Post-Match Report

Reserves 0 West Ham 2 - Match report

West Ham Res -

Underhill Stadium
Barclays Under-21 Premier League
Barclays Under-21 Premier League
  Arsenal U23
   crest
Arsenal U23
0 - 2
  West Ham Res
   crest
West Ham Res

By Adam Clark

Arsenal Reserves earned the plaudits of the Underhill crowd on
Monday despite suffering defeat at the hands of London rivals West
Ham United.

The visitor's teamsheet eclipsed that of the Gunners as they
started with five full internationals in Roy Carroll, John Pantsil,
Christian Dailly, Nigel Quashie and ex-Gunner Luis Boa Morte, a
£5 million signing in January.

A further three players on show tonight - Hayden Mullins, Callum
Davenport and Carlton Cole - had joined Boa Morte on the bench for
the first team's 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday.
Arsenal's most experienced player was Joe O'Cearuill, who
spent three months on loan at Brighton; their eldest 19-year-old
goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

But despite their advantage early goals from Mullins and another
Premiership regular Marlon Harewood were all Arsenal's
teenagers allowed them.

It may not have been the prettiest of games but Neil
Banfield's second string dug deep and earned the applause
brought by the full-time whistle.

It took West Ham less than three minutes to show their
experience though as Harewood, afforded too much space in the box,
drilled an unstoppable shot low to Mannone's right.

Physically, it was a gruelling test for Arsenal's youngsters
but they were not disheartened by West Ham's early
breakthrough. A Mark Randall free-kick looked to be their first
promising opening but Carroll claimed comfortably.

West Ham could have extended their lead on 16 minutes but
Mullins blazed over from the right on the box. Two minutes later he
made no such mistake, rifling the ball into the roof of the net
from 10-yards.

With little to lose Banfield's youngsters suddenly appeared
to be relishing the challenge, even if the best the visitors
allowed them was a long-range O'Cearuill header which Carroll
allowed to trickle wide. The young Gunners broke forward with
endeavour and threw themselves whole-heartedly into every
challenge.

It was to Arsenal's credit that another chance did not fall
West Ham's way until the seventh minute of the second half when
Mullins played in Boa Morte. The Portuguese winger cut his teeth at
this level with the Gunners but was denied the chance to score
against his former club, losing out to the tenacious Paul
Rodgers.

Seconds later Harewood rounded Mannone but chipped the ball into
the side netting as his angle deteriorated.

Banfield's side continued to battle away and substitutes Jay
Thomas and Giorgos Efrem added to Arsenal's threat. Debutant
Craig Eastmond also looked lively and contributed to the cause.

But for all their effort the Gunners got little joy against
Dailly and Davenport. On the one occasion Thomas found himself in
room to cross Carroll plucked the ball from the air.

Having made all their substitutions West Ham were reduced to 10
men for the final six minutes after Jack Collison was stretchered
off. Arsenal almost made the most of their numerical advantage but
Thomas sent his shot wide while O'Cearuill's adventurous
long-range volley dipped the wrong side of the crossbar.