WEST Ham United have clinched their place in the Play-offs
with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Anton Ferdinand's first goal for the Club and a Marlon Harewood
penalty were enough to give Hammers all three points and set-up a
mouthwatering repeat of last season's Play-off semi-final
against Ipswich Town.
Alan Pardew kept faith with the team that lost 2-1 to Sunderland,
the only selection surprise seeing the return of defender Christian
Dailly to the bench after eight months out following a knee
operation. Matty Etherington was passed fit after recovering from
the thigh strain he sustained against the Black Cats.
Backed by a magnificent contingent of travelling Hammers fans
Alan Pardew's men started the game brightly. But it was Watford
who had the first goal-bound effort, midfielder Hameur Bouazza
dragging his shot well wide.
With all that was riding on the game it was no real surprise that
it took time for Hammers to get into their stride. Marlon Harewood
did have the ball in the net on 16 minutes, but it was ruled out
for a blatant offside.
The West Ham fans let out a huge cheer when news filtered through
that Wigan had taken a two-goal lead at home to Reading, but back
at Vicarage Road goalscoring chances were few and far between as
the teams cancelled each other out in the opening 40 minutes.
On 37 minutes Hammers worked a wonderful opening, Harewood sliding
a free-kick into Bobby Zamora, who played in Matty Etherington. He
returned the favour with a low cross to Zamora but the striker
failed to make contact and the perfect training ground move broke
down, giving Watford time to clear their lines.
An inactive opening half was suddenly bubbling into life, when two
minutes later Harewood broke loose from the shackles of Danny
Cullip and his miss-hit shot bobbled in front of Alec Chamberlain
and forced the Watford goalkeeper into a smart save.
West Ham's pressure was beginning to tell, and on 42 minutes
Hammers took the lead. A corner from the right came out to
Etherington on the opposite flank and his cross dropped perfectly
on the foot of Anton Ferdinand who volleyed home from 12 yards
out.
His delight was obvious, the 20-year-old sprinting the length of
the pitch to celebrate with the joyous Hammers fans behind Jimmy
Walker's goal.
What a time for the Academy graduate to score his first goal for
the Hammers, a strike that gave Alan Pardew's men a vital 1-0
lead at half-time.
HT: 1-0
Watford began the second-half well and should have equalised when
Ashley Young's cross from the right found Hameur Bouazza, but
he glanced his free header well wide after a rightly annoyed
Walker was left exposed.
The home side began to crank up the pressure on the Hammers defence
and Walker was forced to make a good save at the feet of Anthony
McNamee from a corner.
At the other end, an electrifying run from Etherington ended with a
low shot that Chamberlain saved comfortably at his near post,
before Al Bangura let fly with a long range effort for Watford that
was well wide.
It was Hornets enjoying more of the attacking possession, but at
the back Ferdinand and Elliott Ward led an excellent Hammers
defence.
Then, on 68 minutes, Hammers were presented with a great chance to
make it two. The ball found Marlon Harewood on the edge of the box
and his shot smashed straight into the arm of Jason Chambers.
Harewood stepped up to take the kick himself and made no mistake,
drilling the penalty past Chamberlain to make it 2-0.
Matty Etherington departed soon after to a raptuous reception from
the Hammers faithful, local favourite Mark Noble his replacement,
but the game began to slow down as it entered the final quarter
with Alan Pardew's men looking to secure the three points they
needed.
Sergei Rebrov replaced the hard-working Shaun Newton on 83 minutes
for a cameo performance, but with Reading losing Hammers work
appeared to be done.
The West Ham fans reflected the mood, with a carnival of noise
inside Vicarage Road as the game entered its final five minutes. It
went to Tomas Repka's head in the 86th minute and his wild
challenge on Watford captain Heidar Helguson earned the Czech
player a booking.
Moments later Repka was on the receiving end of Helguson's
guile as the Hornets striker went to ground after minimal contact
and referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot.
Helguson picked himself up to beat Walker from the spot and make it
2-1. Hammers responded with a curling effort from Rebrov that
Chamberlain was right behind, while seconds later the Ukraine
international went in the book as the referee began to shower
Vicarage Road with an end of season yellow card flurry.
Watford put on a late show for their home fans and in stoppage time
Jimmy Walker made two magnificent saves to protect West Ham's
lead. The first came with a wonderful diving stop from Jay
DeMerit's 25 yard free-kick, while from the resulting corner he
somehow contorted his body to push Dominic Blizzard's header
over the bar.
The final whistle was met with jubilation by the 4,700 West Ham
fans inside Vicarage Road as their Play-off place was confirmed,
third-place Ipswich the prospective opponents.
Hammers Clinch Play-off Place
8th May 2005