Match Report - West Ham U17 V Middlesbrough U17 - 23 Aug 2003

West Ham's youth teams enjoyed a decent start to their FA Premier Youth Academy campaigns against Middlesbrough on Saturday morning, with the under-17s winning 4-0 and the under-19s managing a 3-3 draw.

Goals from Liam White, Sos Yao, Tony Stokes and Ollie Allen secured a convincing win for Kevin Keen's younger side in their match at Little Heath.

White and Yao both converted from corners in the first half, while Stokes finished coolly midway through the second half and Allen claimed the goal of the game with a stunning first time strike soon after.

Said Kevin Keen afterwards: "It was a very good, solid opening performance. To score four goals was magnificent and we also defended very well throughout.

"We started the game well, got the two goals before half-time and then carried on where we had left off in the second half. The work-rate was superb and I saw a lot of good things from the players.

"Many of them had experience of playing at this level last season while still schoolboys, and that has clearly prepared them well for this year."

Team: Reed, Andrews, White, Norval, Henry, Yao, Singh, Brady (Davidson 80), Reid (Welsh 60), Allen (Ephrain 68), Stokes. Subs unused: Kemel, Young.