- Jaanai Gordon scored his first Football League goal, bagging a crucial equaliser in Newport County’s 1-1 draw with Cheltenham Town
- The forward was one of seven Hammers in loan action over the weekend
- Toni Martinez started for Oxford United after his FA Cup heroics last weekend
Jaanai Gordon’s performance was the pick of the bunch this weekend in terms of West Ham United players out on loan as he scored a first and crucial goal for Newport County in League Two.
Making only his second appearance for the Exiles, Gordon was introduced with 22 minutes remaining against Cheltenham Town as the Welsh side looked to salvage a point after Kyle Wootton had given the hosts the lead.
And Graham Westley’s decision to throw on the West Ham man paid off three minutes into injury time as the 21-year-old coolly slotted home in a crowded penalty area to send the travelling supporters wild.
The point was vital for Newport, who remain bottom of the Football League but still only three points behind 22nd-placed side Notts County.
Moving up into League One, there was more joy for Toni Martinez who grabbed last weekend’s FA Cup goal against Newcastle.
The Spaniard started and played 80 minutes in his Oxford United side’s clash against local rivals Swindon Town – in the fixture billed the A420 derby – and helped the visitors to a 2-1 win.
Struggling Swindon got off to the perfect start and took the lead after 19 minutes when Chelsea loanee Fankaty Dabo bagged his first senior goal, converting Nicky Ajose’s cross.
But Oxford piled on the pressure and eventually that told, when with 20 minutes remaining, Liam Sercombe tapped in Marvin Johnson’s centre.
And three minutes later it was despair for Swindon as former Hammer Rob Hall grabbed what would be the winner at the County Ground.
Elsewhere in the division, Josh Cullen was also in action for 80 minutes as his Bradford City side recorded a 2-2 draw with Gillingham at Valley Parade.
Tony McMahon finished after Billy Clarke’s free-kick was saved seven minutes before the break to give the hosts the lead, but only four minutes into the second half, Gillingham earned a share of the spoils as Deji Oshilaja stabbed in from close range.
Martin Samuelsen and George Dobson also enjoyed cameo appearances in victories for their respective loan sides Peterborough United and Walsall.
Norwegian winger Samuelsen was introduced with four minutes left on the clock during Posh’s 3-0 win at Port Vale, though at the time the visitors were only a goal to the good thanks to Marcus Maddison’s opener.
Two Junior Morais injury time goals sealed the win for Grant McCann’s side who remain in the hunt for a play-off spot in League One.
Meanwhile, Dobson was involved for the final ten minutes at the Bescot Stadium in the Saddlers’ 2-1 victory over Northampton.
They were made to come from behind though, following John-Joe O’Toole’s first half goal after Neil Etheridge in goal fumbled a free-kick.
A five minute second period spell killed off the Cobblers however as first Matt Preston equalised before Erhun Oztumer grabbed the hosts’ second.
That was not the end of the drama in the west Midlands, as in stoppage time Adam Chambers tripped Marc Richards inside the box to give Northampton a late lifeline.
The forward stepped up himself but blazed over from 12 yards, meaning Northampton went home empty handed while Dobson’s Walsall kept their faint top six hopes just about alive.
Sam Howes was in action once again for Hampton and Richmond Borough in the National League south as they recorded a 2-2 draw at Eastbourne Borough.
Finally, Reece Oxford was made to wait for his Reading debut as he was left on the substitutes’ bench for the Royals’ 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town.