Four West Ham United Academy loanees were in action across the English football pyramid at the weekend.
Finlay Herrick continued his strong start in the Enterprise National League as Boreham Wood stretched their unbeaten run to ten games in all competitions with a 2-0 win away at Boston United. Herrick kept his second clean sheet in three games and was largely untroubled by the Boston attack, as second-half strikes from Zak Brunt and Abdul Abdulmalik capped a dominant display. The Wood now sit fourth, within four points of leaders Forest Green Rovers with a game in hand.
Also in the National League, Mason Terry’s Braintree Town earned their first away win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Eastleigh. Having let a two-goal lead slip against York City in their previous outing, the Iron responded in style, coming from behind this time.
Terry made four important saves and impressed with his distribution, while substitute Tom Blackwell marked his return from injury with a brace. Fulham loanee Terrell Works also netted his third goal in two games to secure the win. With 16 minutes of added time, there was still an opportunity for Terry’s West Ham Academy teammate Regan Clayton to make his Braintree debut after joining on a youth loan last week.
Further up the divisions, in EFL League One, Michael Forbes came off the bench for the final 15 minutes of Northampton Town’s 2-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, their first loss in over a month.
Also in the third tier, Lewis Orford featured in a Stevenage matchday squad for the first time. Alex Revell’s side continued their best-ever start to a league campaign with a 2-1 win over Exeter City, moving to within a point of new leaders Bradford City with a game in hand.
Gideon Kodua, meanwhile, missed out on Luton Town’s squad - for their 3-1 defeat at Lincoln City - after picking up a knock earlier this month.
In the Championship, Kaelan Casey was named on the bench as Swansea City’s eight-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City. The centre-back had started in midweek as the Swans staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down to beat Premier League opponents Nottingham Forest and reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Finally, in Scotland, Junior Robinson awaits his Premiership debut after featuring on the bench for Livingston, who were beaten 3-2 at Dundee following a 97th-minute penalty.
