West Ham United U21s 2-0 Elche B
Pre-season fixture, Friday 4 August 2023, 5.30pm CEST
Sean Moore’s first goal in Claret & Blue saw West Ham United U21s beat Elche B 2-0 in a pre-season friendly held in Murcia.
Consecutive pre-season wins saw the young Hammers prepare for their Premier League 2 opener in style having beat Colchester United last week.
In truth, the Irons controlled possession and the fixture in Spain, with Dan Chesters’ opener on the stroke of half time the least Mark Robson’s outfit deserved.
Having also seen Chesters and Patrick Kelly go close in the first half, the Hammers pushed on, battling in the sun and playing some brilliant attacking football in front of the small cluster of Irons' supporters in attendance.
Soon West Ham had a well-deserved second, however. Another superbly-executed attack saw those in Claret & Blue move the ball sweetly before half-time substitute Moore finished a quick passing move to double the lead.
Chances continued to come for the east Londoners, who saw second-half sub Keenan Appiah-Forson almost net with two attempts from close range five minutes from time.
But by the time the full-time whistle rang another goal was not needed and Robson’s side, who shifted to a back-three effortlessly with the introduction of Sean Tarima to see out the win, took a well-earned victory to round off their pre-season tour of Spain.
The U21s will next be in action against Canvey Island on Tuesday 8 August in their final friendly, before a trip to Arsenal on the following Friday for our Premier League 2 opener.
West Ham United: Knightbridge (Terry 65), Laing, Casey (Appiah-Forson 65), Luizão, Scarles, Kelly, Orford, Chesters, Earthy (Moore 46), Kodua © (Tarima 67), Marshall
Subs not used: Robinson
Goals: Chesters, Moore
Robson proud of the defensive showing in win
For lead coach Mark Robson, the U21s' defensive showing was the highlight of the win against Elche B.
The Hammers competed well against their Spanish counterparts, but in truth were a cut above their opponents thanks to well-executed defensive play.
Callum Marshall and George Earthy led the high press well, with Patrick Kelly and Lewis Orford likewise as energetic in the middle of the park as they bustled around their opponents.
Robson credited assistant manager Steve Potts for the work on the training ground as a clean sheet and a solid showing across the front and backline ensured the win in Spain.
“The work that Pottsy has been doing with boys defensively has been top-draw,” Robson enthused, “and the boys were really good today and did what he was saying to the letter.
“It was for the whole game and our energy levels were spot on. I thought we were really good defensively and the boys are buying into how we want to defend as a team.
“We changed to a three as well, and we were bang on. But we played it a lot and the end of last season and did really well. But to go from one shape to another fairly effortlessly is a real plus for us!”
Of course, the win caps an important week for the U21s, who have no doubt been tested in the sun, with plenty of double sessions and now a match in the heat.
But, as Robson explained, the attitude of his players has been exceptional, although the lead coach expected no different from this group.
“The win has finished the week off really well,” he added. “The boys have been brilliant from a technical and tactical level.
“But there is a real mentality and desire to be part of a team. They are so positive as a group and there is great camaraderie and that has come from a lot of work last year under Kevin Keen, and the players that are making the step up.”
Scarles delighted as Moore opens West Ham account
Ollie Scarles was a proud teammate as Sean Moore struck his first goal in Claret & Blue against Elche B.
Signed from Cliftonville over the summer, Moore was introduced at half-time in Murcia and linked the play well with Scarles down the Hammers’ left, before striking his first goal for the Club.
Scarles, who lives in digs alongside Moore and a few other U21s teammates, was a proud teammate by the full-time whistle.
The 18-year-old stated: “To be fair I am in digs with Sean, so it has been easy to build a relationship on the pitch quickly. I am good mates with him already as he’s living with me, Cal [Marshall] and PK [Patrick Kelly.]
“He has come in and made an impact straight away and it’s good for him to get on the scoresheet and hopefully that continues in the season.”
Moore’s goal capped off successive wins for the U21s across pre-season and Scarles was pleased with his side’s showing in Spain.
“We played really well as a team,” he stated, “and created a lot of chances and took the goals well. We are not used to these conditions so being able to put in a performance against a team who are used to the heat is a really good sign for the season ahead!”
Up next
The U21s’ final pre-season will be against Canvey Island on Tuesday evening, before a trip to Arsenal on the following Friday for our 2023/24 PL2 opener.
Photos by Jesus Hernandez from Elche.
