Match Report - Arsenal Reserves V West Ham Reserves - 26 Apr 2004

West Ham's reserves beat Arsenal 5-3 on Monday night to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches.

Says Roger Cross:

"It was an excellent first half performance, I have to say, and it was carried on for 20 minutes in the second half before they got a couple of goals - then, it was a case of digging it out."

Arsenal themselves hadn't lost for nine games and Roger adds:

"They have had a good run like ourselves but to finish second I think we have to win the last two games, against Charlton and Derby.

"I have been proud of them, though, and I feel they have done ever so well."

Jobi McAnuff, Sebastien Carole, and Don Hutchison [pen], opened the scoring before David Bentley pulled one back.

In the second half, Adam Nowland and Don Hutchison added to the tally.

"They got a couple in the second half, one from when Fordey got caught in possession, they closed him down, he kicked it against their lad, and they scored - so it was a crap goal," admits Roger.

"And then Bentley scored from a free kick to make it 5-3 - but we were never under serious pressure and it was a good overall performance."

TEAM: Forde, McLenehan, Quinn, Lee [Wright 80], Ward, Blewitt, McAnuff [Bunce 60], Nowland, Hutchison [Noble 60], Carrick G, Carole.

Subs: Behcet, Parrington.