West Ham United's Under-18's will be looking to
bounce back from their weekend defeat and cap off what has been an
outstanding season overall.
Despite losing 4-1 at Leicester on Saturday - only one defeat in 10
- Tony Carr will take his team into the final league game of the
season at home to Reading, confident of grabbing second place in
the table.
Tony said: "We were very disappointed afterwards at
Leicester, but if we look at the season overall, it has been very
good indeed. Although we can't win the league now, it is up to
us to get a result against Reading, so we can go for that second
place. Chelsea can catch us as they have two games to go, but if we
can get three points then we can do it."
Following two hard-fought draws in the last couple of matches,
Hammers were dealt an early blow when City scored two goals in the
first seven minutes to take the lead.
But a sign of what is a maturing side, Hammers' heads
didn't go down, and they managed to hit back, with a goal to
bring it back to 2-1, thanks to a spectacular solo effort from
Junior Stanislas.
After collecting the ball on the half-way line, Stanislas beat
defenders before cutting inside to curl the shot into the back of
the net.
City though made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time, but West Ham
put in a fighting performance in the second half to try and get
back on level terms.
Jack Jeffery saw his effort hit the post, before Jack Collison went
agonisingly close with his chance.
Leicester scored again to wrap up the points and now Hammers will
be hoping for a winning finale at the weekend.
"At the end of the day, Leicester were stronger and better
than us, they outfought us, although we did have a go. I said to
the boys afterwards, that this is another part of the game that
they will learn, that sometimes that is the way you have to win
some matches, said Tony
"To be fair, many of the lads have been going from youth
football to reserves a couple time a week and yes, perhaps that has
taken it's toll slightly in the last couple of months. But
that's football and that's how it is.
"There have been some really good performances from the lads
this season throughout and there is a lot of potential out there,
which is good."
Hammers: Blackmore, Miller, Spence (Hunt 80), N'Gala,
Fitzgerald, Stanislas, Hales (Hines, 60), Collison, Sears, Harvey,
Jeffery
Unused sub: Street
by Laura Burkin