West Ham United v Arsenal
FA Premier Reserve League South
Boleyn Ground
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Kick-off: 7pm
Two Freddie Sears penalties were not enough for West Ham United as they fell to a 4-2 Barclays Premier Reserve League South defeat by Arsenal at the Boleyn Ground.
Jay Thomas had given the Gunners a two-goal half-time lead before the 20-year-old blasted home two spot-kicks, the first after he had been fouled and the second after strike partner Cristian Montano was felled.
However, the Hammers were unable to hold on to their point as substitute Emmanuel Frimpong and Thomas struck late on to secure all three for the visitors.
Alex Dyer's side will return to action next Tuesday evening, when they host Portsmouth.
Full-time score - West Ham United reserves 2-4 Arsenal reserves
94 mins - Frimpong lets fly from 25 yards, but it flies well wide. Stech boots the ball clear and the referee blows for full time.
93 mins - GOAL! Thomas completes his hat-trick with a precise finish from Frimpong's pass. Unfortunately, West Ham's hopes of a dramatic late comeback have disappeared.
91 mins - The Arsenal physio is on again, this time to treat Coquelin.
90 mins - We're going to have at least three added minutes.
89 mins - Abdulla is shown the yellow card after a lunging challenge on Sunu.
86 mins - West Ham are working hard to come from behind a second time, but the minutes are running out. Indeed, Arsenal come close to a fourth through Merida, only for Stech to produce a superb stop to push aside the former Barcelona player's effort.
82 mins - GOAL! That wasn't in the script. Frimpong is allowed too much space 25 yards from goal and rifles a low shot past Stech's out-stretched right hand.
80 mins - A second substitution for the Hammers. Payne is replaced by Ahmed Abdulla. The Saudi Arabian was at Arsenal until he was 16 and would surely love to score the winner against his old club.
79 mins - GOAL! Yes he can! The 20-year-old slams his penalty past Mannone, smashing it into the bottom-right hand corner.
78 mins - You couldn't make it up! West Ham have a penalty! Bartley challenges Montano and the referee gives a second spot-kick. Can Sears do a Diamanti?
76 mins - Famous last words... Merida clips the ball through for Thomas to chase. 'Gala knocks it back to Stech, who hurriedly hacks the ball clear.
75 mins - A quarter of an hour remains for the reserves to emulate the first-team and overcome a two-goal half-time deficit to snatch a draw. Arsenal's attacking threat has all but disappeared.
73 mins - Kearns' second corner is headed clear to Barrett just outside the box. The Under-18 midfielder takes a touch on his chest, but his half volley flies over the crossbar.
72 mins - Sears latches on to Kearns' pass before winning a corner. West Ham's players congregate on the edge of the box to receive the Northern Irishman's kick. Daprela gets to the delivery first, but his hooked shot is deflected over the top.
70 mins - West Ham have changed their personnel. Spence is at right-back, Ferrari at left-back and Daprela is now partnering 'Gala in the centre of defence.
68 mins - Thomas is back on the touchline changing his boots again. It appears a second white pair has been brought out for him to try on for size.
66 mins - Kearns is epitomising West Ham's approach, winning a free-kick down the right wing. Before the set piece can be taken, Barrett is on for the returning Lee.
64 mins - It has also made Jay Thomas's boots turn white. The Arsenal striker has changed his footwear from a fetching lime green pair to plain white. Stylish.
63 mins - Dyer will be pleased with the reaction of his players after half time. They have really taken the game to Arsenal since the break and thoroughly deserve to be right back in this game. Andrea Zola, Peter Loveday and Nicky Barrett are warming up on the touchline, and I don't blame them! It is one of those nights that makes your hands turn purple.
62 mins - Interesting effort from Frimpong, who swings a white boot at the ball and slices it high and not very handsome into the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
61 mins - West Ham really fancy this now. Daprela wins a crunching challenge in the midfield before running 30 yards with the ball before being unceremoniously brought down by Frimpong. That was not a very good tackle.
60 mins - Sears did really well to win the penalty that was given. He was second favourite when Mannone pushed aside Lee's shot, but he rocketed past his marker to get to the ball first.
57 mins - Shouts for another penalty. Edgar volleyed a cross in from the left and Thomas Cruise appeared to kick the ball on to his own arm. Dyer is convinced, but the referee is not. No spot-kick this time.
56 mins - GOAL! Sears strikes low to Mannone's right. That's the second penalty he has had to pick out of that net this season following Alessandro Diamanti's effort in the league game between the two sides.
55 mins - West Ham have a penalty! Edgar tricked his way past Gilbert before crossing low. The ball was half-cleared to Lee, who poked goalwards. Mannone saved but could only push the ball towards Sears, who was brought down as he tried to apply the finish.
54 mins - Ferrari concedes a free-kick right on the corner of the home penalty area. Merida tries an audacious shot, but it is well wide of the near post.
53 mins - All the national newspaper reporters and radio commentators who were sat in the Press Box before half time have disappeared back downstairs. I can't think why!
52 mins - Arsenal win a free-kick 30 yards out. Merida shoots with his left foot and Stech holds on diving low to his left.
49 mins - The Gunners have Evina at centre-back and Frimpong in central midfield. Meanwhile, Montano attempts to batter his way through the Arsenal defence, but Mannone is out bravely to dive for the ball at his feet.
48 mins - Strong handball claims against Evina as Montano attempted to flick the ball over him inside the Arsenal penalty area.
46 mins - West Ham get us back underway. Can they force their way back into the match?
A couple of half-time substitutions for Arsenal. Campbell is replaced by Cedric Evina, while Emmanuel Frimpong is on for Randall.
46 mins - Sunu slaloms into the box, but Ferrari slows his progress. He finds Merida, but Daprela nips in to steal the ball at the vital moment.
45 mins - We are going to have just one added minute,,.
42 mins - The ball breaks to Olly Lee 30 yards from goal, but his first-time shot is too high to trouble Mannone. The midfielder has just returned from a bout of glandular fever and will be eager to get back into regular action.
41 mins - Edgar sets up another attack, but his ball finds Daprela slightly offside. The Swiss is unaware of the flag and crosses to Sears, who shoots wide of the near post. Obviously it would not have counted, anyway.
38 mins - Another half chance for the Hammers. Sears wins a tackle in midfield and Edgar picks up possession. He runs 25 yards before shooting from the same distance, but the ball rolls wide.
37 mins - Good football from West Ham sees Kearns spread the play wide to Ferrari. The Italian right-back crosses for Montano, who brings the ball down before it is hacked clear by Bartley.
32 mins - Dyer is out on the edge of his technical area urging on his young team. They are trying hard to get back into the game, with Daprela going on another marauding run forward before losing the ball to Bartley.
30 mins - Stech earns a cheer after booting a clearance on to the roof of the East Stand, where it stubbornly stays.
28 mins - GOAL! Thomas again. This time the forward picked up a neat pass from Gilbert before cutting inside on his left foot and firing a low shot that appeared to hit Edgar and loop past Stech.
27 mins - GOAL! Arsenal take the lead through Thomas. The 19-year-old got in front of his marker to flick Merida's corner inside the far post.
26 mins - Another half chance for Arsenal, but 'Gala does well to get back and block Coquelin's shot behind for a corner.
25 mins - Gilbert gets on to the ball from Thomas' pass before forcing Daprela into conceding a corner. Merida curls the flag kick miles over Stech and behind for a goal kick.
24 mins - A bit of space for Thomas just outside the box, but the 2009 FA Youth Cup-winning captain cannot keep his shot down and it flies miles over the top.
20 mins - West Ham force a corner down the right. Kearns lofts the ball in, but it is too close to Mannone and the former Atalanta man claims it.
18 mins - Payne wins a challenge in midfield before finding Edgar, who passes on to Sears. The 20-year-old gets the ball on to his left foot before curling a shot into the hands of Mannone. Incidentally, the Italian has not played a first-team game for the Gunners since the 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw here in October.
16 mins - Sears turns superbly inside the Arsenal half before streaking towards the Arsenal area, only to be clipped from behind by Coquelin. Kearns rolls the free-kick to Edgar, who sees his shot blocked.
13 mins - Campbell is right in the centre of the action again, rising high to head a long Stech clearance, only to connect with the back of team-mate Craig Eastmond's head. The 18-year-old, who has made three first-team appearances this season, needs treatment.
11 mins - Campbell almost fashions a chance for Gilles Sunu. The big defender wins a towering header which bounces to the Frenchman, but he cannot find the target with a low shot from 25 yards. The former Chateauroux player was not best pleased with his effort there.
9 mins - Campbell has his first piece of real defending to do, heading a Ferrari cross clear of danger.
8 mins - Jay Thomas latches on to a pass from Fran Merida, but can only slice his shot miles into the stand from an acute angle. Both teams are playing some neat football on what is a freezing night.
6 mins - First chance for Arsenal. Mark Randall shoots from 20 yards and Stech gathers at the second attempt.
5 mins - Tonight's game is a big chance for Sears and Montano to show what they can do. Sky Sports have their cameras here to track Campbell's movements, so any chances taken by the forwards are likely to be granted a national television audience. Daprela is also keen to shine, making 60 yards with the ball before being crowded out on the edge of the Arsenal box.
3 mins - A lovely flick from Edgar sends Montano clear down the left. He finds Sears, but the forward is tracked down by Gilbert before fouling the full-back. The challenge earns a loud cheer from the stands.
1 min - Arsenal threaten early through Francis Coquelin but Daprela is alert and snuffs out the danger inside the penalty area.
7pm - We're underway...
6.59pm - Both sets of players are running around trying to keep warm as the two captains meet with the referee. We're going to stay as we are, with Arsenal kicking off towards the Bobby Moore Stand end.
6.57pm - There is a quite a decent crowd in tonight, which I suppose is no surprise considering the presence of a certain centre-back. Among the interested spectators are Gianfranco Zola and Arsene Wenger. Here come the two teams led by Bondz 'Gala and Kyle Barkley.
6.55pm - Both teams have completed their exercises and have made their way back down the tunnel. Freddie Sears looked particularly sharp during shooting practice, so Campbell could be in for a busy night.
6.30pm - Arsenal, led by Sol Campbell, are the second team to take to the pitch for their pre-match warm-up on a cold, slightly breezy night in east London. West Ham are already being put through their paces on the far side in front of the East Stand. In the goal in front of the Bobby Moore Stand, Marek Stech and Peter Loveday are being put through their paces by goalkeeper coach Jerome John.
Alex Dyer has named a youthful West Ham United lineup for the FA Premier Reserve League South visit of Arsenal to the Boleyn Ground.
Five players who have appeared for the Hammers first-team this season have been included in the starting XI - Bondz 'Gala, Josh Payne, Fabio Daprela, Freddie Sears, Anthony Edgar. Forward Terry Dixon is missing with a minor leg injury and should be back in full training later this week.
For Arsenal, England defender Sol Campbell will make his first appearance for the club since the 2006 UEFA Champions League final defeat by FC Barcelona. The 35-year-old has been training with Arsene Wenger's squad since leaving Notts County in September and is believed to be close to re-joining the club on a short-term contract. The former Tottenham Hotspur player scored eleven goals in 197 appearances for Arsenal between 2001 and 2006.
Aside from Campbell, the Gunners have also named a young team, with goalkeeper Vito Mannone and full-back Kerrea Gilbert the only other players over the age of 20 in Neil Banfield's team. Arsenal include eight members of their 2009 FA Youth Cup-winning squad in their matchday 16.
West Ham United reserves: Stech, Ferrari, 'Gala, Spence, Daprela, Kearns, Payne (Abdulla 80), Lee (Barrett 66), Edgar, Montano, Sears
Subs: Loveday, Grasser, Zola, McNaughton
Arsenal reserves: Mannone, Gilbert, Bartley, Campbell (Evina 46), Cruise, Randall (Frimpong 46), Eastmond, Merida, Thomas, Coquelin, Sunu
Subs: Shea, Freeman, Hajrovic