Reserves 1-1 West Ham

Ten-man Fulham had to settle for a share of the points against a battling West Ham side, with Davide Ferrari’s late header earning a draw for the Hammers.

Simon Davies had given the Whites the lead with an early second-half strike, and for a while Billy McKinlay’s side looked like they might build on their 2-0 victory over Portsmouth two weeks ago.

A youthful West Ham travelled to Motspur Park on the back of a 4-1 thumping from Chelsea and competed well against an experienced Fulham who had Toni Kallio, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Eddie Johnson and a returning Davies within its ranks.

With both teams in tentative mood early on, it took a moment of magic from West Ham striker Terry Dixon to get the game going when his exquisite pass opened a chance for former Chelsea striker Frank Nouble.

At the other end Johnson showed intelligence to turn Fabio Daprela, but the American striker’s shot lacked the power to threaten visiting goalkeeper Marek Stech following a teasing pass from Matt Saunders.

Strike partner David Elm also looked lively, showing an impressive touch and range of passing, while fellow summer signing Dikgacoi also showed his potential freeing Johnson for another decent opportunity.

With Joe Anderson and Keanu Marsh-Brown supporting expertly down the flanks, it was Fulham who finished the half on top with their experience beginning to negate the youthful enthusiasm of the Hammers.

With time running out on first-half proceedings, Johnson cushioned the ball to Davies on the edge of the Hammers’ box, but off stride the Welshman fired over. Johnson, himself, went even closer moments later collecting Seol’s slalom run and curling just wide.

A peppering of the West Ham goal 10 minutes into the second half allowed Davies to make amends for his earlier miss with the winger breaking the deadlock with a low drilled finish from a goalmouth scramble.

The game turned on its head seven minutes later when Saunders was sent off following a late tackle on Daprela, with Daniel Kearns lucky not to follow shortly after following an equally late lunge on Anderson.

As the half wore on both teams limited each other to strikes from distance with Luca Moscatiello driving one effort off the boot of Daprela, while Anthony Edgar lashed over in front of the Fulham goal.

Elm fashioned a decent chance late on with his resulting strike deflecting wide, and from the corner Matthew Briggs was unlucky not to turn Seol’s cross from the left home with a towering header.

With minutes left David Stockdale looked to have denied the Hammers a late equaliser when he got down well to thwart Christian Montano with the visitors piling on the pressure. But their persistence paid off when Ferrari rose high and powered in a fantastic leaping header.

Fulham DS return to action next Monday, November 9th, making the trip to Griffin Park where they will face SW6 rivals Chelsea, kick-off 7.05pm.

Fulham: Stockdale; Marsh-Brown, Anderson, Kallio, Briggs; Saunders, Dikgacoi, Davies (Moscatiello 66), Seol; E. Johnson, Elm. (Subs): Foderingham, Uwezu, Hoesen, Smith.

West Ham United Reserves: Stech; Ferrari, Brown, Eyolfsson, Daprela; Wearen, Kearns, Grasser (Montano 70), Edgar; Nouble (Abdulla 75), Dixon (Brookes 88). (Subs): Street, Zola.