WEST HAM UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2011
KICK-OFF: 2PM
Final score - West Ham United reserves 4-2 Newcastle United reserves
94 mins - McNaughton wins a header and the final whistle is blown. That's another good afternoon's work for the reserves. Manager Lomas will be pleased with his players, while Avram Grant will be happy that Keane completed more than an hour and got his name on the scoresheet
93 mins - Into the final minute or so and West Ham have deserved this victory. Lomas remains unbeaten and Montano's late goal means the Hammers will rise to second in the Southern Group table should the scoreline stay the same.
92 mins - GOAL! Two substitutes combine and Montano makes it four at the second attempt. Kovac spreads play wide left for Ilunga. He lays the ball inside for Lee, whose expert pass picks out Montano. His left-foot shot is blocked by Alnwick, but the ball falls straight back to the Colombian, who rolls it into the net with his right foot.
91 mins - We're going to have at least three added minutes.
90 mins - Edmundsson is fouled by Eyjolfsson about 40 yards from goal. Airey sends over the free-kick and Faubert does well to win the header initially. A Newcastle player tries to keep the attack alive, but the ball squirms behind for a goal kick.
87 mins - Hines curls the free-kick around the wall but straight into the arms of Alnwick.
86 mins - Another opportunity as Kovac heads on for Edgar. He plays in Montano, who is felled by Streete on the edge of the penalty area.
85 mins - I don't want to tempt fate, but the young Newcastle side seems to have run out of both gas and ideas in the closing stages. West Ham, meanwhile, have really stepped it up since conceding to McDermott with a little more than 20 minutes to go.
84 mins - West Ham keep coming forward, but they can't quite kill this game off. Edgar cuts the ball back for Ilunga to cross first-time. His centre finds the head of Lee, but the substitute cannot find the target with what was a difficult chance.
83 mins - Another good chance as Sears cuts the ball across the face of the goal, but it's a yard too strong for Hines.
82 mins - So close to No4! Faubert curls over the free-kick and Eyjolfsson loops a header that thuds back off the crossbar before dropping into the hands of Alnwick.
81 mins - West Ham are in the ascendancy at present and pushing really hard to make this game safe. Hines is taking the game over with his pace, movement and superb attitude. He never gives defenders a moment of peace. He wins a free-kick inside the Newcastle half, allowing Edgar to replace Boa Morte.
79 mins - Close to a fourth goal for the Hammers as Montano and Sears combine. Montano crosses and the ball finds Lee, who controls before handling inside the area. Free-kick for Newcastle. Unlucky for Lee.
79 mins - We're going to see Anthony Edgar shortly. The No16 is receiving some last-minute instructions on the bench.
76 mins - GOAL! What did I tell you? Faubert swings over the free-kick and Hines rises high to head the ball in off the far post. That was a superb header from the No11. He guided it right into the top-corner of the net, giving Alnwick no chance whatsoever.
76 mins - Hines is looking really sharp in the second half. He does well to beat one man before being fouled by Riley. Faubert to take the set piece wide on the right.
75 mins - Another shooting chance for the hosts, this time for Hines. He is all alone as he takes on Streete and shoots from 25 yards. Again, the ball flies high and wide of the target.
74 mins - Lee finds Faubert wide on the right. He cuts inside his man and crosses left-footed. Appeals for handball against Edmundsson are ignored by the referee.
72 mins - Newcastle's equaliser has stung the home side into life. Sears makes his way into the box and shoots from an acute angle. The ball flies over the angle of the near post and the crossbar from about 14 yards.
70 mins - West Ham nearly hit back immediately as Hines runs into the penalty area and sees his shot half-blocked. Alnwick sprawls to his left to poke the ball around the post for a corner. Sears takes the flag-kick, but it's cleared at the near post.
69 mins - GOAL! That's a really good goal from Newcastle. Edmundsson clips a pass over the top for Richardson, who takes a touch and picks out the run of McDermott, who slides the ball inside the right-hand post.
68 mins - That is Keane's afternoon over. The Irishman shakes hands with replacement Lee, Lomas and Beardsley before making his way down the tunnel.
67 mins - Hines takes the free-kick and bends it over the wall. The ball looks destined for the bottom left-hand corner until Alnwick flies to his right to catch.
66 mins - Sears nips in and steals possession and West Ham have a two-one-one break. Sears knocks the ball past Henderson and is brought down about 30 yards out. Henderson is booked.
65 mins - That's not a bad first impression from Montano, who collects a pass from Ilunga and sends over a teasing cross that Hines glances wide of the far post.
62 mins - Faubert takes on two defenders and gets his cross in on the run superbly. It is cleared for a throw, giving Lomas the chance to replace Tombides with Montano. Hines goes up front with Keane, with Montano going out to the left flank.
61 mins - Cristian Montano is going to be on soon as Lomas calls him back to the Home bench. Olly Lee is also warming up and could be on shortly.
59 mins - McNaughton is guilty of giving away a free-kick this time. It's about 35 yards out. Airey swings the ball in and it drops to Richardson, but the No10 can only prod the ball wide of the right-hand post from about 16 yards. To be fair to him, Richardson was surrounded by defenders.
58 mins - Eyjolfsson fouls Nzuzi about 30 yards out and gets a talking-to from referee Mr Atkin. Airey lets fly from the set piece and works Boffin, but the Belgian holds on to the striker's powerful shot.
56 mins - Some quick one-touch football on the right ends with Boa Morte finding Sears. He shoots powerfully and Alnwick dives to his right to parry. Keane picks up the loose ball and clips it back from the byline, but it's too high for Hines.
54 mins - Ilunga sends a superb ball over the top and Keane beats the offside trip, but he cannot control with his left foot. Newcastle clear.
53 mins - Keane comes close again, allowing Faubert's throw-in to bounce before spinning and volleying left-footed and just past the far post.
52 mins - Some neat build-up down the Newcastle right ends with Edmundsson finding Inman, but the midfield leans back and can only guide his first-time side-foot shot miles over the top.
50 mins - Hines has the ball in the net from Eyjolfsson's flick-on, but he is well offside.
48 mins - West Ham almost copy their hosts and concede soon after scoring, but the ball is scrambled behind for a corner. The ball is headed half-clear to Inman, whose volley flies a few yards past the angle of post and crossbar.
47 mins - GOAL! Keane slots the ball in after some really quite indifferent defending from the visitors. Boa Morte takes a free-kick quickly after Hines is fouled. Kovac cannot apply the finish, but the ball is cleared just a few yards to Keane, who has the simple task of shooting home from about six yards.
47 mins - Left-back Riley gets forward down the flank and crosses, but it's too close to Boffin and the goalkeeper gathers the ball to his chest.
46 mins - Hines and Keane get the second 45 minutes underway...
After a slightly extended half-time break, the two teams emerge from the tunnel. It really is rather cold here in east London this afternoon. No changes from either manager at the interval. Newcastle, incidentally, are managed by former Magpies and England forward Peter Beardsley.
Half-time score - West Ham United reserves 1-1 Newcastle United reserves
47 mins - The half-time whistle goes and we go in level at the break. For the Hammers, Sears and Hines have shone, with the former bagging his third Barclays Premier Reserve League goal of the season. Join us again in 15 minutes for the second half.
46 mins - Newcastle give warning that they are still in this game as Airey shoots low from 25 yards, but it's straight at Boffin.
45 mins - Quality play from Sears, who picks the ball up wide on the left and beats one man before playing a superb one-two with Hines. He tries to cut the ball back for Keane, but Henderson is there to clear. We're going to have at least two added minutes.
44 mins - Tombides and Keane combine again before the former finds Hines. He runs at and around Riley before cutting the ball back. It agonisingly eludes both Tombides and Sears and Newcastle scramble clear.
42 mins - Keane tries to release Tombides with a flick, but Streete is in the right place at the right time to cut out the pass.
38 mins - The intensity has gone out of the game a bit in recent moments. Neither side has looked able to string together more than a couple of passes and create any clear chances. As I type, Hines is impeded and West Ham have a free-kick about 30 yards from goal out on the left. Hines himself takes and Eyjolfsson dives in, but his header is blocked and gathered by Alnwick.
37 mins - Nzuzi replaces the injured Newton. Let's hope the midfielder's injury is not too serious.
35 mins - After a couple of minutes of treatment, Newton is helped to the sideline by the Newcastle physio. Replacement Patrick Nzuzi is waiting to come on.
33 mins - That didn't look good for Newcastle No7 Newton, who clutches his left knee after going in to challenge Tombides. I'm not sure exactly how he hurt himself, but he looks to be in a fair bit of pain.
30 mins - Oooh! Airey is waved back on and robs Ilunga before shooting left-footed from about 25 yards. A shout of 'Yes!' goes up from a Newcastle player, but Boffin has other ideas as he flings himself to his right and fingertips the ball out for a corner. Boa Morte heads the delivery clear of the box.
29 mins - Goal-scorer Airey comes off second-best in an aerial challenge with McNaughton and needs the physio on. He has to have some treatment.
24 mins - Right-back Riley controls well before making for the byline, where his cross hits Ilunga and goes behind. Tombides clears the corner and West Ham counter-attack. Hines crosses and the ball finds Keane at the far post. He shoots left-footed and Alnwick blocks the ball behind for a West Ham corner.
22 mins - Manager Lomas has not left his seat in the Home dugout, but his voice has been heard regularly throughout the opening quarter of the match. He has been urging his players to move the ball quickly, pass-and-move and not take chances in their defensive third. Sensible advice, that.
20 mins - West Ham have a free-kick about 35 yards out as Hines is brought down by a lunging McDermott. Boa Morte to take. He curls the ball into the near post, where Hines stabs the ball agonisingly wide of the target.
17 mins - GOAL! The equaliser was not long in coming. Sears streaks past Riley and keeps his nerve to slot the ball under goalkeeper Alnwick and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. The goal is met by cheers from the supporters who have made the trip to the Boleyn Ground. That was vintage Sears.
15 mins - GOAL! Airey puts Newcastle into the lead, racing on to a Newton through ball before rounding the advancing Boffin and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.
14 mins - Another half-chance for the visitors as Edmundsson is forced wide by Eyjolfsson. He cuts the ball back for left-back Riley, who crosses first-time. No10 Richardson cannot direct his header on target.
12 mins - This must be a real treat for Tombides linking up with Keane, and the pair have combined encouragingly so far. Both are composed and strong in possession and look to get on the ball as much as possible. For now, though, it's Newcastle on the attack as Edmundsson sees his low shot from 25 yards gathered by Boffin.
10 mins - Newcastle counter and win a corner off the back of Ilunga. It is headed clear by Kovac. West Ham break down the right and Sears plays a one-two with Faubert but puts his cross behind the goal. It's been a lively start to the game, with the Hammers having the better of things so far.
9 mins - Great football from the hosts. Ilunga cuts inside and finds Hines, who plays the ball inside for Sears, who has come across from the right wing. He cuts the ball inside to Tombides, who switches it on to his left foot before seeing his shot blocked.
7 mins - Newcastle attack down the left. Left-back Riley cuts the ball back to Inman in space about 25 yards out. He is given time to shoot, but his effort flies harmlessly over Boffin's crossbar.
6 mins - Keane makes some space for himself from a throw, but his attempted through-ball for the advancing Sears is cut out inside the Newcastle penalty area.
5 mins - Ilunga slides a free-kick down the left wing to Hines, who flicks inside for Keane. The Irishman drops his shoulder and takes on two defenders, but his crowded out before he can get his shot away.
3 mins - A bright start from both sides as Edmundsson's low cross to the near post is met by Airey, but a combination of Eyjolfsson and McNaughton puts the ball behind for a corner. Streete tries to head goalwards, but McNaughton and then Boa Morte clear the danger.
1 min - Almost a chance straight away as Boffin's clearance makes its way to Keane. He beats one defender before trying to play in Hines. Right-back Leadbitter makes a sliding challenge on the edge of the penalty area and stops Hines' run with a good tackle.
2.01pm - Newcastle get us underway, kicking towards the Bobby Moore Stand.
1.59pm - Australia-born forward Dylan Tombides has caught the eye recently with his all-round play and goals. The youngster, who turned 17 last week, will do so again regardless of how he plays as he is wearing bright orange boots!
1.58pm - Here come the two teams. It is a grey and cold day here in east London, but hopefully the two sides will warm us all up with some entertaining football and plenty of goals. With a big Barclays Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur to follow on Saturday, the likes of Faubert, Kovac, Boa Morte, Sears and Hines will be eager to impress. West Ham are captained today by Callum McNaughton, while Newcastle are skippered by No5 Jeffrey Henderson.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for today's Barclays Premier Reserve League contest between West Ham United and Newcastle United.
New Hammers reserve-team manager Steve Lomas is unbeaten in his two games in charge so far, defeating Arsenal 3-2 at Bishop's Stortford before gaining a 1-1 draw at Sunderland a week ago.
The former West Ham and Northern Ireland midfielder has a very experienced lineup to draw upon today, with Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane continuing his comeback from a thigh problem by making his first reserve-team start for the club. On-loan forward Keane is ineligible for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
Keane is one of five full internationals in the West Ham side, with Julien Faubert and Herita Ilunga filling the full-back berths and Radoslav Kovac and Luis Boa Morte lining up in midfield. At the opposite end of the experience scale, 17-year-old Dylan Tombides will be eager to build on his two-goal show against Arsenal a fortnight ago.
There is plenty to play for this afternoon. West Ham could rise to second in the Southern Group table with victory, while Newcastle would go top of the Northern Group A standings with a win.
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Faubert, Eyjolfsson, McNaughton, Ilunga, Sears, Kovac, Boa Morte (Edgar 81), Hines, Keane (Lee 68), Tombides (Montano 62)
Subs not used: Larkins, Abdulla
Newcastle United reserves: Alnwick, Leadbitter, Riley, McDermott, Henderson, Streete, Newton (Nzuzi 37), Inman, Airey, Richardson, Edmundsson
Subs not used: Robinson, Nicholson, Sayer, McGorrigan