HAMMERS Reserves have lost 1-0 to London rivals Charlton Athletic
at Dagenham and Redbridge's Glyn Hopkin Stadium, despite
putting on a determined display against the Premiership Reserve
League South leaders.
In a closely fought first-half neither side was able to establish
any real dominance.
Kevin Keen's men went close twice in the opening three minutes,
though, with Tony Stokes and Tommy Laws both shooting wide from
difficult positions.
Addicks defender Mark Ricketts saw a header drift narrowly off
target, before Moses Ashikodi broke away for the Hammers and forced
a save out of Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Andersen.
The visitors grew in stature as the half progressed and signalled
their intention with a fine move on 25 minutes. Alex Varney was
released by a neat touch from James Walker, but could only fire
wide with from 10 yards out.
With half-time fast approaching recalled Hammers defender Tommy
Laws had to make a magnificent double block to keep Charlton out.
First he scrambled Walker's header off the goal-line, before
recovering his balance to make a magnificent block from
Varney's thumping shot to send the team's in level at the
break.
HT: 0-0
Charlton began the second-half making purposeful strides into the
Hammers half. It wasn't long before they tested debutant
goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak, the Slovakian gathering comfortably from
Lloyd Sam's shot.
But just five minutes later Sam had Kuciak beaten with a scorching
drive that cannoned off the underside of the bar, before being
scrambled clear by the Hammers defence.
West Ham's stoical resistance was finally broken on 55 minutes.
Sam was involved again, weaving in from the right and crossing low
for Alistair John to stab the ball home from close range.
The goal was a cruel blow to the Hammers rearguard, in particular
Laws and Elliott Ward, who were excellent in repelling the Charlton
attack.
But Kevin Keen's men did not give up without a fight and very
nearly equalised on 73 minutes. Oliver Allen swung over a
magnificent cross from the right and Stokes met the ball on the
volley from point blank range, only to see it balloon agonisingly
over the bar.
Less than 10 minutes later, Greg Pearson sent a thunderous
half-volley whistling over the Charlton crossbar, but you just got
the feeling that it wasn't going to be West Ham's night.
That theory was confirmed with the very last kick of the game.
Rufus Brevett whipped in a free-kick from the left and the ball
dropped to Ashikodi inside the penalty area. The striker struck his
shot sweetly and was just about to wheel away in celebration when
it rebounded back off the post and rolled away to safety.
Kevin Keen said afterwards: "It was a very close game between
two evenly matched teams.
"They had one really good chance in the second-half and scored
from it, but we just couldn't find our little bit of magic to
equalise.
"We had two great chances in the second-half, and I think we
deserved a draw, but sadly it wasn't to be. We did quite well
against the League leaders tonight, though, and just needed a bit
more guile in the final third to open them up.
"Steve Lomas came through 75 minutes without any problems,
while our goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak also did well in his first game
for the Club."
WHU: Kuciak; McClenahan, Brevett, Laws, Ward, Lomas (Welsh 76),
Allen, Wright, Ashikodi, Stokes, Pearson. Subs Unused: White, Reed
(GK), Reid, Andrews.
Hammers Go Close Against Addicks
9th February 2005