Youngster delighted to bag first of the season

Diangana
  • West Ham United winger Grady Diangana was pleased to get on the scoresheet against Blackburn Rovers on Friday
  • He found the back of the net in the Premier League 2 clash at the Lancashire FA
  • The Hammers were unlucky to lose the clash 2-1 after dominating the first half

Grady Diangana was delighted to score his first goal of the 2016/17 campaign on Friday, though West Ham United Premier League 2 were beaten 2-1 by Blackburn Rovers.

The 18-year-old delicately found the back of the net at the Lancashire FA to equalise after former Celtic and Sunderland forward Anthony Stokes had given the hosts the lead.

But an unfortunate Josh Pask own goal meant Terry Westley’s men went home empty handed and now have a task on their hands if they are to claim a play-off place in the league.

Despite the disappointing result, Diangana couldn’t hide his delight after celebrating the goal having started his first match since early November.

He said: “I’m so happy to score because it was my first of the season and it was really good to be given an opportunity and I tried my best to do the best I could.

“I don’t know what I was thinking when the ball came across to be honest! I just thought swing a leg at it! It was delicate though.

The U23s celebrate Diangana's equaliser

“The way it trickled in, I was just hoping it hit the post and go in and eventually it did! But it was a nice finish.”

The left-footed attacking talent was deployed as a No10 behind forward Joe Powell, and the youngster enjoyed his experience in the hole.

“I played as a No10 and I like it there. You’re much more involved and you can get on the ball more there. It’s nice for me to get the chance to play there. It’s a good role.

“It was good. It was a hard and tiring 90 minutes, especially towards the end, and I wasn’t really in the game at the end. I was trying but I’m not used to, at the moment, playing a full 90 minutes.

“I think we played really well first half. We kept it moving and created good chances and the build up for our goal was really good.

“Second half they changed tactics and really came after us and we expected it but we didn’t know how to deal with it.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose but the play-off race is still on. With the team we have got and the players we have got, it’s definitely possible to get four wins from the remaining games and secure our place in that top five.”