West Ham United Under-18s may have ended their Premier Academy League campaign on a losing note at MK Dons, but they will have taken plenty of consolation from a good season overall.
West Ham's youngsters were on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline in a thrilling contest on Saturday as they completed their fixtures for the 2011/12 season. Goals from the ever-prolific duo of Elliot Lee and Matthias Fanimo were not quite enough to see them through as Academy Coach Nick Haycock was left to reflect on a season that provided plenty of positives.
"We have had a good season," Haycock said. "We pushed in the FA Youth Cup and overall, it has been really good. So we were disappointed with this match, but sometimes you just have to say well done to the other side, as they were simply better than us on the day.
"We had a mix of regulars with some of our U16s and U17s. For those boys, it will be good experience under their belts ahead of next year."
MK Dons went ahead just after the half-hour mark but the visitors drew level early in the second half when Elliot Lee played a nice ball to Fanimo, who fired past the Dons' goalkeeper. Lee himself then got on the scoresheet soon after, meeting a Jake Young cross to put the Hammers into the lead. Positive play by Haycock's side was not enough to stop the Dons from scoring again, though, and the home side levelled from the penalty spot, following a foul by Kenzer Lee in the box.
The hosts had the momentum and they put the game to bed with two more late goals.
Haycock added: "While it was disappointing to let the goals in that we did, I thought Elliot Lee was again superb and led the line really well. Mathias was on target and we had a few youngsters who had a hard lesson out there but it will stand them in good stead for the new season to come."
West Ham United: Larkins (Baxter, 45), Young (Alexander , 62), Seidu, Lee, Shaw, Miles, Nasha (Yiadom , 47), Bywater, Fanimo, Sadlier, E Lee