Rare defeat for U18's away to West Ham

On Saturday afternoon there was good old local derby at U18's level, one that will be replicated this evening by the first team. West Ham were the opponents away at their Little Heath academy ground and as you would expect it would be a tough game for the young blues. It would be second against third in the table and whoever wins sitting higher in the table, although West Ham have played more games.

The team was a strong young and one that has played plenty of U18's games this season even though a lot of them are still quite young. Collins was between the posts with a strong looking back 4 of Ssewankambo, Conroy, Brady and Aina. The midfield was Christie-Davis, Colkett and Musonda with Abraham and Palmer supporting the attack from wide and the on form Solanke as the number 9.

As is the case everywhere barring the most well maintained of pitches is was a sticky and muddy occasion and the hosts were on top right from the off. The opening goal did not take long to come either following strong work by the West Ham centre forward who held the ball up and laid it off nicely to midfielder Bywater who took a touch and slotted home past Collins.

Chelsea would up their game but see their chances limited to only set pieces with Charly Musonda looking dangerous from free kicks and testing the West Ham keeper but not enough to equalise. West Ham would then get another chance this time taken by the striker Brown himself who was having a good game taking advantage of some lapse defending and scoring the second.

West Ham would continue to be on top of things for the remaining first half and have some decent chances which they could not convert and the teams went into half time at 2 - 0 to West Ham.

The second half started as the first finished with the hosts on top and they would have a couple of good early chances which again they were unable to finish off. West Ham were proving to be a very tough nut to crack breaking up any attacks that Chelsea would have through solid defending and then being very dangerous on the attack.

Top scorer Dom Solanke would have a couple of half chances but nothing to really trouble the West Ham keeper and West Ham would continue to threaten and come close to a third. Chelsea's best chance came late on when Chike Kandi managed to hit the bar but nothing else that would break down West Ham's resolve and the game would finish 2 - 0 to the hosts and Chelsea would go home frustrated and third in the table.

Highlights of this game will be available on my YouTube page on Saturday evening.