Premier League 2

West Ham United 3 (Ekwah 56’, Coventry 79’, Okoflex 85’)

Leeds United 0

West Ham: Hegyi (GK), Ashby, Longelo, Ekwah, Baptiste, Alese (c), Chesters (Rosa 86’), Coventry, Perkins (Odubeko 76’), Forson (Diallo 86’), Okoflex. Subs not used: Laing (GK), Knightbridge. 

Leeds: Klaesson (GK), Sutcliffe, McCarron, Jenkins (c), Moore, Mullen, McKinstry, Gray (Allen 71’) Dean, McGurk, Miller (Carole 77’). Subs not used: Van Den Heuvel (GK), Littlewood, Coleman. 

Venue: Rush Green Stadium

Referee: Matthew Russell

Booked: Ashby, Perkins (West Ham) Mullen, McGurk (Leeds)

Leeds United’s Under-23s lost away at top of the table West Ham United Under-23s, after three second half goals saw the hosts continue their 100 per cent winning record on home turf. 

Following eight wins on the bounce for the Hammers, despite a spirited performance from Mark Jackson’s young side, that record stretched further to nine wins in a row.  

There was a relatively slow start to the game as both teams looked to try and keep possession of the ball, working one another out in this Premier League 2 encounter. 

When the game did get going, Kristoffer Klaesson was the first to make an impressive stop as the Hammers pushed forward. Ajibola Alese found space inside the area but saw his close range effort saved by the ‘keeper. 

The home side went close again just a few minutes later when Keenan Forson shot wide when well placed, whilst Klaesson then saved again from Dan Chesters following a one-touch move. 

A booking apiece saw Harrison Ashby for West Ham and Jeremiah Mullen for Leeds pick up cautions, in a game that was starting to see some action at both ends. 

For Leeds, Max Dean was looking lively. A clever corner routine from Stuart McKinstry found the striker in space but his first time effort went over the bar. Sean McGurk then tried his luck as Jackson’s side were putting the pressure on the league leaders, but his strike also went narrowly over. 

Just before the half-time whistle, the best chance of the half for the Whites arrived. One-touch interplay down the wing between Amari Miller and McGurk saw McKinstry pick the ball in space. His low strike was well saved and then cleared by Hammers goalie, Krisztian Hegyi.

HALF TIME: West Ham United 0-0 Leeds United

Neither team made any changes at the start of the second half as they looked to go in search of a breakthrough in the game. 

A warning sign was there for the Whites early on as Hammers skipper Alese had an early sighter, shooting just wide from the edge of the box.

From an almost identical position just a couple of minutes later, West Ham did take the lead. Pierre Ekwah struck low and hard, finding the bottom of the net and putting his side one goal ahead. 

Looking to respond after going behind, Dean struck over the bar after creating a bit of space, whilst Liam McCarron saw his shot deflected narrowly wide after a good run up the pitch from his full-back position. 

McCarron’s opposite number went even closer as the home side looked for a second goal. Bursting forward from full-back, Emmanuel Longelo raced down the left wing and smashed the ball against the post. 

With the Whites pushing men forward, a counter attack from the home side was always a possibility. With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Conor Coventry found space when forward and struck a powerful effort into the top corner to double the advantage. 

The points were then secured with five minutes to go, as Hammers top scorer Armstrong Okoflex pounced inside the area to finish, scoring his 12th goal of the season and the third for his side on the night.  

FULL TIME: West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United