Dev Squad win at Cambridge

West Ham United's Development Squad continued a good week for the Club by scoring a 5-1 victory at Cambridge United on Tuesday.

Just 24 hours after the first team kept their npower Championship automatic promotion hopes alive by winning at Leicester City, the Hammers' youngsters put on a fine show at the Abbey Stadium.

Paul McCallum, Blair Turgott, Dominic Vose, Brian Montenegro and Elliot Lee (pictured) were all on target as the U's kicked-off their centenary celebrations by welcoming Ian Hendon's side.

With a crowd of 2,444 packed inside, the Hammers showed their class with five goals in the second half.

The first half saw West Ham get themselves into good positions, only for the final pass or finish to let them down. Turgott saw a shot well saved by Robert Ambrusics in the Cambridge goal. With the game scoreless at half-time the Hammers turned on the style in the second 45 minutes.

Hendon said, "It was a case of being patient with the ball in the second half. We had chances in the first half but the final ball or the finish didn't really come off for us. Second half, though, we were outstanding and scored some really good goals."

The goals began to flow just two minutes after half time when Callum Driver's cross was met in the middle by Montenegro, who powered his header into the top corner. Just two minutes later the scores were level, though, as James Brighton latched onto a through ball and stroked it past Jake Larkins.

After that, however, the Hammers took total control and regained the lead on 67 minutes when Turgott saw his shot saved but managed to poke the ball in on the rebound.

As the game wore on the hosts began to tire and West Ham took full advantage.

Their third goal ten minutes from the end was down to fantastic wing play by substitute Matthias Fanimo who beat his man before whipping in a fantastic cross that was met at the back post by McCallum, who nodded in.

The fourth followed a minute from time when Vose fed Turgott, who pulled the ball back for Vose to hit a powerful strike into the corner. The rout was complete in injury time as Lee headed in Turgott's cross.

Hendon was delighted with both the result and the chance to take part in marking Cambridge's centenary.

"It was nice to be part of their celebrations. It's a fantastic pitch and allowed us to play our natural passing game. I'm not sure they will be too pleased with the result but I'm delighted with the lads and the performance they have put in."

The game against Cambridge marks the end of a busy season for the Development Squad and Hendon is pleased with the progress his young squad have made this term.

"The boys have progressed very well this season and a couple of them have been around the first team squad and a few have even played, which in my eyes was very pleasing. Hopefully this group of young players will kick on into next season and we can get a few more in and around the first team."

West Ham United XI: Larkins, Driver, Potts, Diop (Powell), Wearen, K. Lee (Fanimo), Ruddock (Vose), Lletget, Montenegro (E. Lee), Hall (McCallum), Turgott