Andy Carroll and Winston Reid were pleased to open their pre-season accounts in the storm-affected 2-2 draw with Carolina RailHawks
Andy Carroll and Winston Reid were pleased to open their pre-season accounts in the storm-affected 2-2 draw with Carolina RailHawks.
In the second of two US Tour fixtures, the experienced pair netted within two first half minutes of one another as West Ham United came from behind to lead at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
However, a dangerous electrical storm halted play for 40 minutes midway through the second half and, when the teams returned, an unfortunate handball by Lewis Page enabled the NASL side to secure a share of the spoils.
Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, both Carroll and Reid were pleased to have come through a testing physical encounter played in stifling hot and humid conditions.
“It’s good to hit the back of the net, as it’s what my job is,” said Carroll, whose first-time finish put West Ham 2-1 ahead after Reid’s early own-goal and equaliser. “It’s good to go out in pre-season and get a goal and start the season off well.
“It was a great cross in from Sofiane and as soon as it went in I knew I had a chance to score. I got a good touch on it and it went in.
“It was a good workout, especially with the weather in the first half. I know it changed after half-time, but it was really hot for the lads and we got out of it what we needed.
“It’s been a good trip. It got the lads back together and the new lads into it and we’re getting fitter ahead of the start of the new season, which is what we want and is good.”
Reid was happy to hit the target just minutes after putting the ball through his own net to put the RailHawks in front.
It was Carroll who provided the assist for the No2, who collected the ball 25 yards out, took a touch and finished confidently to level the score at 1-1.
“The ball went up and it dropped, someone put in a tackle and it fell to Andy, who found me and I finished it,” Reid confirmed. “The ball got played into the middle and I went with it and it ricocheted to Andy and I was pleased with the way I put it away.
“I’ve never played in a game which has been stopped for a storm like that. The first half, it was so hot that it was really hard to get your breath. The second half was completely different and the storm which arrived 15 minutes in broke it up and they scored a short time after we came back on.
“It was a good workout for us, but unfortunately Doneil Henry got an injury late on which we all hope will be OK. Apart from that, the trip has been really good and we have enjoyed ourselves over here and worked hard.
“We’re now looking forward to getting home for a few days before we fly out to Austria.”
West Ham fly back to England on Wednesday before jetting off for a three-match tour and training camp in Austria at the weekend.
After that, the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round kicks-off on 28 July, Juventus visit the London Stadium in the Betway Cup on 7 August and the Premier League season starts six days later.