A Lee double seals victory over league leaders

WHUFC u21 v derby
West Ham FC Under21s Vs Derby Under 21s

Holly Davies reports as West Ham under-21s put on a reslient display to beat Derby 3-2.

A goal from Josh Cullen and two from an in-form Elliot Lee were enough to subdue Derby’s fightback.

Both teams started the game with sloppy possession and conceded several fouls. Despite the obvious passion the delays resulted in a slow and didn’t allow the game to flow freely.  West Ham’s Reece Oxford showed his quality above his peers taking control of his defence and holding the line to allow play to be built up from the back.

Seven minutes into the first half and Derby gave away a penalty after Oxford was brought down in the box. Lee stepped up to the spot and gave the West Ham a 1-0 lead.

Minutes later Josh Cullen doubled Hammer’s lead after excellent hold up play on the left side of the box by Marcus Browne. Browne’s first shot was well saved by Kelly Roos, but Cullen was quickest to follow up the loose ball and put the Hammers 2-0 up at the end of the first half.

Fight back

Derby started the second half with purpose as Callum Guy catapulted them back into the game with a well-taken shot from outside the box, which flew into the far bottom corner of the West Ham goal. Unfortunately it proved to only inspire the Hammer’s as seven mintues later Lee doubled his tally with a glancing header from a Djair Parfitt-Williams cross.

Derby managed to score again in the closing stages after great build up play and neat passing in the final third saw Ivan Calero volley the ball into the back of the net.

Nervous late minutes

The visitors came close to securing the draw in the final minutes, but a committed and at times messy defence from West Ham kept Derby at bay.

Terry Westley’s side survived a nervy second half without captain Reece Oxford who was replaced at the start of the 2nd half due to an injury.

Martin Samuelsen was not in the squad as he is expected to go on loan to a League One club yet to be announced.

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