scholars playing their part in the team’s sixth Premier League 2 win of the campaign, the young Hammers fielded their youngest starting XI of the season, with an average age just below 19.
"The work that has been done with the young scholars this season and the last has been excellent; they’ve come across and done exceptionally well. Airidas [Golambeckis] was really good today; a first-year scholar! He’s being challenged at this level, but he’s coping with it, as are the other boys."
Tonight’s victory over Sunderland also marked the return of FA Youth Cup winner Regan Clayton to the development side. Clayton spent the last nine months on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury in the U21s’ Premier League International Cup semi-final last season.
"He’s a top lad. The injury he had was near enough the same as I had, so I know exactly what he’s gone through this last year. He’s a tough kid; he’s worked so hard to get where he is, playing again. He’s as strong as an ox, strongest he’s ever been. He’s great around the building, excellent in training. He came on for ten minutes tonight, and all you could hear was his voice! He joined in a first-team game in training the other day and it was exactly the same; always communicating. He’ll help the younger ones as well. We’re all really pleased for him. It's great to have him back out again!"
Clayton: It's what I've been working towards this whole time
Introduced in the 81st minute as Mark Robson's young Hammers withstood late Sunderland pressure to see out their fourth consecutive victory, Regan Clayton stepped onto the pitch to a warm ovation from the Rush Green Stadium crowd, making his first appearnce in Claret and Blue since April.
"It’s what I’ve been working towards this whole time," he said. "I woke up this morning and was a bit nervous because I haven’t done this in a while! It turned into excitement throughout the day. Sitting on the bench, I was so eager so when Robbo [Mark Robson] said ‘you’re coming on’, I was like, ‘Right, let’s do this!’.
"I thought I did well. I just wanted to go on and show all the work I’ve been doing behind the scenes that no one’s really seen. I made some nice passes down the line, and tried to get the boys up the pitch and support the team to see the game out. It's so good to be back!"
Up Next...
The young Hammers return to action on Tuesday with an all east London clash at Dagenham Redbridge with a place in the inaugural National League Cup knockout stages at stake.
