West Ham U23’s headed into this game hoping to grab at least a draw in their latest PL2 fixture against a top Liverpool team, but despite going 2-1 up, the young Hammers couldn’t hold on to their advantage as they succumbed to a 4-2 loss at Rush Green Stadium.
After a tough defeat last time out at, the Irons sat bottom of the table with two points in seven matches. Dmitri Halajko’s side would need to add to their points tally soon if they wanted to turn their season around.
Early Concession
The visitors took an early lead in the 7th minute, as Leighton Clarkson intercepted a pass from Hammers left back Will Greenidge and passing down the middle for Luis Longstaff to score a one on one against keeper Joseph Anang.
Ten minutes later the Hammers had a huge chance to equalise as Portuguese midfielder Mesaque Dju gave a cross to Keenan Forson but Caoimhin Kelleher made the save and Liverpool cleared the ball away from goal.
Fighting Back
In the 21st minute the Hammers equalised, with Oladapo Afolayan grabbing his third goal of the season after receiving a fantastic cross from Mbule Longelo.
As West Ham began to take control of the game, they took the lead in the 35th minute as goalscorer Adolayan slipped a through ball into Kamarai Swyer who was one on one with the keeper however, squaring for the oncoming Mesaque Dju to send it home.
The first half ended 2-1 to the hosts who led the half for the first time this season.
A Horror Second Half
The Hammers had been playing with pace and had a drive and hunger for goal, but just four minutes into the second half, Liverpool drew level as Scottish midfielder Thomas Clayton poked in the equalizer from a corner kick that the Hammers failed to clear.
Seven minutes later it went from bad to worse for the Hammers, as young ‘keeper Anang brought down Liverpool’s Longstaff in the area, denying him of a goalscoring opportunity, and therefore seeing the young Iron dismissed.
Liam Millar scored the penalty to take the lead for the visitors.
Despite being a man down the Hammers were pushing forward to fight for a point. In the 75th minute, Swyer whipped the ball in to to Afolayan, who struck well, but the Red’s Kelleher kept Liverpool in the lead with a fine save.
Game Over
In the fourth minute of injury time the North-West side finished the game off as the German forward Paul Glatzel dribbled through the Iron’s midfield and scored from just outside the penalty box to secure the three points.
Despite Liverpool being a top team in this league the Hammers were disappointed not to get anything out of the match as they played some good football for large parts of the game.
West Ham defender Josh Okotcha added by mentioning after the game:
“There was a sense of disappointment – big disappointment, because the boys put in so much effort into the game” and admitted “It was tough to take”.
The Hammers travel to Portsmouth on Tuesday, looking to regain any sense of the form that they had last year in Division 2. Failing that, it looks like it could be a very long season for Halajko and his squad.
