Classy Kids Hammer Irons

WEST HAM UNITED U18s 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED U18s 3
FA Youth Cup Fifth Round
Upton Park
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Kick off 7pm

Craig Hope reports from Upton Park ...

FULL-TIME SUMMARY

NEWCASTLE United Reserves swept into the Quarter Finals of the FA Youth Cup following a resounding 3-0 success over West Ham at Upton Park.

The Magpies, scintillating in attack and solid in defence, were always in control of a lively encounter and seized the lead after 14 minutes.

Ryan McGorrigan's near-post corner caused unrest among the Hammers backline and Filip Modelski's hurried clearance ran straight to a grateful Jeff Henderson who didn't need a second invitation in blasting home from point-blank range.

Greg McDermott, scorer of two goals in the Third Round win at Doncaster, then came agonisingly close to increasing that tally when his rising drive was deflected onto the crossbar on 39 minutes.

The visitors continued to pour forward in search of a second and Brad Inman's header, from James Tavernier's centre, shaved the base of the post on the stroke of half-time.

But a quick-fire double within six minutes of the restart for the second period put the tie beyond reach of the home side.

First it was Phil Airey who left marker Paco Craig trailing in his wake to race onto Inman's incisive throughball before prodding low past on-rushing keeper Peter Loveday on 49 minutes.

And within two minutes Inman had his name on the scoresheet; Tavernier teeing up the Australian-born midfielder to dispatch an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the bottom corner.

West Ham missed a late penalty when Eoin Wearen side-footed tamely at Jak Alnwich, but even a successful conversion would not have taken the gloss of what was a terrific display from Joe Joyce's youngsters.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

Full-time, United are resounding winners with what was a superb show.

86min - WEST HAM MISS PEN (0-3): Phil Airey throws his body on the line to block Moncur's shot after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. But, when the ball crashes into his arm, the referee shows no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Eoin Wearen steps up but spurns the chance to pull one back with a weak side-footer which is kept out by the feet of a somewhat surprised Jak Alnwick - that was too easy for the Toon stopper.

81min - Montano stamps on the leg on Nzuzi following a tussle 25 yards from goal but unbelievably it's The Hammers who are awarded a free-kick. Joe Joyce is incensed and is screaming at the referee who has failed to even acknowledge what was blatant foul play. And the home side come within a whisker of adding insult to injury when, from the free-kick, Moncur rattles the crossbar with a stinging strike.

78min - The occasion, and the vast Upton Park playing surface, is perhaps starting to get to a few of the young players and both sides have bodies laid on the turf receiving treatment for cramp during a break in play.

75min - United are firmly in control and the introduction of Adjei has added some fresh legs to their attacking efforts.

72min - The Hammers introduce Blair Turgott with Dominic Vose making way.

68min - Phil Airey has the ball in the back of the net once again but a linesman's flag denies the striker a second. Bizarrely, referee Mr A Davies books the Toon hitman for what he must presume was time-wasting with Airey blasting home despite an earlier whistle - again, that appears unfair on the visitors.

63min - Perhaps that booking has affected Joe Joyce's thinking and McGorrigan, a whole-hearted midfielder, is replaced by Swedish wideman Samuel Adjei.

60min - Ryan McGorrigan enters the book for a trip on Vose - that was harsh.

57min - United cannot afford to relax, though, and they are forced to rely upon Jak Alnwick to preserve their three-goal lead when the keeper races from his line to save with his legs from Abdulla who had been played in on goal by Wearen's clever reverse ball.

52min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-3): United hit The Hammers with a quick-fire double and surely this tie is now out of sight! James Tavernier, in possession 25 yards from goal, looks for the pass to unlock the opposition backline but instead drops a short layoff to the feet of the supporting Brad Inman. And that turns out to be a wise choice as the Aussie-born ace dispatches an unstoppable first-time drive into the bottom corner with what is his third of the competition.

49min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-2): Phil Airey adds to his two-goal tally from the last round with another superbly-taken effort. A slick Brad Inman throughball presents the striker with the chance to outmuscle his marker and, after leaving Paco Craig trailing in his wake, Airey bursts through on goal before poking a low finish beyond the on-rushing Loveday from 12 yards.

47min - United have shirts back in adbundance to defend a Dominic Vose free-kick from a dangerous location on the right. The Magpies, though, protect their target valliantly and scramble the delivery clear through a combination of Tavernier and Henderson.

The Hammers have refrained from making a change in a bid to find a way back into this and it is the hosts who get us restarted defending the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

45+1min - The Magpies go in ahead at the break but they are lucky to survive a late scare when George Moncur's rising half-volley from 20 yards narrowly evades Jak Alnwick's frame. It's been a cracking first half and United are the deserved leaders.

45min - United continue to swarm forward and Brad Inman shaves the base of the upright with a near-post header from James Tavernier's sweeping right-wing centre - that was close.

39min - McGorrigan carries down the left before drawing a low cross into the penalty area. The ball rolls invitingly for Inman but his first touch is heavy and it allows West Ham the chance to clear from within the six-yard box. The ball, though, is only forced away as far as McDermott and he wastes no time in returning a powerful drive on goal. The well-struck effort looks for all the world as if it's going to double the visitors' advantage until it brushes off a home shirt and up onto the crossbar leaving the Liverpudlian with his head in his hands. Nothing comes from the resulting corner.

36min - Modelski undercooks a backpass to keeper Loveday and Airey siezes the chance to chase. It's a 50-50 contest between the pair and the outcome sees a sliding United win the challenge but his momentum takes the ball through for a goal-kick - that was unlucky and could easily have been a second for the visitors.

32min - Our man Ian Horrocks has already wired through a picture of Jeff Henderson's goal (see above).

28min - Nelson's healing hands have done the trick and Henderson is back on his feet and trotting towards the touchline - that's a boost for United.

27min - Ever courageous skipper Henderson tries to get his head on the end of a McGorrigan free-kick in search of a second. But the Ashington-born defender is left in a heap when he clatters into a home shirt and will need attention from physio Carl Nelson.

23min - Ahmed Abdulla lines up a 25-yard free-kick which a touch of the Cristian Ronaldos about his pre run-up posture. The Saudi Arabian does eventually stun a right-footed effort goalwards but it zips through the crisp East London air and away for a goal-kick.

17min - West Ham search for a reply and Hall lashes narrowly wide from 20 yards - good try.

14min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): The Magpies win the game's first corner which is inadvertently topped along the turf to the near post by Ryan McGorrigan. The bizarre nature of the delivery causes a moment's unrest in the Hammers backline and full-back Filip Modelski merely prods a hopeless attempt at a clearance to the grateful Jeff Henderson who doesn't need a second invitation in blasting on goal from six yards. West Ham have Montano back on the goal line but, despite a desperate attempt to hack clear, the ball clearly crosses the line and United have the lead courtesy of the skipper.

13min - The liverwire Montano surges forward beore releasing a shot from 25 yards, The effort lacks venom but still worries keeper Jak Alnwick sufficiently for the Stocksfield-born to scramble across his goal before guiding wide.

11min - Home keeper Loveday shanks a goal kick straight to the feet of coach Tony Carr and the youngster's groan of despair can be heard even from our lofty vantage in the press box.

8min - United's first effort on goal arrives when Ryan McGorrigan cuts infield from the left and drills wide of Peter Loveday's target from 25 yards - an ambitious strike but nonetheless worth a try at this early stage.

5min - These boys are refusing to hold back and already a few stiff challenges have been exchanged in the middle of the park.

3min - Robert Hall looks to slide strike partner Cristian Montano in on goal but the slick pass has too much zip for the Colombian and the ball skids through to Jak Alnwick.

United are kitted in their traditional black and white and West Ham their customary claret and blue, and it is the visitors who get us started attacking the Bobby Moore Stand.

There's a fairly sizeable gathering in the main West Stand here at Upton Park as the two sides emerge onto the playing surface. The pitch-black horizon above the East Stand opposite is broken only by the high-rise flats which climb beyond the roof of the stadium and offer a perfect view of the action below.

TEAM NEWS

Joe Joyce keeps faith with the same starting XI which won through at Reading in the last round.

United will, though, it appears, switch James Tavernier to right-back with Patrick Nzuzi moving into midfield.

Skipper Jeff Henderson is partnered by Republic of Ireland youth international Stephen Folan at the heart of the defence with former Kenton schoolboy Paul Dummett completing the back four.

Nzuzi starts on the right-hand side of a midfield five, Geordie Ryan McGorrigan on the opposite flank, while Brad Inman, Conor Newton and Greg McDermott form a triumvirate in the centre of the park.

Phil Airey, scorer of two goals in the 3-1 win at Reading, spearheads the 4-5-1 formation.

TEAMS

WHUFC: Peter Loveday, Filip Modelski, Jordan Brown (c), Sergio Sanchez, Paco Craig, George Moncur, Dominic Vose, Eoin Wearen, Cristian Montano, Robert Hall, Ahmed Abdulla
Subs: Callum Driver, Sam Cowler, Jack Lampe, Blair Turgott, Mathias Fanimo, Danny Purdy, Danny Subuola

NUFC: Jak Alnwick, James Tavernier, Jeff Henderson (c), Stephen Folan, Paul Dummett, Patrick Nzuzi, Brad Inman, Greg McDermott, Conor Newton, Ryan McGorrigan, Phil Airey
Subs: Samuel Adjei, Ben Robinson, Liam Henderson, Ryan Page, Aaron Spear

Referee: A Davis
Attendance: tbc