HAMMERS Reserves won 2-1 against London rivals Fulham at Upton
Park, goals from Luke Chadwick and James Tomkins earning Kevin
Keen's men all three points.
It was only the second time this season that the Reserves have
run-out at Upton Park, but the intensity of this game would not
have been out of place in the Championship.
The match was lively and competitive from the outset, and inside
five minutes Kyel Reid had sent an angled drive whistling just over
the Fulham crossbar.
Inside ten minutes Fulham registered their first effort, a low shot
from Stuart Noble barely troubling Stephen Bywater in the Hammers
goal.
With 20 minutes gone a scrappy half was injected with a rare piece
of quality when Reid spun skilfully away from Alex Lawless and
surged through on goal, only to see his shot once again rise over
the bar when he should have tested Ricardo Batista in the
visitors' goal.
A defence marshalled by captain Chris Cohen, once again impressing
at centre-half, comfortably held the pacy Fulham attack,
while at the other end Hammers always looked dangerous.
Reid's play on the left wing was causing Fulham plenty of
problems and when he swung in a deep ball, which was headed back by
Luke Chadwick, Hogan Ephraim had a great chance to score. But his
scorching 12 yard volley was blocked on the line by a Fulham
defender.
The hard-running Ismael Ehui tested Bywater with a low drive,
before Hammers made their dominance count on 36 minutes.
A sweeping move down the left saw Rufus Brevett's low cross
diverted into the path of Tony Stokes, who drilled in a low shot
that looked to be going in, before Luke Chadwick made sure with the
slightest of touches that took the ball past Batista.
Moments later, Moses Ashikodi's pace caught Fulham on the
break, but he curled his shot wide from the edge of the area.
Bywater had to make a smart intervention to deny Ehui, as the half
closed with Hammers leading by a single goal.
HT: 1-0
Fulham lost their most experienced player at half-time, Mark
Pembridge making way for Kazeem Kareem. Just after the restart Luke
Chadwick's cheeky back heel almost found Ashikodi in the box.
As he did in the first-half, Stuart Noble threatened for Fulham
early on, beating Jemel Henry with a fine touch, but firing wide
from a tight angle.
On 65 minutes skipper Chris Cohen's header tested Batista after
Tomkins had headed back Kyel Reid's corner.
Five minutes later a desperate lunge by Michael Timlin on Gavin
Williams earned the Fulham forward a yellow card and saw tempers
flare for the first time in this spirited encounter.
With 15 minutes left Stokes came close to adding a second for West
Ham. Good work from Luke Chadwick presented him with the chance on
the angle, but Stokes dragged his shot across goal and wide of the
far post.
At the back, Stephen Bywater was all but redundant as Hammers
defence put up a solid rearguard display to hold Fulham at bay.
Right up to the final whistle Hammers looked the more likely to
score and they made it 2-0 with just three minutes left.
Hogan Ephraim provided a low cross to the back post, where James
Tomkins was waiting. The young defender, making just his second
Reserve team appearance, powered his finish into the roof of the
net.
Fulham pulled a goal back less than a minute later, a fine solo
effort from Alex Lawless making it 2-1, and Bywater was forced to
make a fine save from Malik Buari as the seconds ticked away to
protect West Ham's advantage.
But protect it they did, securing a fine 2-1 win and making it six
games unbeaten for Kevin Keen's men.
Sadly, Hogan Ephraim was stretchered off the pitch in the final
minute with ligament damage caused by a heavy collision.
WHU: Bywater; Henry, Brevett, Cohen, Tomkins, Stokes, Chadwick,
Williams (Bunce 78), Reid, Ashikodi, Ephraim (Pearson 90). Subs
unused: Andrews, Kuciak (GK), Cowley, Welsh.