Under 23s: Swindon 2-3 West Ham Utd

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 16th August 2017

The Under 23s secured their first win of the new season with a 3-2 win in front of a healthy crowd at Swindon last night.

Having drawn their opening match of the PL2 campaign against defending champions Everton (0-0) last Friday, it was imperative that Terry Westley's newly-promoted side returned to winning ways as soon as possible.

And that's exactly what they did in an exciting match at the County Ground, which saw the young Hammers pegged back twice before securing passage to the next stage of the Checkatrade Trophy courtesy of a late winner from Dan Kemp.

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West Ham scored the only goal of the first half when Martin Samuelsen profited from a woefully underhit back-pass by rounding the Town 'keeper and rolling the ball into an empty net.

However our hosts were back on level terms shortly afterward the restart having been awarded a dubious penalty that was initially given as a free kick, before the referee changed his mind having consulted with an assistant.

It was from another defensive mix-up that West Ham restored their lead; Samuelsen again played a pivotal role but it was Moses Makasi who prodded the ball home form close range to make it 2-1 on the night.

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The Hammers were to be undone for a second time by a Hussey corner which they failed to deal with, allowing Mullin to convert from no more than two yards out after Lancashire had centred the ball. 2-2 on the night.

However substitute Dan Kemp was to emerge as the Hammers hero as he came off the bench to score the winner with less than five minutes of normal time remaining.

His pass initially released Toni Martinez, whose shot rebounded off the post, only for an alert Kemp to follow up and pass the ball into an empty net.

The Hammers were reduced to ten men in the closing moments of the game when Vashon Neufville was handed his marching orders for committing a second bookable offence. Fortunately for the Hammers, the England youth international's dismissal arrived too late for Swindon to profit from.

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Academy boss Westley was naturally delighted at securing the team's first win since last season's promotion. "To come here against a full strength side of Swindon and to get our first ever win in this competition is a great boost for us," he said.

"Sead [Haksabanovic] was dangerous, [Nathan] Holland was a real threat, [Toni] Martinez’s work and goal threat was very good and Samuelsen is starting to get back to something we know he can do. He was dangerous all night and effective in the air.

“Moses [Makasi] and Domingos [Quina] behind that, that section of a team was really effective tonight and we made numerous chances to stretch the lead even further than it was."

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You may view highlights of the match on whufc.com.


West Ham Utd: Trott; Pike, Pask, Akinola, Neufville; Quina, Makasi (c) (Diangana 61), Haksabanovic (Kemp 72), Samuelsen, Holland (Coventry 87); Martinez.

Subs not used: Matrevics, Hector-Ingram, Powell, Sylvestre.

Goals: Martin Samuelsen (6), Moses Makasi (68), Dan Kemp (86).

Booked: Neufville.

Sent off: Neufville.

Swindon Town: Henry, Purkiss, Conroy, Lancashire (c), Hussey; Dunne, Linganzi; Iandolo, McDermott (James Brophy 65), Woolery (Paul Mullin 62); Norris (Harry Smith 62).

Subs not used: Robertson, T Smith, Thomas, Twine.

Goals: Luke Norris (47), Paul Mullin (74).

Booked: H Smith.

Referee: John Busby.

Attendance: 2,082

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