Reserve and Youth Round Up for March

The Reserves had a horrible March with 4 away matches and no points

First up Tottenham Hotspur

Hammers created the first chance of the night midway through the first half when Dailly found Ephraim, who turned well inside the box but struck his shot straight at the goalkeeper Spurs gained control as the first half wore on. With 15 minutes remaining, Spurs found the vital breakthrough, that ultimately won the game.

Result Lost 1-0

Next way away at Norwich City

Hammers made a bright start and might have been 2-0 up inside the first five minutes. Winger Kyel Reid crashed a shot against the post from just outside the area, then James Tomkins almost converted with a powerful header, the Hammers took the lead on 27 minutes, when Reid's cross from the right found Welsh, who controlled and finished well from 12 yards out.

Norwich drew level just minutes after the restart and on 63 minutes, the Canaries netted what proved to be the winner, as Jarvis skipped down the right and fired in a low cross that was turned into his own net by skipper Darren Blewitt - at 20 the oldest outfield player in the Hammers side!

Result Lost: 2-1

Another trip to East Anglia saw the Reserves take on Ipswich

It was virtually a Hammers youth team that took the field against the Tractor Boys, and only goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and young striker Hogan Ephraim possessed previous senior experience.

Ipswich took the lead after just four minutes, but the young Hammers fought back and enjoyed their fair share of possession without managing to create any clear-cut chances in front of goal. Kyel Reid almost conjured up something special with several inviting crosses in the second half, but still Hammers couldn't find the all-important equaliser, and the hosts broke away on the counter-attack in the final minute to make sure of all three points with a second goal.

Result Lost: 2-0

Last game of the month was away again this time at Charlton

The Hammers looked set for their first points of the season but it was not to be. After a dull first half West Ham looked the better side, and were unlucky not to be ahead, with ten minutes to go, Charlton were reduced to 10 men, and West Ham saw their chance, however it all went wrong when Charlton cruelly snatched a winner in the dying seconds.

Result Lost 1-0

The youth team had a mixed month, but remain in the top three places.

First match for March were Arsenal at home.

West Ham had a bright start and Kyle Reid rightfully opened the scoring after 20 minutes .Arsenal fought back and dominated the second half, but couldn't find the all-important equaliser, and were made to pay with just 10 minutes remaining, when a superb individual effort from Hogan Ephraim made sure of victory.

This victory gave the lads the double over Arsenal this season having already beat them 2-0 away!

Result Won: 2-0

Next Up Coventry City at Little Heath

With a number of youth team players involved with the reserves recently, Carr named under-16 pair Jordan Spence and Tom Harvey in his starting line-up and, although Hammers battled bravely throughout, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances. Striker Zavon Hines saw a couple of half-chances go begging, and the game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw until a lapse in concentration at a free-kick allowed Coventry to take the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

As Hammers committed men forward in search of an equaliser, the visitors broke away in the final minute to add a second and make sure of all three points.