FT: Chelmsford City 2-0 Development Squad
That's it, the referee brings the proceedings to an end, the hosts secure a 2-0 victory, nevertheless a valuable experience for the youngsters out there tonight. Reaction to follow.
88: Goal for Chelmsford and this wraps up the victory, and what a strike it was. Max Cornhill with a sweet strike, edge of the box, top corner. 0-2.
86: Encouraged by the let-off, Hector-Ingram goes tearing after a seemingly lost cause and nearly makes something or nothing as he wins back posession, but the chance eventually dies away.
85: Penalty to Chelmsford...Jack Powell lines it up, he tries an audacious dink which goes wide! A real let off.
83: Hugo Skepelhorn almost gets goalside but a combination of Longelo and Akinola clears the danger.
80: Former Academy graduate Jack Powell line up a free-kick 30-yards out, it's good but Trott is comfortable enough to let it fall wide.
78: Another chance for the hosts, this time a whipped cross which somehow evades everyone, all it needed was a touch in the six-yard box. Seconds later Tunji Akinola does superbly to make a last-ditch tackle.
74: Best move of the second half from a Hammers' perspective. Sylvestre bursts down the right-flank, fizzes in a great cross which Gordon swings a foot at and forces a smart save from Colan Balkwell.
72: Jaanai Gordon, once on loan at Chelmsford, looks to make something happen, he's eventually crowded out. Chelmsford respond with a spell of pressure of their own, they win a series of corners which Hector-Ingram does well to clear.
70: Goal for Chelmsford as Jake Reid does well to get goalside and slot home past Trott. 0-1.
68: As you might expect against much senior opposition, the Hammers are finding it hard to create too many openings, they're enjoying plenty of possession in theiir own half but little joy going forward.
64: A flurry of subs for the hosts as they make 11 changes, Chelmsford now look like...
Chelmsford: Balkwell, Marvel Ekpiteta, Lee, Powell, Bailey-Dennis, Marvin Ekpiteta, Daley, Cornhill, Reid, Moore, Skepelhorn
63: First effort of the half for the Hammers as Jahmal Hector-Ingram squeezes a shot goalbound, Welch smoothers it.
60: The Clarets have it in the net but it's chalked off for offside, goalscorer Billy Bricknell disagrees with the decision but his protests count for nothing.
58: Good chance for the hosts as Willmott wins back possession, drives forward but drags his shot wide of the far post.
55: Corner to the Hammers which Joe Powell swings in, his delievery is good and Akinola, the second half captain rises well, however he nods it just wide.
52: Hector-Ingram gets to the byline and cuts a good ball back however Chelmsford clear. At the other end Robbie Willmott tests Trott's reflexes, who gets down well.
50: Just as the first half, the hosts have started the second half the stronger. Incidentally, we have three more debutants tonight now - Longelo, Henry and Wells.
46: So, here are the changes... the Hammers make ten changes in total - everyone apart from 'keeper Trott.
This is how the Hammers line up: Trott, Sylvestre, Longelo, Henry, Akinola, Wells, Kemp, Powell, Hector-Ingram, Scully
45: Once again, Josh Pask climbs highest to head away another looped throw-in. Soon after referee Ron Whitton blows for half-time.
42: Chance for Chelmsford through Bagasan Graham as header isn't far off. West Ham respond through Antonio who gets to the byline but his cross his wayward. Moments later he sprints the length of the pitch, beating four men in the process, goalkeeper Welch collects at Ford's feet.
40: Not long to go until the break, where we're anticipating plenty of substitutions. Westley will be content with what he's seen.
36: Fletcher beats his man for pace, lays it off to Diangana who gets to the byline but puts just too much on the cross with Ford waiting. Plenty of half-chances but no real openings yet.
33: Another chance for Fletcher, Pike feeds the striker on the edge of the box, however his strike is narrowly over.
30: Inches away from a debut goal for Fletcher. He spins, 25-yards out, shoots well however goalkeeper Joe Welch gets a finger to it. Close!
28: Lovely intricate move, starting with Westley, before Cullen, Ford and Fletcher get involved, they so nearly work it out to Antonio to shoot but Walsh nips in at the last second.
26: Diangana juggles expertly and invites a foul, the defender obliges, but nothing doing for the winger.
22: Michail Antonio winds up a long-throw, Iceland-style yet Anthony Church does well to head clear the danger.
17: Alex Pike bursts forward and beats his man, his effort's are rewarded with a corner which the Clarets' clear.
14: Another debutant Ashley Fletcher is fishing around for openings, he looks eager to impress. First chance for the hosts falls to Shamir Mullings, he wins back possession on halfway and trie his luck from 40 yards, Trott is off his line but his effort goes narrowly wide.
10: Debutant Mason Barrett has also shown some intelligent touches. The youngster looks composed and dealing with opponents much older then him.
7: Grady Diangana has shown some nice touches in the early exchanges, he's looking to burst forward and create openings. His hard work almost pays off as he feeds Sam Ford, whose shot is blocked.
4: Bright start for the hosts as they look to assert to physical presence, their pressure results in a corner which Josh Pask clears with a towering header.
0: Right, here we go! The Hammers are in their new white and light blue away kit, the Clarets, as you can well imagine, are in all claret.
7.40pm: Five minutes to go. A lot to learn here tonight, and a great opportunity for several youngsters to show what they can do.
7.30pm: Following tonight's game, the Dev Squad are back in action on Tuesday evening away at Peterborough United. Kick off at London Road is 7.30pm.
7.15pm: Tonight sees a return to the fold for Sam Westley, Jaanai Gordon and Josh Cullen, all of whom ended last season out on loan gaining valuable first team experience. Former Development Squad coach Nick Haycock faces his old side tonight, the experienced coach is the Clarets' assistant manager.
7pm: Looking at the Hammers’ line up, there’s certainly a real mixture of youth and experience in the Starting XI.
Ashley Fletcher makes his West Ham debut tonight having recently signed and Michail Antonio gets a run out. Meanwhile the Hammers’ give Dev Squad debuts to Mason Barrett and Nathan Trott.
6.45pm: Hello and welcome to tonight’s coverage of the Development Squad’s opening pre-season friendly with Chelmsford City.
Tonight is the first of several fixtures to get Terry Westley’s men ready for the upcoming competitive season.
Chelmsford City: Welch, Miller, Blanchett, Church, Bush, Trialist, Willmott, Merrifield, Mullings, Bricknell, Graham
Subs: Balkwell, Marvel Ekpiteta, Lee, Powell, Bailey-Dennis, Marvin Ekpiteta, Daley, Cornhill, Reid, Moore, Skepelhorn
West Ham United: Trott, Pike, Barrett, Pask, Westley, Coventry, Cullen ©, Antonio, Diangana, Ford, Fletcher
Subs: Sylvestre, Akinola, Wells, Longelo, Henry, Powell, Kemp, Scully, Gordon, Hector-Ingram
That's it, the referee brings the proceedings to an end, the hosts secure a 2-0 victory, nevertheless a valuable experience for the youngsters out there tonight. Reaction to follow.
88: Goal for Chelmsford and this wraps up the victory, and what a strike it was. Max Cornhill with a sweet strike, edge of the box, top corner. 0-2.
86: Encouraged by the let-off, Hector-Ingram goes tearing after a seemingly lost cause and nearly makes something or nothing as he wins back posession, but the chance eventually dies away.
85: Penalty to Chelmsford...Jack Powell lines it up, he tries an audacious dink which goes wide! A real let off.
83: Hugo Skepelhorn almost gets goalside but a combination of Longelo and Akinola clears the danger.
80: Former Academy graduate Jack Powell line up a free-kick 30-yards out, it's good but Trott is comfortable enough to let it fall wide.
78: Another chance for the hosts, this time a whipped cross which somehow evades everyone, all it needed was a touch in the six-yard box. Seconds later Tunji Akinola does superbly to make a last-ditch tackle.
74: Best move of the second half from a Hammers' perspective. Sylvestre bursts down the right-flank, fizzes in a great cross which Gordon swings a foot at and forces a smart save from Colan Balkwell.
72: Jaanai Gordon, once on loan at Chelmsford, looks to make something happen, he's eventually crowded out. Chelmsford respond with a spell of pressure of their own, they win a series of corners which Hector-Ingram does well to clear.
70: Goal for Chelmsford as Jake Reid does well to get goalside and slot home past Trott. 0-1.
68: As you might expect against much senior opposition, the Hammers are finding it hard to create too many openings, they're enjoying plenty of possession in theiir own half but little joy going forward.
64: A flurry of subs for the hosts as they make 11 changes, Chelmsford now look like...
Chelmsford: Balkwell, Marvel Ekpiteta, Lee, Powell, Bailey-Dennis, Marvin Ekpiteta, Daley, Cornhill, Reid, Moore, Skepelhorn
63: First effort of the half for the Hammers as Jahmal Hector-Ingram squeezes a shot goalbound, Welch smoothers it.
60: The Clarets have it in the net but it's chalked off for offside, goalscorer Billy Bricknell disagrees with the decision but his protests count for nothing.
58: Good chance for the hosts as Willmott wins back possession, drives forward but drags his shot wide of the far post.
55: Corner to the Hammers which Joe Powell swings in, his delievery is good and Akinola, the second half captain rises well, however he nods it just wide.
52: Hector-Ingram gets to the byline and cuts a good ball back however Chelmsford clear. At the other end Robbie Willmott tests Trott's reflexes, who gets down well.
50: Just as the first half, the hosts have started the second half the stronger. Incidentally, we have three more debutants tonight now - Longelo, Henry and Wells.
46: So, here are the changes... the Hammers make ten changes in total - everyone apart from 'keeper Trott.
This is how the Hammers line up: Trott, Sylvestre, Longelo, Henry, Akinola, Wells, Kemp, Powell, Hector-Ingram, Scully
45: Once again, Josh Pask climbs highest to head away another looped throw-in. Soon after referee Ron Whitton blows for half-time.
42: Chance for Chelmsford through Bagasan Graham as header isn't far off. West Ham respond through Antonio who gets to the byline but his cross his wayward. Moments later he sprints the length of the pitch, beating four men in the process, goalkeeper Welch collects at Ford's feet.
40: Not long to go until the break, where we're anticipating plenty of substitutions. Westley will be content with what he's seen.
36: Fletcher beats his man for pace, lays it off to Diangana who gets to the byline but puts just too much on the cross with Ford waiting. Plenty of half-chances but no real openings yet.
33: Another chance for Fletcher, Pike feeds the striker on the edge of the box, however his strike is narrowly over.
30: Inches away from a debut goal for Fletcher. He spins, 25-yards out, shoots well however goalkeeper Joe Welch gets a finger to it. Close!
28: Lovely intricate move, starting with Westley, before Cullen, Ford and Fletcher get involved, they so nearly work it out to Antonio to shoot but Walsh nips in at the last second.
26: Diangana juggles expertly and invites a foul, the defender obliges, but nothing doing for the winger.
22: Michail Antonio winds up a long-throw, Iceland-style yet Anthony Church does well to head clear the danger.
17: Alex Pike bursts forward and beats his man, his effort's are rewarded with a corner which the Clarets' clear.
14: Another debutant Ashley Fletcher is fishing around for openings, he looks eager to impress. First chance for the hosts falls to Shamir Mullings, he wins back possession on halfway and trie his luck from 40 yards, Trott is off his line but his effort goes narrowly wide.
10: Debutant Mason Barrett has also shown some intelligent touches. The youngster looks composed and dealing with opponents much older then him.
7: Grady Diangana has shown some nice touches in the early exchanges, he's looking to burst forward and create openings. His hard work almost pays off as he feeds Sam Ford, whose shot is blocked.
4: Bright start for the hosts as they look to assert to physical presence, their pressure results in a corner which Josh Pask clears with a towering header.
0: Right, here we go! The Hammers are in their new white and light blue away kit, the Clarets, as you can well imagine, are in all claret.
7.40pm: Five minutes to go. A lot to learn here tonight, and a great opportunity for several youngsters to show what they can do.
7.30pm: Following tonight's game, the Dev Squad are back in action on Tuesday evening away at Peterborough United. Kick off at London Road is 7.30pm.
7.15pm: Tonight sees a return to the fold for Sam Westley, Jaanai Gordon and Josh Cullen, all of whom ended last season out on loan gaining valuable first team experience. Former Development Squad coach Nick Haycock faces his old side tonight, the experienced coach is the Clarets' assistant manager.
7pm: Looking at the Hammers’ line up, there’s certainly a real mixture of youth and experience in the Starting XI.
Ashley Fletcher makes his West Ham debut tonight having recently signed and Michail Antonio gets a run out. Meanwhile the Hammers’ give Dev Squad debuts to Mason Barrett and Nathan Trott.
6.45pm: Hello and welcome to tonight’s coverage of the Development Squad’s opening pre-season friendly with Chelmsford City.
Tonight is the first of several fixtures to get Terry Westley’s men ready for the upcoming competitive season.
Chelmsford City: Welch, Miller, Blanchett, Church, Bush, Trialist, Willmott, Merrifield, Mullings, Bricknell, Graham
Subs: Balkwell, Marvel Ekpiteta, Lee, Powell, Bailey-Dennis, Marvin Ekpiteta, Daley, Cornhill, Reid, Moore, Skepelhorn
West Ham United: Trott, Pike, Barrett, Pask, Westley, Coventry, Cullen ©, Antonio, Diangana, Ford, Fletcher
Subs: Sylvestre, Akinola, Wells, Longelo, Henry, Powell, Kemp, Scully, Gordon, Hector-Ingram