HAMMERS Reserves have earned a creditable 0-0 draw against Fulham
at Motspur Park, with four players making their debuts for Kevin
Keen's team.
It was an evenly matched contest between two teams fielding young
line-ups. West Ham's resources had been depleted by the FA
Youth Cup Quarter-Final 24 hours earlier. Schoolboy Joe Widdowson
made his Reserve team debut at left-back, even though he still
hasn't represented the Club at Under-18 level, while Richard
Georgiou, Ryan Andrews and Densal Davidson all made their full
debuts.
Hammers put in a hard-working performance in a game of precious few
goalscoring chances. The closest they came to scoring was in the
second-half when a neat move resulted in a cross reaching
midfielder Sam Wright, but his header came back off the crossbar.
At the other end, Dusan Kuciak, making his second Reserve team
appearance for the Hammers, was rarely troubled as the defence held
firm.
Kevin Keen said after the game: "It was a hard working
performance and it was great to keep a clean sheet, our first in
eight games.
"We gave a very solid defensive performance. Perhaps we could
have passed the ball better, but we did create one very good chance
through Sam Wright's header, which hit the bar.
"There were four boys making their full debuts and Joe
Widdowson, who is still a schoolboy, came in and did very
well. Because of the FA Youth Cup, we had to field a patched
up side and it was a very pleasing result."
WHU: Kuciak; Andrews, Widdowson, Laws, Blewitt, Bunce, Georgiou
(Ephraim 45), Wright, Pearson, Davidson, Keen. Subs unused:
Reed (GK), Ashikodi, Allen, Henry.
Hammers Hold Fulham
9th March 2005