In what was their final away game of the calendar year, West Ham surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Fulham at Motspur Park in the Premier League 2 Division 2.
West Ham U23s coach Dmitri Halajko, made two changes to him team’s previous game against Brighton. Jeremy Ngakia made his first start since August, whereas Amadou Diallo replaced Nathan Holland.
The Opening Stages
Fulham started the game on the front foot, with consistent attacks on the left wing throughout the game. Cody Drameh, who drove towards the by-line, found Fabio Carvalho in the six–yard box, but his shot was saved by outstretched leg of Joseph Anang, who reacted well to close range shot before West Ham cleared the ball.
West Ham took the lead on the thirteenth minute. November’s Player of Month nominee Bernardo Rosa latched onto Dan Kemp’s pass on the right wing, before passing into the centre of the 18 yard box for Amadou Diallo, who finished well into the bottom left corner despite being challenged by Zico Asare and Taye Ashby-Hammond.
Fulham had a golden opportunity to equalise through Timmy Abraham, the younger brother of Tammy.
After playing on from an advantage given by referee , Drameh’s cross to Abraham couldn’t be converted by the striker, who glanced his header wide.
Dangerous Dan
West Ham came close to adding a second. Dan Kemp’s half volley from Joe Powell’s cross was deflected just wide of Ashby-Hammond’s left post.
A minute later, an unmarked Kemp doubled the Irons’ lead, latching onto a long ball from Jeremy Ngakia, who returned to the squad from injury, before ruthlessly finishing the chance beyond Ashby-Hammond’s bottom left corner to put West Ham 2-0 up at half time.
The Hammers began the second half looking to add to their goals. Interplay between Anthony Scully, Kemp and Powell gave Powell an opportunity to get the Hammers’ third of the night, but his curling shot from 30 yards clipped the roof of the goal.
Scully, whose game was typified by a strong battle on the left wing, crossed for Kemp whose header glanced wide of goal.
Fulham scored their first of the evening as Abraham’s bicycle kick was lofted into the air, allowing midfielder Ben Davis to head the ball into the path of Carvalho, who curled in a left footed strike into Anang’s top corner.
West Ham’s Dominant Right Side
Kemp went close to adding a third for West Ham, after good work from the tireless Rosa. picking upon a loose ball in the box to drag his shot just wide of the post, in a move which deserved a second goal from Kemp.
The constant interchanges between Rosa and Kemp caused problems for Fulham throughout the game, showing why Rosa has been nominated for November’s PL2 POTM.
Kemp also displayed a man of the match performance, being a constant outlet for West Ham’s attacks in the second half.
Fortunate Hammers
Anang was called into action after Ngakia’s sloppy pass to substitute Jay Stansfield allowed him to test the ‘keeper from 20 yards out but his deflected shot off Goncalo Cardoso allowed Anang to parry his shot away from goal.
Fulham ramped up the pressure with another attack. Abraham’s driving run into the box and eventual pass to Davis was blazed over the bar from 6 yards out, to the agony of the home crowd who sensed that the momentum was with the home side.
Late Drama
From the resulting goal kick, Davis’ miss was punished by West Ham, who regained their two–goal lead through Joe Powell.
The midfielder drove at the Fulham defence, before finding substitute Dan Chesters whose cutback to Powell in the penalty area was finished into the roof of the net in the 80th minute.
Fulham reduced the deficit again, through a strike on the edge of the area from Stansfield in the 84th minute.
This prompted Halajko to bring on Sam Caiger to help West Ham’s defence who were struggling in the second half.
With seconds to go, Fulham completed their comeback. A long throw into the box from the right-hand side was contested between Powell and Michael Hector, in which Powell’s clearance deflected off Hector into the path of Abraham who powered in his effort into Anang’s near post to secure an unlikely point for Fulham.
The point keeps West Ham at the top of the PL2 Division 2, but a win for Manchester United on Monday night could reduce their lead to just one point.
The Hammers will be looking to get back to winning ways in their next game on Monday against Newcastle United as the Rush Green Stadium.
