Highlights - Brighton and HA 2-2 West Ham United U18s

 

  • West Ham's U18s came back from two goals down to draw with Brighton
  • Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Joe Powell (pen) got the goals.
  • Manager Steve Potts applauded his player's resilience after the match

Steve Potts praised his U18s for showing resilience to fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Elite Performance Centre.

After a conceding twice in the opening 40 minutes through goals from Isaac Hutchinson and Luis Garcia, the Hammers pulled a goal back just before half-time through top scorer Jahmal Hector-Ingram and equalised 15 minutes from time with a Joe Powell penalty.

Despite immense pressure in the final ten minutes, the Hammers could not find that elusive winner, but they still left the south coast with their heads held high after a terrific comeback.

"It was a bit of a mixed bag really. Both our goals were good and our possession was very good at times but we were sloppy defensively on the goals we conceded," said manager Steve Potts.

"You're going to come up against obstacles like that where teams are going to be solid and organised and get behind the ball. But you've got to try and find a way and first half we were a little bit static and slow with our passing, which plays into the opposition's hands.

"Second half, we moved it around with a lot more purpose. We got after them more defensively and started to find some good spaces. In the end, we were unlucky not to win the game."

The Hammers started the better of the two sides and almost went ahead when Hector-Ingram sliced Powell’s cross just wide in the opening ten minutes.

Second half, we moved it around with a lot more purpose. We got after them more defensively and started to find some good spaces. In the end, we were unlucky not to win the game

Steve Potts

However, it was the hosts who took the lead just before the half-hour mark – Hutchinson fired into the roof of the net after initially being thwarted by keeper Rihards Matrevics.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors when Stefan Ljubicic crossed for Luis Garcia to tap into an empty net.

Brighton made the most of their opportunites and punished the Hammers for wasting theirs, although Potts’ side did pull themselves back into the contest on the stroke of half-time. Dan Kemp delivered for Hector-Ingram who found the bottom corner.

The Hammers upped their tempo in the second 45 and after a period of sustained pressure, they got their just rewards 15 minutes from time.

Vashon Neufville was fouled in the area and Joe Powell stepped up to notch his third goal in as many games.

West Ham could have easily completed the perfect comeback when Bernardo Rosa’s effort was deflected just over the bar just minutes before the final whistle.

Nonetheless, it was a very resilient display from Potts’s players as they maintain their quest for a top four place.

"Fair play to the boys for coming back," Potts continued. "Our first goal was nicely worked and that gave us the chance to start the second half positively. Once we equalised, I could only really see us going on to win the game.

"We had to be wary of them on the counter attack but apart from that we were the ones doing all the probing."

West Ham: Matrevics; Eggleton, Akinola, Wells, Neufville; Coventry (Hannam, 73), Johnson (Ferrari, 79); Kemp (Ngakia, 63), Rosa, Powell; Hector-Ingram.

Subs not used: Forde

Goals: Hector-Ingram 45+1, Powell 74 (pen).