West Ham United finished the 2007/08 Barclays Premier Reserve League South campaign in third place - level on points with second-placed Arsenal and just four adrift of champions Aston Villa.
Kevin Keen can look back with pride on a promising season that saw the team challenging for the top spot right until the end of the campaign. In the end, the two head to head results with Villa proved crucial. The first match of the campaign back on 29 August saw the midlands club edge a 2-1 victory with an 89th-minute winner. It looked like revenge was secured on 7 January in the return meeting when United were 1-0 up with just three minutes to play only for Villa to get two goals in the final three minutes.
FINAL LEAGUE TABLE I ALL THE RESULTS AND REPORTS
Reflecting to the matchday programme on the season, that concluded with Portsmouth's 1-0 win against Fulham on Tuesday night, Keen said: "After several years near the bottom end of the table, it's good to have a young reserve squad again which can hold its own and compete near the top end of the table. More importantly the reserve squad, along with the academy has helped produce three young players capable of appearing in our first team and with bright futures ahead of them in Jack Collison, James Tomkins and Freddie Sears.
"Highlights from this year include a record 8-0 win at Derby, where a senior side played some of the best football I've seen in recent seasons, and our 2-1 win against Reading last month, where a young Hammers side defeated an extremely strong Royals team with a great performance. Many thanks to all who have come and supported us this year and also to Bishop's Stortford for their hospitality and a wonderful pitch."