HAMMERS Reserve team have gone down 5-0 to a vastly more
experienced Southampton side in this FA Premier Reserve League
South clash at Dagenham and Redbridge.
The visitors, who fielded no less than seven players with
Premiership experience to West Ham United's one in Andy
Melville, outclassed the young Hammers side with four second-half
goals and a hat-trick from striker Brett Ormerod.
Kevin Keen's team began the game well and had the better of the
early chances, with Hogan Ephraim, Andy Melville and Elliott Ward
all forcing saves from Southampton goalkeeper Michael Poke with
headers.
Indeed, West Ham's defence had rarely been troubled when Saints
took the lead after 42 minutes. Ormerod pounced as the ball broke
loose in the area, stabbing past Matt Reed and clattering the West
Ham United goalkeeper in the process.
Having put so much effort into containing Southampton's
first-half threat, Hammers found it difficult to cope with their
more experienced opponents during a one-sided second-half.
Defending solidly, the visitors added a second with an hour played
thanks to a magnificent 20-yard volley from Chris Baird that left
Matt iReed with no chance.
Hammers contained the Saints for a further twenty minutes, but
could do nothing when Ormerod twisted inside Jemel Henry before
firing home from 10-yards out.
Kevin Keen's young side showed glimpses of their promise when
Danny Bunce and Chris Cohen combined to set-up substitute Ollie
Allen who forced a good save out of Poke.
But just a minute later Ormerod completed his hat-trick, latching
onto Jo Tessem's through ball before beating Reed with a cool
finish.
Hammers had defender Elliott Ward sent off for foul and abusive
language five minutes from time, and their 10 men could only watch
helplessly as Leon Best wrapped up an emphatic win for Southampton.
But, despite the defeat, Kevin Keen could not fault the effort of
his young team, which included seven FA Youth Cup players.
He said: "We played well in the first-half, created some good
chances and coped very well against an exceptionally experienced
team.
"It was disappointing to lose a goal just before half-time,
and after the effort we had put in to hold them in the first-half
it was always going to be difficult to maintain that pace in the
second-half.
"Their extra quality and experience really told after the
break and it was tough for our young players. But I can't fault
the effort they put into the game. Everyone was disappointed in the
dressing room afterwards, but they played against a really
experienced Southampton team who had seven first-team
players."
WHU: Reed; Henry, Cohen, Ward, Melville, Stokes, Ephraim, Wright,
Ashikodi (Bunce 80), Pearson, Reid (Allen 71). Subs unused: Behcet
(GK), Blewitt, Laws, Shaw.
Hammers Lose To Experienced Saints
2nd February 2005