LUTON TOWN v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
FRIENDLY MATCH
KENILWORTH ROAD
TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 7.00PM
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Full-time: That's it. The referee blows his whistle and the young Hammers have suffered a 2-1 defeat against Luton Town. Two first half goals from Stevenson did the damage before Turgott pulled one back for the visitors. The winger was in superb form but missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Ruddock had been felled in the box. They tried their best but came up just short against a strong Luton Town side.
90 mins: Free-kick on the halfway line. Spiegel takes Ruddock heads but the flag is up.
89 mins: Last knockings for the Hammers now and it looks like they may just come up a little short.
87 mins: Spiegel is down smartly to save from Cullen.
86 mins: Turgott didn't deserve to miss that penalty. The winger has been the game's outstanding player.
84 mins: Ruddock goes down in the box after Mendy's challenge and a penalty is given. Turgott steps up and strikes low to the keeper's right but Justham is there to make a good save.
83 mins: I've lost count of how many times poor Maguire has been fouled, this time Taiwo is the offender.
81 mins: Into the last ten minutes with the Hammers still attacking in search of that elusive equaliser.
79 mins: Bywater comes onto replace Sadlier.
77 mins: Turgott again skins his man and moves into the box but a tame shot ends up in the keeper's arms.
75 mins: Tombides drags an effort wide after a defensive mix-up. 15 minutes to go, big effort needed.
73 mins: Uproar in the stands as Sadlier nudges the ball out of throw but the referee gives the throw West Ham's way.
71 mins: Sadlier should level the scores with a volley after the ball ricochets to him in the box. Instead he puts his effort wide of the post.
70 mins: Turgott has a strike which keeps low and nearly catches out Justham but the keeper is able to hold the ball.
68 mins: Stevenson can't continue and is replaced by Mendy.
66 mins: Spiegel does well to hold a low shot from Robinson.
64 mins: Stevenson is on the turf receiving treatment after a big collision with Ruddock. A collision which would leave most people needing medical treatment.
63 mins: Luton deliver a dangerous ball in from a corner and that man Stevenson should be celebrating a hat-trick but somehow manages to miss the ball.
62 mins: Whitehead, Makasi, Tombides and Knoyle are on for Nasha, Diarra, Miles and Fanimo.
61 mins: Haycock is preparing some changes on the touchline with four players stripped and ready to come on.
59 mins: Turgott again beats a couple of players before winning a corner. Fanimo takes it short but the defence snuffs it out and clears.
57 mins: Sadlier beautifully turns Pisani who charges in and fouls the winger. Shaw delivers and Maguire works a shot but Justham is able to save low to his right.
55 mins: Cullen recieves the ball on the edge of the box and turns to set-up Robinson who side foots over the bar.
53 mins: Pisani delivers a deep cross for Cullen who's header is wide of the target.
51 mins GOAL: Turgott taps home! Maguire plays in Sadlier whose cross isn't dealt with and Turgott is there to tap home. Game on!
50 mins: He whips a good looking ball in but Robinson gets up to head clear.
49 mins: Fanimo plays in Turgott who is able to win a corner. Fanimo delivers, Justham punches back to him, Fanimo wins a corner.
47 mins: Maguire again bought down and wins a free-kick on the right-hand touchline. The ball whipped in by Fanimo but it's over everyone.
46 mins: We're back underway for the second half with the Hammers needing to find their shooting boots to turn this one around. Frazer Shaw is on for McCartney for the visitors with Viana on for O'Donell.
Half-time: That close shave was the last action of a very even first half as Luton take a two goal lead into the break. Stevenson opened the scoring against the run of play after 16 minutes before he doubled the lead with a brilliant strike after half an hour. Turgott and Fanimo have been the bright sparks for the Hammers on a so far disappointing night.
45 mins: Ruddock plays a long ball and Sadlier is in down the line. He gets to the byline and delivers a cross which is deflected by Parry and onto the post with Justham just about able to stop the ball crossing the line! Close!
43 mins: Maguire is again the victim of a hefty tackle and wins a free-kick. Sadlier shoots from miles out and fires it straight into the midrift of a Luton player. On a cold night like this that's gonna hurt.
42 mins: Fanimo finds space for another attempt from range, he hits it well but over the top it goes.
40 mins: Turgott wins a corner. Fanimo delivers but scuffs it low and it's hoofed to safety.
38 mins: Potts has the ball in the net but his header is ruled out for offside.
37 mins: Fanimo, fresh from an excellent goal against Chelsea last Friday, tries his luck from distance with a thunderous drive forcing Justham into evasive action.
35 mins: Luton cannot handle Turgott tonight. The winger has been a great outlet for his team and they need to find him more often.
34 mins: O'Donnell limps away from a challenge with Nasha as some rowdy fans appeal for a card. No chance.
32 mins: The Hammers have a corner after Fanimo's free-kick is deflected out of play. Ball in is a poor one and easily cleared.
30 mins GOAL: From Justham's clearance Robinson controls the ball and feeds Stevenson who hits a beauty of a shot past Spiegel and into the corner of the net.
29 mins: Sadlier delivers the resulting free-kick but it's too close to Justham and he easily collects.
28 mins: Fanimo plays the ball down the left for Maguire who knocks it past Longden before the full-back brings him down with a hard sliding tackle.
27 mins: The game is turning into a midfield battle with both sides keen to impress their stamp on the game.
25 mins: Great work by Fanimo as he beats three before trying to play in Turgott, his pass is intercepted however.
23 mins: Robinson chips the ball over to Cullen who turns and fires his shot off Diarra and out for a corner. Maduako gets his head to the corner but Ruddock clears.
21 mins: The corner goes to the near post and appears to hit Sadlier before hitting the post and going wide. The resulting corner is over-hit and goes out of play.
20 mins: Miles gives the ball away and Ahoua drives towards the box before a deflected shot goes wide. Corner.
18 mins: That was the ultimate sucker punch from the home side who've been on the back foot for most of this game.
16 mins GOAL: A ball over the top isn't dealt with by Ruddock and Robinson tees up Stevenson who buries a side footed shot past Spiegel from the edge of the box.
15 mins: Miles feeds Maguire in the left-hand channel. The Irishman turns it inside to Turgott who fires left-footed over the bar.
14 mins: Cullen has Luton's first attempt, striking first time as the ball rolled loose. His effort was however straight at Spiegel.
13 mins: Turgott is involved again, this time picking the ball up on the halfway line, turning his man and gliding past two more before firing a shot just wide of the post.
11 mins: Fanimo swings the ball out to thr right for Turgott to run onto. This time his cross finds Sadlier but the winger can only mis-kick the ball.
9 mins: Turgott's looking a threat early on, this time he beats three players before delivering a low cross from the right which is easily cleared.
7 mins: Turgott finds himself with a shooting opportunity in the box. He drives hard from a tight angle but hits it straight at the keeper.
5 mins: Diarra is crowded out in the middle of the park and Stevenson decides to try his luck but pulls his shot well wide.
4 mins: Indeed Wall is replaced, Ahoua comes striding on in his place.
3 mins: It looks like the home side may be forced into an extremely early change as Alex Wall pulls up after chasing a loose ball. Looks like the hamstring.
2 mins: Turgott plays it wide down the right for Miles to chase, he gets there and delivers a low cross but it's easily cleared.
1 min: The Hammers kick us off and are immediately looking to attack down the left.
6:57pm: The teams are out on the pitch and the Hammers are sporting their home shirts with change shorts and socks whilst the Hatters sport orange tops, blue shorts and white socks.
6:55pm: Around five minutes left until kick-off and it's time for me to remove my gloves and brace the cold! Nick Haycock also well wrapped up heads across the pitch and into his dugout.
6:50pm: The teams are back in the changing rooms making their final preperations for this game on a brisk night at Kenilworth Road.
The Development Squad face Luton Town at Kenilworth Road tonight looking to hand game time to a mix of players during their break in Barclays Under-21 Premier League fixtures. The team are currently top of the league having won six of their opening nine matches but are not in action again until the 29 November when they face Leicester City at Rush Green. With that in mind Nick Haycock will hand valuable minutes to his fringe players as well as welcomng first teamers George McCartney and Alou Diarra into the team as they step-up their recovery from injury.
Haycock will also take the opportunity to look at several of Steve Potts' Under-18s against a team who will provide tough opposition. Luton were the visitors to Rush Green in a behind closed doors friendly just over a month ago when they produced a strong performance to win 1-0. Sean Maguire will be handed a chance to impress as the lone front man whilst U18s Kyle Knoyle, Amos Nasha, Josh Cullen, Moses Makasi and Kieran Bywater will all be keen to show they can make the step-up.
West Ham United: Spiegel, Nasha (Knoyle 62), Ruddock, Potts, McCartney (Shaw 46), Diarra (Makasi 62), Miles (Whitehead 62), Fanimo (D.Tombides 62), Turgott, Sadlier (Sadlier 79), Maguire
Subs not used: Howes, Burke, Cullen
Luton Town: Justham, Pisani, Longden, Maduako, Parry, Stevenson (Mendy 68), Taiwo, Cullen, Wall (Ahoua 4), O'Donell (Viana 46), Robinson
Subs not used: King, Martin, Mbala