Peterborough United 1-2 Development Squad
Pre-season Match, London Road, Peterborough, Tuesday 19 July 2016
FT: That's it! Darren Deadman blows his whistle and the Hammers have secured a valuable victory. Of course, still early in the pre-season but nevertheless the result will be pleasing for all concerned. Even more impressive was the number of eye catching performances out there today. Plenty of positive to discuss!
90+1: GOAL!! Surely a winner?! Alex Pike despatches his penalty coolly after Dan Kemp was brought down following a lovely flicked pass by Luka Belic, excellent play all round. 2-1!
90: Golden opportunity to notch in the final moments as Kemp is played in by Luka Belic. Somehow Taylor makes the save...
88: Final change of the game sees Josh Pask replaced by Ben Johnson.
85: Late pressure from the hosts with a series of corners, Trott does superbly to punch acrobatically to safety.
82: Hector-Ingram twists and turns on the edge of the box, finds a bit of space and directs a shot which is parried and out for a corner. Akinola attacks it but the hosts manage to clear.
80: Two more subs for the Hammers, the Belic brothers are coming on in place of Noha Sylvestre and Grady Diangana - both have out in real shifts tonight.
77: Santos is substituted after falling awkwardly, he's been there best player tonight, a commanding presence at the back throughout.
74: The match is becoming increasingly more stretched with chances at the back for both sides. Anthony Scully is on for Jaanai Gordon.
70: Hector-Ingram goes on a mazey run, it's all Posh can do to foul him, however they play it short and the chance comes to nothing.
68: Dan Kemp shows lovely feet to spin his man and then wins the foul, excellent play from the winger.
65: Peterborough ring the changes as seven substitutes prepare to come on. The Hammers also take the opportunity to make a change as Jahmal Hector-Ingram replaces Sam Ford.
62: Mercifully, the temperature has dropped but the pace of the game certainly hasn't. The hosts have grown in stature since the equaliser and are pressing for a second goal.
58: Westley makes some further changes as youngsters Mason Barrett and Alfie Lewis are replaced by Conor Coventry and Rosaire Longelo.
50: Gordon really looks hungry tonight, he runs onto the ball over the top, tries to lift it over substitute goalkeeper Mark Taylor only for Santos to clear it off the line!
47: We're back underway and not exactly the start the Hammers had in mind. Coulthirst goes haring down the right-flank, gets goal side and is felled. He picks himself up and sends Trott the wrong way. 1-1.
46: Just the one change for the Hammers at half-time as Dan Kemp replaces Joe Powell in a like-for-like swap.
45: Andrew Hughes tries his luck from distance, and he connects ever so well as the ball whistles past the far post. Half-time.
43: Pike wins back possession superbly and then finds Diangana who needs no invitation to burst forward. He plays a good ball to Gordon, driving into the box, yet Ricardo Santos outmuscles his marker.
40: Five minutes to go until half time and a very good one from a West Ham point of view. That's not to say Peterborough haven't had their chances, it's certainly all to play for!
36: Coulthirst looks to make the most of a loose ball as he drives toward the edge of the box. He lets fly, it's not a bad effort but Trott is comfortable enough to watch it fly past the far post.
34: Diangana shows a clean set of heels as he takes it from the right touch line to edge to the edge of the box and plays in Powell. Posh have defenders back in numbers and they manage to crowd him out.
31: Bermudan-born Nathan Trott is alert and on his toes to grab Coulthirst's shot from the edge of the box.
28: Posh continue to press and Pike does superbly to get his head to Ferrier's cross, Da Silva Lopes was lurking just behind and almost certain to score.
24: Mason Barrett is having a busy afternoon as the majority of the attacks are coming down his side, but he's doing well and puts an end to another attack with another brave tackle.
21: Coulthirst is in, and he should score, yet a combination of Pask and Akinola get a crucial block in. The first, and eventually second, corner is cleared.
19: Hayden White dinks a floated cross into the six yard box however Alex Pike is on hand to head the danger away. His clearance falls to Ford who tries to play in Gordon but the pass has just too much on it.
17: Despite the heat, this game is being played an impressive tempo and competitiveness. Very little 'friendly' about it. Grady Diangana is showing so very bright signs, as is Lewis who blazes narrowly over from 25-yards.
13: Giving Pask the captaincy looks to be a stroke of genius so far, he's take the mantle and then some. Nothing's getting past him in the early exchanges, and he looks calm and composed in possession.
11: Again, Posh respond strongly. Callum Chettle shows a burst of pace and lays it to Ferrier on the right-wing, he makes room for the cross and finds Shaquile Coulhirst who blazes over.
8: Another chance! Superb football from the youngster - Terry Westley must be loving what he is seeing. Joe Powell and Alfie Lewis and dictating the tempo, Powell feeds Gordon who in turn plays in Sam Ford. The striker spins on a six-pence and lashes it goalward, forcing Ben Alnwick into a fine save at the near post. That move deserved a goal!
5: Moments later Posh look to equalise however Morgan Ferrier is denied by a superb save by the on-rushing Nathan Trott. Frantic and open start. The travelling Hammers are loving it!
3: GOAL! What a start for the Hammers. Josh Pask wins the ball superbly, bursts forward, beating two men, splits the defence and Jaanai Gordon is on hand to slot it home - excellent finish. 1-0. COYI!
1: Here we go then! Josh Pask, tonight's captain, leads the side out in front of a healthy crowd. The hosts are in traditional blue and white, the young Hammers are in the new away kit of white shirt and socks with electric blue shorts. It's Posh to get us under way...
7.20pm: Westley makes six changes to the starting XI that played against Chelmsford City last Friday. Trott, Pike, Barrett, Pask, Ford and Diangana all keep their places, while Lewis, Akinola, Powell, Sylvestre and Gordon, facing his former side, come in for Cullen, Antonio, Fletcher, S Westley and Coventry.
7.15pm: Good evening all, I hope you've all enjoyed the sunshine today! It's still absolutely sweltering here at the Abax, making what appears to be a tough test even harder for Terry Westley's youngsters.
Peterborough United: Alnwick, White, Hughes, Santos, Tafazolli, Bostwick, Chettle, J Anderson, Coulthirst, Da Silva Lopes, Ferrier
Subs: Tyler, Freestone, Nabi, Taylor, Maddison, Nichols, Taylor, Inman, Smith, Baldwin, Edwards, Stevens
Development Squad: Trott, Pike, Barrett, Lewis, Akinola, Pask, Powell, Sylvestre, Ford, Diangana, Gordon
Subs: Kemp, Matrevics, Hector-Ingram, Scully, Coventry, L Belic, K Belic, Wells, Johnson, Longelo
7pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage from the Abax as a youthful Dev Squad take on League One Peterborough. Team news to follow shortly.