West Ham United’s scholars maintained their perfect start to the 2018/19 U18 Premier League South season with a 4-1 victory over Fulham.
The Hammers, who had defeated Norwich City, Southampton and Swansea City in their opening three matches, made it four wins out of four by seeing off their London derby rivals at Little Heath.
Veron Parkes took his tally to four in four matches with West Ham’s opening two goals, the first on 28 minutes and the second three minutes after half-time.
Fulham’s French midfielder Jean-Pierre Tiehi halved the hosts’ lead three minutes later, but Emmanuel Longelo gave the Hammers the comfort of a two-goal advantage for a second time on 54 minutes when he converted Sean Adarkwa’s pass.
And it was Adarkwa himself who completed the scoring with 18 minutes remaining to keep Mark Phillips and Jack Collison’s side level on points with South division leaders Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs won 5-2 at Southampton to stay top on goal difference, but Arsenal lost their 100 per cent record by losing 3-1 at Chelsea to slip to third.
West Ham’s victory over Fulham saw 15-year-old schoolboy Josh Wilson-Esbrand start in defence alongside captain Ajibola Alese (pictured, above), who has now joined up with the England U18 squad for the four-nation Limoges Tournament in France, which kicks-off on Wednesday.
The in-form Hammers will have a fixture-free weekend due to the international break before returning to action at Aston Villa – who have themselves won three of their opening four matches – on Saturday 15 September.
West Ham United: Anang, Ngakia (Greenidge 74), Okotcha, Alese, Wilson-Esbrand, Appiah-Forson, Nebyla, Parkes, Spyrides (Peake 72), Longelo, Adarkwa (El Mhassani 82)
Subs not used: Jinadu (GK), Kileba