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Barclays U18 Premier League
Fulham 3-1 West Ham United
Summer signing George Dobson opened his account for West Ham United U18s, but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Saturday.
The hosts made the perfect start at Motspur Park when Aron Davies found space to fire home after 11 minutes, before former Arsenal midfielder Dobson levelled matters after Jahmal Hector-Ingram had hit a post.
The visitors might have completed the turnaround midway through the half, but Joe Powell saw his spot-kick saved by Fulham keeper Jake Soutter.
The Cottagers made the most of their reprieve after the break, with frontman Joshua Walker and full-back Ryheem Sheckleford firing the hosts to an opening-day win.
On his West Ham debut, Dobson started alongside Matt Carter in the heart of midfield, while Oscar Borg, Marcus Browne and Joe Powell, all of whom featured for the Development Squad at Canvey Island on Wednesday, supported Hector Ingram in attack.
But it was the Whites who showed first, with a goal which stemmed from a set piece. Hammers stopper Tim Brown had initially repelled Ravin Shamsi’s free-kick, but Foday Nabay reacted quickest to whip the ball in across the face of the goal for Davies to stab home.
The Hammers, however, were not behind for long. With 19 gone, Fulham ‘keeper Soutter spilled a Hector-Ingram shot from distance onto the woodwork, which fell to the feet of Dobson, who finished confidently to restore parity.
New boy Dobson was involved again three minutes later, this time being upended in the box as he prepared to shoot. Powell took charge from 12 yards but was denied by Soutter, who was smartly back to his feet to repel Browne’s follow up.
West Ham carved out another fine opportunity five minutes into the second half, when Hector-Ingram slotted through to Browne, but Soutter was again on hand to smother.
And Fulham made the Hammers pay for their missed chances with their second of the contest on the hour mark. Walker raced in behind the West Ham backline and slotted sweetly into the corner.
As Steve Potts’ side searched for a second equaliser, Declan Rice and Dobson both connected with Powell free-kicks, but neither could keep their headers on target.
At the other end, Fulham went desperately close to extending their advantage. Shamsi saw his strike cannon back off the woodwork, before Brown denied Fulham’s Estonian substitute Mattias Kait on the rebound.
With just five minutes left to play, Brown was again called into action, this time to brilliantly repel Walker’s header. But the second ball fell kindly for Sheckleford, who slammed home to consign the Hammers to defeat.
Potts’ men will look to pick up their first points of the season when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Little Heath on Saturday 15 August. Kick-off is set for 11am.
West Ham United U18s: Brown, Sylvestre, Neufville (Pask 46), Dobson (Henry 79), Akinola, Rice, Borg, Carter (Eggleton 64), Hector-Ingram, Browne, Powell. Subs not used: Boness, Lewis.
Fulham 3-1 West Ham United
Summer signing George Dobson opened his account for West Ham United U18s, but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Saturday.
The hosts made the perfect start at Motspur Park when Aron Davies found space to fire home after 11 minutes, before former Arsenal midfielder Dobson levelled matters after Jahmal Hector-Ingram had hit a post.
The visitors might have completed the turnaround midway through the half, but Joe Powell saw his spot-kick saved by Fulham keeper Jake Soutter.
The Cottagers made the most of their reprieve after the break, with frontman Joshua Walker and full-back Ryheem Sheckleford firing the hosts to an opening-day win.
On his West Ham debut, Dobson started alongside Matt Carter in the heart of midfield, while Oscar Borg, Marcus Browne and Joe Powell, all of whom featured for the Development Squad at Canvey Island on Wednesday, supported Hector Ingram in attack.
But it was the Whites who showed first, with a goal which stemmed from a set piece. Hammers stopper Tim Brown had initially repelled Ravin Shamsi’s free-kick, but Foday Nabay reacted quickest to whip the ball in across the face of the goal for Davies to stab home.
The Hammers, however, were not behind for long. With 19 gone, Fulham ‘keeper Soutter spilled a Hector-Ingram shot from distance onto the woodwork, which fell to the feet of Dobson, who finished confidently to restore parity.
New boy Dobson was involved again three minutes later, this time being upended in the box as he prepared to shoot. Powell took charge from 12 yards but was denied by Soutter, who was smartly back to his feet to repel Browne’s follow up.
West Ham carved out another fine opportunity five minutes into the second half, when Hector-Ingram slotted through to Browne, but Soutter was again on hand to smother.
And Fulham made the Hammers pay for their missed chances with their second of the contest on the hour mark. Walker raced in behind the West Ham backline and slotted sweetly into the corner.
As Steve Potts’ side searched for a second equaliser, Declan Rice and Dobson both connected with Powell free-kicks, but neither could keep their headers on target.
At the other end, Fulham went desperately close to extending their advantage. Shamsi saw his strike cannon back off the woodwork, before Brown denied Fulham’s Estonian substitute Mattias Kait on the rebound.
With just five minutes left to play, Brown was again called into action, this time to brilliantly repel Walker’s header. But the second ball fell kindly for Sheckleford, who slammed home to consign the Hammers to defeat.
Potts’ men will look to pick up their first points of the season when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Little Heath on Saturday 15 August. Kick-off is set for 11am.
West Ham United U18s: Brown, Sylvestre, Neufville (Pask 46), Dobson (Henry 79), Akinola, Rice, Borg, Carter (Eggleton 64), Hector-Ingram, Browne, Powell. Subs not used: Boness, Lewis.