West Ham U18 2-2 Fulham U18

Fulham Under-18s came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

In an eventful affair at Little Heath, a Tom Wingate penalty was sandwiched between two Josh Landers strikes in the first-half.

An audacious Aidan Evans lob saw our Young Whites level matters again with just over 10 minutes to play. A frantic finale followed with huge chances for David Chigwada and Tarrell Cavell at either end, but the match finished as a draw.

It was a bright start from our youngsters, who were looking to press the hosts at every opportunity. Ruban Khan’s delicious cross found the head of Brodie Dair early on, and the striker did everything right, nodding the ball into the ground, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Dino Kaiser made a number of impressive stops in Tuesday’s late defeat at Reading – and he managed to get fingertips to Chinaza Nwosu’s low-free-kick early on, helping it onto the post.

Only 10 minutes had passed when another opportunity presented itself, but Kyle Grant dragged a shot wide of the near post after stealing the ball high up the pitch.

West Ham’s opener was arguably against the run of play, although it was a fine individual goal by Landers, who made a smart run into the right half space, cut inside onto his left foot and finished beyond Kaiser into the far corner.

Kaiser was forced into action again when Jonathan Unwin picked the pocket of Seth Chingwaro and fired towards goal, with the goalkeeper at full stretch to keep him out.

A looping Aaron Kamara header then dropped just wide of Kaiser’s goal, but it was Ali Melloul’s side who ended the half stronger.

Lanre Awesu rushed out to make a huge stop to deny Wingate, who had plenty of time to pick a spot, choosing to drill a strike rather than loft it over the goalkeeper/

But Wingate would get an opportunity to beat Awesu two minutes later. Luca Picotto was bundled over in the box, allowing Wingate to step up from 12 yards, and the struck low and hard beyond the Hammers ‘keeper.

We weren’t level for long however, as Landers produced another excellent finish, rifling the ball into the roof of the net to give the hosts the lead once again.

Macaulay Zepa started the second period in confident mood, seeing a thunderous hit bravely blocked by Rayan Oyebade’s header, before he tested Awesu with a low effort.

Landers was always a threat in the box and his glancing header from a cross from the right only narrowly missed the target.

Archie Taylor attacked a deep Zepa free-kick with real desire, but he couldn’t find the placement to beat Awesu, before Grant fired a strike over the bar after meeting a dangerous Khan cutback.

A second equaliser was the least we deserved for a spirited performance – and it came in sublime fashion. Evans punished an error at the back, lofting the ball over Awesu from 25 yards and into an empty net.

All of that hard work was so nearly undone when Kaiser slipped while passing out of defence, but Chigwada fluffed his lines when given a shot at an open goal.

The game was open as both sides pushed for a winner and Cavell forced a save from Awesu as he tried to beat him from a tight angle, although a cutback to Zepa, Dair or Evans may have been the better option.

Melloul’s side return to action on Saturday 29^th March with a home game against Leicester City, 12pm kick-off.