Highlights & Reaction | Composed Young Hammers earn late win at Woking

Woking 0-2 West Ham United U21s
National League Cup, Group C, Laithwaite Community Stadium, Wednesday 13 August, 7pm BST

West Ham United U21s were rewarded for an excellent performance with a 2-0 victory over Woking in the National League Cup, their first competitive outing of the new campaign. After dictating much of the contest, two late goals from Lewis Orford and Mohamadou Kanté sealed all three points which sees Mark Robson's side jump to second in Group C.

The young Hammers almost made the perfect start when Orford’s corner found Ezra Mayers unmarked at the back post, but the defender couldn’t quite convert. West Ham’s sharp pressing and intelligent build-up soon created further chances, while Woking’s main threat came through Innih Effiong and Josh Osunde whose early efforts were repelled by resolute defending, Luizão producing one outstanding recovery challenge to deny Osude a clear run on goal.

As the first half unfolded, the visitors grew in confidence. Orford weaved into the area before flashing a shot just wide, and from a corner Mayers’ header was cleared off the line by Caleb Richards.

The hosts had their moments, a goalmouth scramble forcing a fine save from Fin Herrick, but West Ham’s attacking play continued to trouble the home defence, Orford again drawing an acrobatic stop from goalkeeper Tom Norcott before the break.

With Woking down to ten men after a second yellow shown to Sam Ashford, the second half saw the young Hammers take almost complete control, moving the ball confidently in the Woking half and patiently probing for an opening.

Ryan Battrum’s thunderous strike against the crossbar came closest, while Preston Fearon, Regan Clayton, and debutant Mohammadou Kanté all helped keep the pressure on Woking’s deep-lying defence. Orford twice went close as the minutes ticked away, only to be denied by the home side’s man of the match, goalkeeper Tom Norcott.

That persistence finally paid off in the closing stages. On 90 minutes, Junior Robinson’s low cross was calmly tucked in by Orford to give West Ham the lead they had long threatened. Deep into stoppage time, on his West Ham debut, substitute Kanté stole the ball high up the pitch, galloped into the area and calmly converted to double the advantage and round off an excellent performance from Mark Robson’s young Hammers which puts them in the top two in Group C after matchday one.

Orford opens our account for 2025/26! 💥 pic.twitter.com/VXbv1TzyYM

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 13, 2025

Woking: Norcott, Hinds (Ward 66), Odusina © (Drewe 58), Tu. Akinola, Richards, Turner, Andrews (Ti. Akinola 58), Osude (Hyde 66), Hall, Effiong, Ashford
Subs not used: Ross (GK), Beautyman

Booked: Ashford x2 

West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Golambeckis ©, Luizão, Mayers, Robinson, Orford, Fearon (Akpata 69), Clayton (Rigge 86), Battrum, Adiele, Landers (Kanté 58)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Brown, Briggs, Caliste

Goals: Orford 90, Kanté 90+7

Booked: Luizão

Robson: We looked really good today, really comfortable

There was little to fault in the U21s' return to competitive football. Facing an experienced side, Woking’s second-half dismissal added a different dimension, the need to remain patient in possession and break down a deep, organised defence.

The young Hammers rose to the occasion, creating a host of chances before finally making the breakthrough. Returning development players who had recently been involved with the first team added extra quality. Fin Herrick made a handful of impressive saves to keep a clean sheet in his first game back. Preston Fearon was instrumental in driving the team forward before being withdrawn to manage his workload, while 17-year-old Airidas Golambeckis captained the side for the full 90 minutes. Lewis Orford was his usual composed self, dictating play in midfield with his and netting the opener in the final minute of regular time, and substitute Mohamadou Kanté caught the eye during his cameo, using his physical presence and intelligent pressing to win back possession and drive the team forward before sealing the win deep into stoppage time.

Lead coach Mark Robson was pleased with how his side adapted to the test: “I thought it was made a little bit easier in terms of possession once they lost their man with still quite a bit of the game to go. We had to find a way to break them down and we got there in the end. We had a number of chances and the 'keeper’s made some good saves.

“For some of them, that’s their first 90 minutes. Some of the lads who have been with the first team have not had much game time, so we pushed them a little bit today. Apart from Preston [Fearon], who looked a little bit fatigued, we just wanted to make sure we didn’t over-exert him. But I thought Airidas [Golambeckis] was excellent, and that was his first full 90 minutes. Lewis Orford has done really well too. It was a great workout for us and a really tough first game against a good side.

He continued: “I really enjoy these games because the players are up against men, and for some of our younger players it’s the first time they’ve encountered that. They looked really good today, really comfortable. Playing against men is the next step for them physically, and we gain a lot from that. In terms of the way you play, sometimes you have to move the ball a little bit quicker, you have to be a bit brighter, and you hope the quality is there as well, and I think tonight we showed that.”

Speaking on Mohamadou Kanté’s debut, Robson said: “Mo is a big boy. A couple of times when he pressed, he’s got these long legs and he just nicked the ball off people, really clever. He’s like a Patrick Vieira kind of central midfield player. He’s had some experience with the Paris FC first team in Ligue 2, so he’s already played against men, and he looked very good tonight when he came on. He’s been excellent since he’s come in. He’s a really good lad, very hungry for it, and we’re really pleased to have him.”

Golambeckis: It’s always a great achievement to be captain

The season opener against Woking carried added significance for Airidas Golambeckis, who led West Ham United U21s out for the first time as captain. Still eligible for the U18s, Golambeckis joined a select group of players, including Declan Rice, to have worn the armband for the development side at 17 years old.

“It’s always a great achievement to be captain,” he reflected. “When I captained the U18s for the first and only time last year, I didn’t think less than 12 months later I’d be doing it for the U21s. To be one (a captain) at this age, I’m just really proud and even more so that we got the win today. Now we look on to the next game against Nottingham Forest on Monday.”

Almost a year on from his first outing against senior opposition, in this competition against Braintree Town, Golambeckis and the West Ham back line were tasked with containing a familiar figure in Innih Effiong. A dominant presence in their 4-2 defeat last season, the Woking No9 met his match this time around as the young Hammers stood firm for a clean sheet.

"To be fair, when I saw he [Effiong] was starting I did think back to that game [against Braintree]! He’s a player that likes to use his body, so it was good to learn how to deal with that challenge. I thought we dealt with his threat well and deserved the three points.”

National League Cup Group C