2000-01 F.A. Premier Reserve League - South

COVENTRY CITY : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Kitson, Williams) 29 August 2000

Forest Riddle (Clark) Williams Ferrante Forbes Potts Keller Byrne (U'ddin) Kitson Riza Brtton

Hammers kicked off their FA Premier Reserve League South season with a comfortable victory over a Coventry City side that arrived late after getting stuck in traffic.

Despite some early pressure by the Hammers, Sky Blues could have taken the lead midway through the first-half but a fine low shot by Laurent Delorge was well saved by Craig Forrest making a welcome return to action after injury.

Hammers remained In control after the break and took a deserved lead on 55 minutes. A corner from Marc Keller found Steve Clark at the far post who headed back for Tommy Williams to score his first goal in the claret and blue.

Coventry hit back and Jason Ashby hooked a volley wide and Barry Quinn headed just over the bar before Hammers made the scoreline more respectable two minutes from the end. Leon Britton put Omer Riza through on the right and his cross found Paul Kitson, being watched by Birmingham City boss Trevor Francis, who slotted the ball past Coventry 'keeper Morten Hyldgaard.

SOUTHAMPTON : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Newton) 12 September 2000

Forest Charles (Carreno) Peacock Ferrante (Moncur) Pearce I. Potts Keller Byrne Newton Riza (Defoe) Brtton

Although the Hammers were beaten by a strong Saints side that included Matt Le Tissier, the good news from Upton Park was that Ian Pearce played the full 90 minutes of his comeback game following his long spell out with a serious knee Injury.

Ian came through the game playing alongside Darren Peacock, on loan for a month from Blackburn Rovers — lan's former club.

Unfortunately, skipper John Moncur limped off midway through the first-half with a groin injury that was to keep him out of the squad for the vital game against Liverpool the following Sunday.

Saints scored twice after the break and were looking comfortable winners before Adam Newton struck in the 83rd minute to put Hammers back in the game. But despite late pressure, the home side could not force an equaliser.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : FA Premier Reserve League - South

City Ground 1 - 0 (Bullard) 21 September 2000

Bywater Pearce I. Bullard Etherington Forbes U'ddin Holligan Byrne Newton Riza McCann

The game started slowly with both defences dealing easily with the few chances created early on. The Hammers then had a good spell when Jimmy Bullard and Grant McCann, back after a spell on loan to Notts County, shot narrowly wide. Just before the break, Forest came back into the game and a defensive mistake allowed Bernard Allou to break through but his shot was tipped around the post by Stephen Bywater. From the corner Salvatorie Matrescano went close with a header.

After the break, defences again dominated and the game appeared to be drifting towards a goalless draw when a Jimmy Bullard shot from the edge of the box found the Forest net five minutes from time.

Jimmy has now played four times for the reserves in the Midlands and he's scored every time!

CHELSEA : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Diawara) 3 October 2000

Bywater Clarke (Bullard) Byrne Potts Forbes Pearce I. Etherington (Ferrante) Moncur (Ferrante) Riza (Holligan) Diawara Britton

Hammers were unlucky to lose to table-toppers Chelsea at Upton Park. John Moncur, who has missed much of this season through illness and injury, was one of four senior players in action against the Blues. A Terrell Forbes mistake allowed Chelsea to open the scoring in the 70th minute. New boy Kaba Diawara equalised five minutes later following Moncur's corner and Chelsea scored the winner in injury-time.

WATFORD : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 2 - 2 (Defoe 2) 18 October 2000

Bywater Charles (Sjolund) Byrne Pearce I. Potts Riddle (Britton) Newton Ferrante Kitson Defoe Etherington

Jermain Defoe put the Hammers ahead in the 29th minute but Watford hit back with goals from Allan Smart and Stephen Armstrong. Craig Etherington had a penalty saved by Chris Day after Adam Newton was fouled just inside the Watford box. Soon after Daniel Sjolund missed a good chance to equalise before Defoe salvaged a point with a superb angled strike two minutes from the end.

IPSWICH TOWN : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 0 - 1 24 October 2000

Bywater Charles Byrne Pearce I. Potts Ferrante Newton Carrick (Etherington) Kitson Suker Diawara (Defoe)

WIMBLEDON : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Sutton 1 - 2 (Diawara) 1 November 2000

Bywater Newton Williams (Bullard) Charles U'ddin Soma Keller Ferrante Kitson Diawara (Clark) Etherington

DERBY COUNTY : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 1 - 5 (Kitson) 14 November 2000

Bywater Charles Byrne Potts Forbes (U'ddin) Ferrante (Etherington) Keller Moncur Kitson Suker Diawara (Bullard)

A strong Hammers Reserve side were heavily beaten by a young Derby County team at Upton Park.

The Hammers were trailing after just three minutes when Adam Boulder followed up a Stephen Bywater parry from a Lee Morris shot. Lewis Hunt put the Rams, last season's Reserve League Champions, two up before Paul Kitson reduced the arrears from close range after he had been put through by Shaun Byrne.

Dean Sturridge made it 3-1 just before half-time after Morris had set him up. Morris made it 4-1 from the right and he completed the rout after a Gary Charles slip on 54 minutes. Hammers skipper John Moncur, one of our few successes on a miserable night, was booked for persistent misconduct.

Coach Glenn Roeder was very disappointed with West Ham's performance, and he told reporter Khris Raistrick: "What you've just seen was just not acceptable from players In a West Ham shirt and we have sat down and talked to some of them behind closed doors.

"I have got to say there was a lack of effort and to lose 5-1 to a Derby side with no more experience than us is just not on. People who want to compete do it at any level of life — you are born with it. Real winners motivate themselves for the reserves or a game of tiddlywinks with the family."

LEICESTER CITY : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Filbert Street 2 - 4 (Foyewa, Newton) 20 November 2000

Bywater Newton Williams (Clark) Potts Stimac U'ddin Keller Ferrante Foyewa (Bullard) Riza Etherington

Hammers squandered a two goal half-time lead in front of a 3,220 crowd at Filbert Street in this FA Premier Reserve League game against a strong Leicester City side.

Still smarting from a crushing 5-1 defeat in their previous game against Derby County at Upton Park, the Hammers started strongly and goals from Adam Newton in the 29th minute and Amos Foyewa on 38 minutes, gave them a deserved 2-0 lead at the break. Foyewa was a replacement for Davor Suker who pulled out of the game after feeling a groin pain during the warm-up.

It was Foyewa's debut for the reserves and he not only scored but made Newton's goal.

Unfortunately the Hammers collapsed after the break and defensive errors allowed Leicester to storm back. Their 20-year-old starlet Lawrie Dudfield was the hero, scoring twice and setting up goals for ex-Hammer Andy Impey and Richard Cresswell.

Omer Riza played his first game since returning from his loan spell at Barnet and was watched by their new player-manager, Tony Cottee, who is believed to be considering making an offer for the former Arsenal youth striker.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : FA Premier Reserve League - South

White Hart Lane 0 - 0 5 December 2000

Bywater Charles Williams Forbes U'ddin Angus (Byrne) Norbert (Britton) Ferrante Holligan (Foyewa) Etherington Ballard

Defender Gary Charles was the most experienced player in a young Hammers side that faced a Tottenham team which included Ramon Vega and England goalkeeper Ian Walker at St. Albans. Although Spurs hit the woodwork in the first-half, West Ham created more chances and Jimmy Bullard, Gavin Holligan and Michael Ferrante all went close to scoring themselves. The Hammers replaced Srevland Angus with Shaun Byrne at the break and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international did well. Towards the end, Walker distingushed himself with two great saves to prevent Bullard and then Foyewa, a 75th minute substitute for Holligan, from snatching a dramatic match-winner. Coach Roger Cross was pleased with the result that ended a period of four straight defeats for the Reserves. He said afterwards: "We had an extremely young side out there tonight and Gary Charles was the only one you could call a senior player. "Considering our recent run of disappointing results it was a very good performance. The most important thing was that we kept a clean sheet."

ARSENAL : FA Premier Reserve League - South

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Riddle) 19 December 2000

Forrest Byrne Potts Bassila Tihinen Tobolewski (Angus) Keller Moncur Riddle Suker Cole

Joe Cole, Craig Forrest and Christian Bassila all made their comebacks after injury in this FA Premier Reserve League South game at Upton Park, but could not prevent Hammers slumping to defeat.

The good news was that Joe (ankle), Craig (hernia) and Christian (knee), all came through the 90 minutes unscathed. The bad news was that yet another disappointing performance saw the Reserves drop to the bottom of the table.

Few reputations were enhanced by a Hammers side searching for its first win since beating Nottingham Forest back in September.

Goals from Tomas and Guy Demel gave the Gunners a deserved 2-0 lead before Louis Riddle pulled one back for the Hammers midway through the second-half after Davor Suker had a goal disallowed for offside.

Hannu Tlhlnen, the Finnish international centre-back, on loan from Norwegian club Viking Stavanger, made his Hammers debut and Joe Cole was booked for retaliation. More good -news - John Moncur wasn't booked.

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