Korrey Henry’s late equaliser secured a first U18 Premier League point of the season against Norwich City.
The 17-year-old midfielder, who recently revealed that Michail Antonio has been mentoring him this season, popped up with just moments remaining to snatch a deserved 1-1 draw for his West Ham United side.
Henry, who has now scored three of the Hammers’ five league goals this season, levelled after Anthony Spyrou’s 74th-minute goal appeared to have put the Canaries on course for victory at Little Heath.
“I was at the game and, as has been the case in all our previous games bar our defeat at Arsenal in August, we were in the game, controlled possession but did not have a cutting edge,” said Academy Director Terry Westley.
“It was a similar story on Saturday and when we went a goal down late on, it felt like a case of ‘here we go again’ and that it was going to be another one of those days, but we kept going and got the equaliser right at the end through Korrey Henry, securing our first point of the season.”
Westley was an interested spectator as Steve Potts’ side showed admirable fighting qualities to grab a point, particularly as the starting XI was sprinkled with schoolboys playing alongside and against full-time scholars.
“It was encouraging to see U16 players like our right-back Sam Caiger and centre-back Josh Okotcha complete the whole match and acquit themselves very well against more experienced opponents,” he confirmed. “It was also nice to see Alfie Lewis continue his comeback from injury and Conor Coventry controlling the midfield.”
“With U18 football, you have to look past the result and consider what we are trying to do, which is develop players.
“We have been very good with the ball this season, as we were again on Saturday, and now it is about finding that cutting edge on the pitch which we have been missing previously.”
U18s: Matrevics, Caiger, R.Longelo, Wells (c), Okotcha, Henry, Ngakia (Watson), Coventry, Constantinou (Hamilton), Lewis, Costa Da Rosa (E.Longelo)