Ipswich Town U18s 2-8 West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Playford Road, Saturday 1 November 2025, 11am GMT
West Ham United U18s made it three consecutive victories in all competitions with a stunning 8-2 win over Ipswich Town, with U16 starlet Isaac Thomas enjoying a dream debut at U18 level by scoring four goals, Andre Dike netting a brace and Jephthah Medine also etching his name on the scoresheet.
Within the first six minutes, West Ham’s early possession paid off as they took the lead through Thomas, who got off the mark in style by heading in Medine’s pinpoint free-kick delivery.
Lauris Coggin’s side continued to dominate as Medine led a swift counter-attack just minutes later, turning away from his marker and setting up Dike, whose low shot whistled just wide after cutting inside onto his left foot.
Then, in the eleventh minute, Dike produced another moment of brilliance when he curled a superb effort into the top corner to make it 2-0, successfully following up his spectacular strike against Aston Villa last time out.
The young Hammers were relentless in the early stages, and another perfectly executed set-piece saw Thomas rise highest again to head home his second goal, extending the lead to 3-0 after just 18 minutes.
The home side eventually found their rhythm and threatened a response. Benjamin Buskell struck on the volley after a cross into the box, but Finley Hooper reacted sharply, saving with his feet.
Just before half-time, Ipswich pulled two goals back, reducing the deficit to just one goal in quick succession. Indiana Pedder capitalised on a loose touch from Hooper to score into an empty net, before turning in Buskell’s cross moments later to make it 3-2 and give the hosts hope of a potential comeback.
After the interval though, West Ham quickly regained control, and just three minutes into the second half Medine restored the two-goal cushion when Lewis Beckford’s cross caused chaos in the box, and the winger bundled the ball over the line to make it 4-2.
Two minutes later, the Hammers continued to use their threatening set-pieces to their advantage, after another dangerous delivery forced Isaac Boakye-King to turn the ball into his own net, extending the lead to 5-2.
Despite making a few substitutions, including the introduction of Jude Longman, who came on for his first U18s appearance, and Connor Brooks, the Hammers’ intensity didn’t drop as they looked to see out the victory.
Beckford’s relentless pressing forced an error from Joshua Bentley in goal, which almost let Brooks in. Then, the Ipswich defenders failed to clear the ball after more good work from Beckford, with the ball this time falling kindly to Dike, who tapped in his second of the game to make it 6-2.
Things went from bad to worse for Ipswich when their captain, Charlie Wood, was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge and was sent-off in the 76th minute.
Despite the significant scoreline, the visitors refused to stop their attacking dominance, and they almost added another when substitute Martin Peychev was denied on the line by the goalkeeper following another dangerous set-piece.
In the 85th minute, Thomas completed his hat-trick, once again losing his marker inside the box and heading home powerfully from close range from a corner.
Then, in stoppage time, the U16 rounded off a dream debut with his fourth goal of the game, turning in Joe Scanlon’s cross after a clever one-two with Longman, sealing an emphatic 8-2 victory.
The young Hammers will face Ipswich Town again later this month, this time in the U18 Premier League Cup, returning to Playford Road on Saturday 22 November.
Before that, Coggin's side are back at Little Heath next Saturday, 8 November, to take on Crystal Palace U18s in the Premier League South, when they will look to stretch their winning run to four games in all competitions.
Ipswich Town U18s: Bentley, Barry, Ologho, Brown (Olawole 70), Wilkinson (Enkotosia 45), Boakye-King, Buskell, Wood ©, Ladegbaye, Eze (Adebayo 45), Pedder
Subs not used: Fletcher (GK), Msabah
Goals: Pedder 43, 44
Booked: Boakye-King
Sent-off: Wood
West Ham United U18s: Hooper ©, Perkins, Smith, Thomas, Scanlon, Morris-Agyemang (Peychev 56), Unwin, Dike (Longman 61), Obi (Brooks 56), Beckford, Medine (Omotoye 56)
Sub not used: Ayesta (GK)
Goals: Thomas 6, 18, 85, 90+2, Dike 11, 60, Medine 48, Boakye-King (OG) 50
Booked: Unwin, Brooks
Coggin: We have real depth coming through the Academy
After securing three consecutive wins in all competitions at Ipswich, lead coach Lauris Coggin was delighted with how his team dominated the game and showed the impact of the tactical instructions set out before kick-off.
He said: “I thought we were dominant throughout. We spoke before the game about controlling the first ball, the second ball, to allow us to play the game in the way that we wanted to. We did that from the start, scoring three good goals early on, which put us in a position where we could show our individual and collective quality.
“We were obviously disappointed to concede the two goals just before half-time, which changed the momentum, but I spoke to the players about staying calm in that moment and believing in what we hoped the second half would be.”
Coggin also praised Isaac Thomas’ fantastic four-goal debut at U18 level, as well as the other players who made the step up for the first time.
He continued: “I think it speaks to the depth of quality that we've got within the Academy. Isaac is not naturally a centre-half, so for him to step into that position, and then to score from set-pieces, which, as you've seen this year, are prominent throughout the game, was brilliant.”
Finally, Coggin shared his reaction to West Ham's U17s making it through to the quarter-finals of the U17 Premier League Cup earlier this week, following a 3-1 win over defending champions Tottenham Hotspur.
He added: “I’m really proud of that group. Against Tottenham, they faced a much older side, but the boys showed great maturity. There have been plenty of changes, but once again I’m proud of how they performed, and now they’re looking forward to the next round and the quarter-finals.”
