Tottenham Hotspur U18s 0-4 West Ham United U18s
Blair Turgott scored twice as West Ham United romped to a fine derby victory away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Hammers have won all three FA Premier Academy League matches this season but Elliot Lee, who struck a hat-trick in the first two games, was not among the scorers. Instead Kieran Sadlier set the Irons on their way in the first half before Turgott took over with two after the interval. Jack Powell rounded out the scoring in the closing stages for a second successive away win.
U18s coach Nick Haycock was rightly thrilled with the team's efforts at Spurs Lodge. "It was a very good professional performance," he said. "We scored early on through Kieran Sadlier and that set the tone. It was a strong team display all-round with everyone working hard to win the ball back whenever Spurs had possession."
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Sadlier was not supposed to be starting but was called in to the eleven when Matthias Fanimo felt a tight muscle in the warm-up. The Irish youth international was quickly in the thick of the action, showing good footwork before firing into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season.
The Hammers had a couple more good chances before the break - including Turgott - but had to be content with just a one-goal advantage at half-time - and also coped with losing Declan Hunt to a knee knock in the opening stages.
England U17 starlet Turgott made it two on 65 minutes with a 25-yard effort before rounding the keeper soon afterwards for his second and the Hammers' third. The rout was complete when Young headed in but Haycock was just as pleased with the team's defensive resilience as he was their attacking verve.
"We have done a lot of work on team spirit since the pre-season," explained Haycock. "We have focused on what we do when we haven't got the ball as when we have got it. Things are going very well and there have been no weak links in the team. Everyone is pulling their weight.
"Three wins out of three is great and we are also seeing some good individual performances. Hopefully the lads will keep on going and maybe one or two will get opportunities to impress in the development squad and catch the manager's eye for the future. They have a long way to go but they are doing well and we have to be pleased with how they are coming along."
Haycock was particularly keen to emphasise the defensive contribution, with he and Academy Director Tony Carr always keen to spread the praise. "Jake Larkins has deserved his clean sheet and with young Leo [Chambers], Kenzer [Lee], Jake [Young] and Danny [Potts] we have not really been opened up. The back four and the midfield in front have all been working hard to stop teams hurting us.
"A derby match against Tottenham is always a good one to win. They are a good Academy so to perform as convincingly as we did is great. Their coach Alex Inglethorpe was very nice in his comments about us after the match and said we were much better than them on the day. We have to be pleased with that."
The young Hammers are in action again next Saturday when Watford are the visitors to Little Heath.
West Ham United: Larkins, Young, Chambers, K Lee, Potts, Turgott, Powell (Miles) , Hunt (Hurley 10), Sadlier (Labonne 75), Vose, E Lee