Maidenhead United 4-0 West Ham United U21s
Pre-Season Match, York Road, Wednesday 24 July 2024, 7.30pm BST
West Ham United U21s were beaten 4-0 by Maidenhead United in their second pre-season match of the summer at York Road.
A first-half flurry by the hosts saw the young Hammers fall to defeat against their Vanarama National League opponents.
More positively, however, U21s lead coach Mark Robson was able to afford time on the pitch to every squad member, with 18 players in total getting valuable minutes in their legs ahead of the new season.
Maidenhead’s early pressure paid off as they stormed into the lead at York Road through Reece Smith’s close-range finish and a looping header from a trialist.
West Ham attempted to hit back, but the Magpies had a third before half-time through striker Tristan Abrahams.
Nathan Ferguson then added a fourth after the restart to compile the young Hammers’ misery.
With a significant number of U21 players, including George Earthy, Ollie Scarles and Kaelan Casey, who are part of the group currently away on our Sunshine State Tour in the United States, Robson named another youthful starting XI featuring a blend of U21s and U18s, led by captain Levi Laing.
Maidenhead had the lead on 29 minutes in front of their impressive home support. Jayden Mitchell-Lawson skipped past his marker down the right and flashed an accurate and powerful ball into the six-yard box that that slipped through the grasp of Lanre Awesu before being poked home by Smith.
West Ham had barely caught their breath before the hosts notched their second of the night little over 60 seconds later. A corner from the right was met by a trialist, and his header looped over goalkeeper Awesu.
Alan Devonshire’s side continued to pile the pressure on West Ham and found their third after 40 minutes when Abrahams guided in a pinpoint cross from Mitchell-Lawson.
The hosts would find a fourth soon after the restart as the Hammers failed to deal with a low cross following a long throw down the line with Laing’s clearance deflecting off Ferguson’s outstretched leg and into the net.
The difficult nature of the first 52 minutes prompted substitutions, as Brad Dolaghan tried to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, as West Ham sought a way back into the fixture, his powerful effort forcing a smart save from another trialist after being slid in by Dan Rigge.
Josh Briggs would go close late on from a set-piece, but the defender could not find the net and at least add a consolation on a frustrating evening in Maidenhead.
West Ham United U21s: Awesu (Abraham 72), Tarima (Akpata 86), Brown (Mayers 65), Akpata (Caliste 65), Laing (Briggs 65), Luizão, Swyer, Battrum (Fearon 65), Ajala (Dolaghan 56), Sowunmi (56), Adiele
Attendance: 989
Robson: There's a lot of learning to do from these games
The U21s continued their pre-season campaign with another game against senior opposition. While the result was disappointing, lead coach Mark Robson was keen to reflect on the learnings of going up against Hammers legend Alan Devonshire’s side.
He said: “I really like Dev’s team and the way they play. They were very strong with plenty of pace up front too. Facing teams that play so direct and put so many dangerous balls into the box is something the boys aren’t as used to, as you don’t get that as much at U21 level.”
With many of the U21s out in Florida with the first team for their Sunshine State pre-season tour, Robson was impressed with some of the younger players who were given the opportunity tonight.
He added: “Physically as we know, they were going to be stronger than us. I said to them at the end, playing against these guys is what you’re going to have to get used to when you step up to the first team. Playing against men who are strong and quick. That being said, a number of our boys have only just turned 17. It’s a new challenge for them and I thought a few came out with a lot of credit.”
