WEST HAM UNITED U18 v MANCHESTER UNITED U18
FA Youth Cup fourth round
Boleyn Ground
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Adam Crysell
Final score - West Ham United U18 0-1 Manchester United U18
The two teams get a decent round of applause as they come off. That was a very decent performance from West Ham, who could easily have forced extra-time. As it is, they will have to concentrate on the FA Premier Academy League now. The title is definitely not out of the Hammers' grasp, as they sit just a few points off the top of the table. Remember to keep a close eye on whufc.com and WHUTV for exclusive post-match reaction.
93 mins - Well, well, well... Fanimo bursts past his marker Michael Keane and cuts the ball back for Hall, who connects well but the ball hits a Man Utd arm inside the six-yard box. The West Ham players are convinced it is a penalty, but Mr Crysell gives nothing. Seconds later, the final whistle is blown.
92 mins - That could be West Ham's last chance. Driver crosses low into the box and Fornasier scrambles the ball away. It was a threatening ball in, but the defender was just in the right place at the right time.
91 mins - We're into the first of at least three added minutes...
90 mins - Great chance again as Fanimo sends Driver clear down the left. He should cross first-time for Tombides, but tries to take a touch instead and the ball escapes his control and rolls behind. Unlucky.
89 mins - Well done Sam Cowler. Man Utd break and Cofie lets fly from 20 yards, but the goalkeeper springs to his right to push the ball aside. West Ham regain the ball through Lletget, but when he finds Hall, the No7's attempted through-ball for Fanimo is too strong.
87 mins - Hall has gone into a central position behind Tombides, with Lletget wide on the right and Fanimo on the left. It's very offensive, but West Ham need a goal quickly to force extra-time.
85 mins - Man Utd make their first change, bringing on Zeke Fryers for Van Velzen. Fryers goes on to the left wing, with Cole across on the right.
83 mins - A nice pass wide left finds Fanimo, whose cross is just too high for Tombides. Cole brings the ball away and is scythed down by Lletget, who is booked. West Ham have played really well since half-time. A defeat would be VERY harsh on Tony Carr's side.
79 mins - Will Keane tries to get in and Cowler has to push the ball out for a corner. West Ham break at lightning pace through Hall, who feeds Fanimo. He turns past Michael Keane and looks set to score when Fornasier slides in with a superb challenge and puts the ball behind for a corner. The flag-kick comes over and Craig can only help it on and behind for a goal kick.
78 mins - Another opportunity as the referee waves play-on as Tombides is fouled. Hall bursts into the box and is challenged by Blackett. The winger wants a penalty, but referee Mr Crysell waves 'play on'.
76 mins - Great chance gone begging there. Driver plays in Tombides, who gets to the by-line and pulls the ball back for Lletget. The American slides and you can hear the home fans gasping and ready to celebrate, only for the ball to fly narrowly wide of the far post. Tombides and Lletget both hold their hands to their heads. That was so close...
74 mins - West Ham come again and Tombides has time to turn on the edge of the box. He shoots low, but the effort lacks the direction and power to beat Johnstone.
73 mins - Moncur shoots and it hits the wall. Tombides heads the ball on and it is cleared to Driver, whose shot takes a nick off a defender. The corner is taken short and wasted.
72 mins - Tombides is pushed by Thorpe and West Ham have a free-kick in a central position about 30 yards from goal. It's a bit straight, but Moncur and Hall are still eyeing up a shot on goal.
70 mins - We're nearly into the final 20 minutes and West Ham still need to conjure an equaliser from somewhere. Firstly, Sanchez is booked for a foul on Cole. Pogba blasts his free-kick into the wall.
67 mins - Lletget and Will Keane collide in midfield and both need treatment. Nothing sinister in that, I think it was just a clash of bodies. Both are back on within a few moments.
66 mins - The two Man Utd wingers have switched flanks. The diminutive Cole crosses and the ball reaches Van Velzen at the far post. He has all day to control and shoot, but instead volleys wide from 12 yards. Great chance to make it 2-0.
64 mins - Turgott is the second Hammer to be replaced, with Sebastian Lletget on in his place.
62 mins - Hall curls a free-kick over and both Craig and Tombides try to head it goal-wards. The ball loops high into the air and Johnstone shows good handling and composure to catch almost under his own crossbar.
59 mins - That is Vose's last involvement as he is the one replaced by Fanimo.
58 mins - Tombides brings the ball out and finds Vose wide on the left. He cuts inside but has few options. He is challenged by Michael Keane and the ball spins behind for a goal kick.
56 mins - Matthias Fanimo is going to be on in a short while. Tonight's crowd is announced as 1,405. Good turn out.
55 mins - Michael Keane bombs forward and crosses low into the six-yard box. The ball eludes the sliding Cofie and goalkeeper Cowler before finding Pogba wide on the left. He crosses, but Driver is there to hack clear.
53 mins - Fair play to West Ham, they have started really brightly after the break. The visitors have hardly had a touch. Hall tries to find the rampaging Modelski, but Fornasier is there to smash the ball into the West Stand.
52 mins - Hall has definitely got the beat off Blackett as he teases the left-back again before crossing. Unfortunately, it's too high and flies out for a goal kick on the far side.
49 mins - Good build-up play again from the Hammers ends with Tombides laying the ball off for Turgott. The England U17 winger shoots, but it's too close to Johnstone, who saves low down.
47 mins - Moncur loops the ball out to Driver, who crosses dangerously with his left foot. The ball is stabbed out for a throw.
46 mins - West Ham kick-off the second half through Tombides and Turgott... West Ham immediately go on the offensive through Hall and Turgott and win a throw deep in Man Utd territory. Modelski cuts in from the left and shoots, but it is blocked.
Half-time score - West Ham United U18 0-1 Manchester United U18
46 mins - That's half-time...
45 mins - Half-time is rapidly approaching and it looks like the Hammers will need a second-half recovery to turn this tie around. It's only 1-0, though, so anything could still happen Remember, the tie must be settled on the night.
43 mins - Ooooh! So nearly an action-replay as Moncur curls a dipping shot over the wall and Johnstone pushes the ball over the top. The corner is hacked behind after some penalty-area pinball. West Ham cross again from the left and Johnstone fumbles. Modelski crosses and Moncur and Tombides both see shots blocked before the chance is lost when Hall is offside.
42 mins - Turgott brings the ball forward and cuts between Michael Keane and Thorpe before going to ground. Free-kick about 25 yards out. Moncur scored from similar range in the third round...
41 mins - Cole loses Driver with a neat flick and the left-back brings down the winger. Tunnicliffe wastes the free-kick.
40 mins - Better. Craig marauds forward with the ball at his feet before poking a pass wide right for Hall. He beats Blackett but his cross is too close to Johnstone, who catches at the second attempt.
37 mins - Driver fouls the lively Cole wide on the Man Utd right. The free-kick goes into the box and Craig rises highest to head clear.
35 mins - GOAL! Cofie shoots from distance and Cowler can't handle the ball as it bounces just in front of him. The ball loops high into the air and Will Keane runs on and heads it into the top corner. The visitors lead...
32 mins - Amazingly, this is the first time the two sides have met since the 1957 final. A certain John Lyall was in the West Ham XI as Man Utd ran out 8-2 winners on aggregate.
30 mins - Van Velzen does well down the left and tricks and turns past Modelski before shooting right-footed. Cowler pushes the ball aside before Driver hacks it out for a throw in.
26 mins - Believe it or not the Man Utd fans are making some noise in the West Stand Lower. I think there are only about ten of them, but they are singing. However, they fall silent when Hall tricks his way past Blackett with an outrageous piece of skill. Unfortunately his cross is behind Tombides and Vose. West Ham keep the pressure on and the ball breaks to Turgott, but he drives his shot high and wide.
22 mins - Man Utd work some space down the left and full-back Blackett crosses into the centre of the penalty area. Cole meets the ball on the volley, but he can only direct his shot over the crossbar from ten yards.
20 mins - Twenty minutes in and Man Utd have probably held the upper hand, just, during the opening period. Hall had a good chance, while Tombides forced Johnstone into a save, so West Ham have had some chances. However, the visitors have held the territorial advantage. It's been close, though.
19 mins - Great skill by Cole takes him past Driver. The ball is worked across the line to left-winger Van Velzen, but his cross-shot is superbly blocked by the sliding Modelski.
17 mins - Will Keane gets in goal-side of Sanchez, but the angle is against him and he drives his shot into the side-netting at the near post.
16 mins - Wearen brings down Tunnicliffe as he brings the ball into the West Ham half. The Irish midfielder gets a talking to from referee Mr Crysell. Craig heads powerfully clear and Hall finds Turgott, but his touch lets him down on halfway.
15 mins - Hall picks possession up from Turgott's header and beats Tunnicliffe before finding Tombides. The Australian turns and shoots powerfully from 25 yards, forcing Johnstone to catch the ball to his chest.
14 mins - Centre-back Michele Fornasier puts the ball behind for a corner. Vose takes it but it's low to the near post and hacked behind again by a defender. The second delivery is also short and headed clear. Moncur hooks the ball back into the penalty area, but it is hacked well clear on the volley and the chance is lost.
12 mins - West Ham have Sebastian Lletget warming up on the touchline for a short while. I don't think anyone in claret and blue is injured, so maybe just a precaution from Academy Director Tony Carr.
11 mins - Tombides sends a pass to Hall, who mis-kicks as he tries to pull the ball back for Moncur. The midfielder shoots, but it's blocked into the air and collected by Johnstone.
9 mins - Cole beats Callum Driver and crosses. Cofie shoots again and the ball is blocked behind. The corner is headed clear by Tombides at the near post.
8 mins - Craig is caught out and passes the ball to Larnell Cole. He breaks forward and crosses, but when Cofie shoots, it is straight at Cowler.
6 mins - Ryan Tunnicliffe brings the ball forward past Wearen and tries to play it inside to Will Keane, but captain Sanchez makes the interception, The Spaniard has looked solid so far tonight.
5 mins - West Ham break from a Man Utd throw. Turgott passes inside and Tombides flicks it nearly into the path of Hall. The England U19 player has time and space but chooses to shoot from 25 yards. It's a low effort and easy for Sam Johnstone in the visitors' goal.
4 mins - John Cofie, the Man Utd No9, brings the ball forward and saunters past Moncur before being fouled by Wearen about 30 yards from goal. Pogba takes the free-kick and forces Cowler into a smart save diving to his left.
3 mins - Man Utd - I'm going to call them that for speed purposes - have a free-kick but it's wasted and flies through and out for a goal kick to the Hammers.
2 mins - A few nervous touches from both sets of players early on. Wearen shows good strength to hold off two Man Utd players before finding Moncur - that might settle the hosts down a bit.
7pm - We are under way...
6.59pm - Manchester United will kick-off playing towards the Bobby Moore Stand end of the ground.
6.58pm - West Ham's players are holding a last-minute huddle. They're having a good old chat about their plans for tonight's game. The two captains, Sergio Sanchez and Tom Thorpe, exchange pleasantries in the centre-circle and we're nearly ready for kick-off.
6.56pm - The two teams are out of the tunnel and shaking hands before breaking away for kick-off. The visitors are in their change strip of white shirts, black shorts and black socks. The home side are in claret and blue shirts, white shorts and white socks.
Good evening and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for tonight's FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie between West Ham United and Manchester United.
West Ham have won the competition three times, while Manchester United have lifted the trophy on a record nine occasions.
The Hammers won through to the fourth round by defeating Aldershot Town 5-0, while tonight's visitors defeated Portsmouth 3-2 in the third round.
West Ham United U18: Cowler, Modelski, Driver, Craig, Sanchez, Hall, Wearen, Moncur, Turgott (Lletget 64), Vose (Fanimo 59), Tombides
Subs: Mehmet, Potts, Hunt
Manchester United U18: Johnstone, M.Keane, Blackett, Thorpe, Fornasier, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Pogba, Cofie, W.Keane, Van Velzen
Subs: Jacob, Fryers, Lingard, Massacci, Hendrie