West Ham United U21s recorded their joint-biggest win in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening, running out emphatic 5-1 winners at Stadium MK.
It marked the first time the young Hammers have scored five in the competition, surpassing 2023/24 4-0 victories over Cheltenham Town and Colchester United.
First-year professional Preston Fearon, who made his senior debut in the Premier League Summer Series in July against Manchester United, netted a first-half brace, his first goals at U21s level. An own goal and a Callum Marshall double added to an impressive scoreline which sees the young Hammers shoot to the top of Southern Group D.
The evening began with a surprise name on the teamsheet, as Łukasz Fabiański returned between the sticks for his first appearance since signing a new one-year deal. His experience behind a young backline proved valuable in a game where the Hammers showed great maturity in both their attacking and defensive play.
Academy graduates Freddie Potts, George Earthy and Marshall were also handed their first competitive minutes of the season and were instrumental to all of West Ham’s excellent attacking moves.
The opener arrived after just 12 minutes, and it was one to savour. Mohamadou Kanté threaded a precise pass through to Earthy, who drove into the box and backheeled into the path of Fearon. The 18-year-old midfielder rifled home first time into the bottom corner to claim his first goal for the U21s.Fearon doubled his tally before the interval. Again it was Kanté at the heart of the move, driving down the left and delivering a low ball across goal for the forward to sweep home with confidence. West Ham added a third just before the break when an Emeka Adiele cross caused panic in the MK Dons box, resulting in an unfortunate own goal from captain Laurence Maguire.
Be the first to comment