Kids march on

West Ham United's under 18s are through to the next round the of the FA Youth Cup after a comprehensive victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Boleyn.

Robert Hall, who recently made his first team debut hit a brace whilst Elliot Lee and Matthias Fanimo struck a goal apiece as Tony Carr's side eased their way through to the final 16.

With the game moved to the Boleyn Ground, the young Hammers took full advantage of playing in frnot of a small yet vocal crowd to steamroller their opponents into submission.

The young Hammers had to wait just 17 minutes before opening the scoring through Elliot Lee. After Hall was unfairly impeded on the perimeter of the 18-yard box, Lee stepped up and delivered a wicked, curling free kick into the top corner of Albion 'keeper Oliver Wray's goal.

With half time rapidly approaching the Hammers doubled their lead through Hall, who was instrumental throughout. Played in by Lee, the young striker fired home with Wray yet again helpless.

The game was all but wrapped up on the hour mark when Hall made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Elliot Lee was felled in the box by stand-in left back Glen Rea, deputising for the injured Rob Hunt.

And although Albion reduced the deficit with 20 minutes remaining - Chris Cumming-Bart firing home from 12 yards after Brighton were awarded a penalty when Leo Chambers pulled Tom Vickers - West Ham wrapped up a 4-1 win when Matthias Fanimo scored from 20 yards with just 12 minutes remaining.

A naturally delighted Nick Haycock, under 18s coach and sidekick to Tony Carr told whufc.com after the game: "I think, had we been a little bit more clinical in the first half, it could have been done and dusted by half-time.

"Great credit to them because they kept going and it was pleasing to see a team trying to play the right way, as I want my team to play.

"The fact we are an Academy and they are still a Centre of Excellence, the gulf showed a little bit at times, but credit where credit is due because they kept going and didn't let their heads drop.

"It could have been a lot more than it was and it would have been sad to see for them because they didn't deserve to get battered."

Meanwhile Haycock's equivalent at Albion, Martin Hinshelwood, admitted that he was 'very disappointed' by the defeat. "It looked like it was men against boys tonight," he moaned. They were far better on the ball, but also off the ball with their movement.

"If the players can't come and play football on a pitch like that, in front of people at a nice stadium they will not be professional footballers. That might sound harsh but it's the nature of the beast.

"West Ham were full of quality players, with some players in the England set-up, but if you let them play they are going to look even better; that was the problem tonight.

"Tonight we let everybody down. They need to learn from it because if they don't they will not play professionally. That is the truth and I want them all to be footballers, but if they don't compete they are not going to be successful."

Last 16 draw

Portsmouth or Swansea City v Manchester United or Derby County
Swindon Town or Manchester City v Peterborough United or Fulham
Blackburn Rovers or Coventry City v Stoke City or Brentford
Charlton Athletic or Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Reading or West Bromwich Albion v Burnley or Ipswich Town
Chelsea v West Ham United
Newcastle United or Watford v Queens Park Rangers or Everton
Southampton v Nottingham Forest or Wigan Athletic

West Ham Utd 4 Brighton & Hove Albion 1: Match Facts

West Ham Utd: Larkins, Young, Potts (Shaw 84), K.Lee, Chambers, Turgott, Miles (Hurley 87), Powell, Fanimo (Vose 81), Hall, E.Lee.

Subs not used: Wootton, Sadlier.

Goals: Lee (17), Hall (39, 63 pen), Fanimo (78).

Brighton & Hove Albion: Wray, MacFarlane, Rea, Vickers, Cooper (Lall 35), Barry, Cumming-Bart, Peake, Goodwin, Tuck (Cousins 76), Levy (Gray 72).

Subs not used: Colquhoun, Benham.

Goals: Cumming-Bart (70).