- West Ham United U18s made it two wins on the spin with victory over Brighton and Hove Albion
- Jahmal Hector-Ingram scored twice and Dan Kemp scored a penalty in the 3-0 triumph
- Assistant manager Mark Phillips said afterwards his team should expect the same sort of tests in the near future
Mark Phillips has warned his team to be prepared for similar tests in the future, after they made it two wins on the bounce with a victory at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The U18’s assistant manager was speaking after the Hammers left it late against their opponents, but two goals from in-form Jahmal Hector-Ingram and a penalty from Dan Kemp ensured a comfortable end to a battling display.
Phillips said his players should expect that their continued success, which has seen them win four of their opening six league matches, will result in opposing teams raising their game when they face the Hammers.
“If you continue to have success, teams will notice it and try and make things very difficult for you,” he said.
“Brighton did that really well in the first half but at half-time we had a discussion in the dressing room and changed things up a little bit in terms of our shape.
“I thought we then dominated the second half. For the first 20-25 minutes of it, we missed some good chances.
“Once we scored, everybody relaxed and we ending up getting three goals.”
It was a tough afternoon for the Hammers who came up against a resolute Brighton side, but Steve Potts’ players always looked the more threatening of the two teams.
Anthony Scully hit the post midway through the first half after a delicate ball over the Brighton defence by Kemp before right-back Ben Johnson skewed a long-range effort wide 15 minutes later.
The Hammers cranked up the pressure on the Seagulls in the second half and should have taken the lead on the hour mark when Kemp found himself some space in the area, only to shoot just wide.
Joe Powell blazed over the bar ten minutes later but that was swiftly followed by the opening goal on 78 minutes.
Hector-Ingram, who netted a hat-trick in last week’s victory over Fulham, placed the ball in the bottom corner to give the Hammers the lead. The Hammers’ No9 was fouled in the penalty area five minutes later, and Kemp rolled home the resulting spot kick to make it two.
Then Powell crossed invitingly for Hector-Ingram on 86 minutes and he tapped home to make the score 3-0 and make sure of the three points at Little Heath.
The results means the Hammers are still second, level on points with leaders Arsenal in the U18 Premier League South Division.