Preview: West Ham United under-21s (H)

8 October 2019

Premier League 2 Division 2 side West Ham United under-21s visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in the Leasing.com Trophy this evening (kick-off: 7.45pm).

It's the second game of Cheltenham's Group E fixtures having lost narrowly with a young side at Exeter City on matchday one.

Newport County are still to come next month but attentions are on the young Hammers who visit tonight having won 5-4 at Newport in their first game in September.

Robins fans have been allocated the Autovillage Stand, Paddock and blocks 6, 7 and 8 of the Colin Farmer Stand for the game. West Ham supporters will be in the Hazlewoods Stand.

Team news

With Saturday's league game with Newport County postponed, a stronger side is expected to line up against the young Hammers.

The game will offer opportunities for returning pair Will Boyle and Rohan Ince to benefit from game time following their reserve team appearance last week against Oxford United under-23s.

Watch boss Michael Duff previewing the game:

Opposition

The young Hammers are yet to taste defeat in Premier League 2 Division 2 this season, and including their Premier League International Cup win against Valencia, are unbeaten in 12.

They're in excellent form and will travel to the Jonny-Rocks tonight full of confidence after winning 5-4 at Newport County's Rodney Parade in their first game in the group.

Head coach Dmitri Halajko can rely on talents such as midfielder Nathan Holland, who already has a substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup for the first team, Joe Holland - who spent time on loan at Northampton last season - and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Conor Coventry.

Goalkeeper Joseph Anang has been a regular for them this season, while Anthony Scully, who has netted eight times in seven appearances so far, will be a goal threat up front. He is the son of former QPR and Notts County winger Tony Scully.

After tonight's match their next Group E fixture is at Exeter on Wednesday 13 November.

Previous meetings

This will be the first time Cheltenham have taken on West Ham's under-21s side in any competiton. The two clubs have met previously though in cup competitions at a senior level.

The first game on 27 August 2013 came in the League Cup second round at the old Upton Park.

Goals from Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison saw West Ham win 2-1 to progress. Matt Richards scored a penalty for Cheltenham.

The next meeting came again in the League Cup second round though this time at the LCI Rail Stadium on 23 August 2017.

West Ham won that one 2-0 with a team that included Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Andre Ayew.

Watch the highlights from that game:

Tickets

You can buy tickets on the turnstiles this evening. They are priced at £6 for adults and £4 for concessions.

Cheltenham fans have been allocated the Autovillage Stand, Paddock and blocks 6, 7 and 8 of the Colin Farmer Stand.

West Ham supporters have access to the Hazlewoods Stand this evening. There is no reserved seating.

The ticket office is open ahead of the match selling tickets for upcoming home and away fixtures, including the home derby with Forest Green, and the upcoming away trip to Walsall.

Fans can also visit the club shop tonight to buy CTFC merchandise.

Match programme

The match programme for tonight's game is a joint-programme with the other Leasing.com Trophy home fixture with Newport County in November.

Inside you can find out all about the night's opposition and take a look back at how the Robins got on in the first game in the group at Exeter. There's also a review of last season's campaign in the Checkatrade Trophy plus a commercial outlook too.

Coverage

Keep an eye on proceedings by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter for team news, match updates, goals and in-game photos. You can also see updates on the official CTFC Facebook page too.

Watch the game online via iFollow. A match pass is available at a price of £10 for the game.

Post-match visit the club website to see reaction from manager Michael Duff and a member of the playing squad.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 4-3 West Ham United under-21s

8 October 2019

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Cheltenham Town completed a brilliant comeback to defeat West Ham Under 21’s 4-3 at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Tuesday night.

Jonte Smith’s hat-trick as well as a George Lloyd strike cancelled out Dan Kemp’s first half brace and Bernardo Rosa’s long-ranger.

The hosts knew they had to win to keep their hopes of reaching the next round of the Leasing.com Trophy alive and did so thanks to a second half performance to behold.

West Ham’s youngsters had the first real chance of the game early on when Anthony Scully’s chip sailed over the bar when one-on-one with ‘keeper Rhys Lovett.

The Hammers took the lead on ten minutes with Kemp tapping into the open goal after receiving an unselfish square pass from Nathan Holland.

Kemp came close to doubling his tally two minutes later when he got on the end of a Reece Hannam punt, but his chip dropped wide of the far post.

The pressure continued and Holland played an inviting cross into the middle, but Captain Joe Powell could only glance a free header wide.

The Robins almost found an unlikely equaliser when Will Boyle saw a header saved at point-blank range by ‘keeper Joe Anang, before Rohan Ince had the follow up blocked.

Cheltenham did find an equaliser in the 25th minute when a fantastic lofted through ball from Ince, on his home debut, was swept home brilliantly by Smith.

West Ham took the lead for a second time and once again Holland set up Kemp for a tap in at the far post.

The Hammers added a third after a corner kick found Rosa 25 yards out and he hit a sweet strike low into the bottom left corner.

Smith almost added a second when he nodded Chris Hussey’s cross just wide of the left-hand post.

Boyle hit the post with a header in first half stoppage time from a corner delivery by Hussey as the home side tried to make a game of it.

Smith notched his second after converting Long’s dangerous cross with a close range header to get Cheltenham back into the game.

The striker, making his full Robins debut, drew Cheltenham level after lifting Long’s cross into the top corner to complete a perfect hat-trick.

Minutes later, Lloyd scored his first goal at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium to complete a stunning turnaround by smashing home another Long cross high into the roof of the net.

With the clock ticking down, sub Alex Addai intercepted a back-pass but could only roll a shot just wide when one-on-one with the ‘keeper.

CHELTENHAM: Lovett, Long, Bowry, Boyle, Greaves, Hussey (c), Clements, Ince, Lloyd (Evans-Harriot), Smith, Campbell (Addai).

Subs not used: Flinders, Thomas, Brennan, Reilly, Doyle-Hayes.

WEST HAM UTD U21s: Anang, Holland, Lewis, Rosa (Parkes), Kemp, Powell (c), Scully, Longelo (Nebyla), Hannam, Caiger, Adebayo (Watson).

Subs not used: Hegyi, Corbett, Appiah-Forson, Chesters.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Attendance: 1,020 (75 away)

Ticket News

Tickets: West Ham United under-21s visit on Tuesday

7 October 2019

Cheltenham Town's first home Leasing.com Trophy fixture of the season sees West Ham United under-21s visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off: 7.45pm).

It's the second game for the Robins in Group E of the southern section of this year's competition after a young side lost narrowly 1-0 at Exeter City on matchday one.

With the home match against Newport County on Saturday postponed due to international call ups for the Welsh side, it will be Michael Duff side's only home game until later this month when Macclesfield Town visit for a midweek fixture.

Tickets for the game are available to buy online at any time. They are also on sale on the night from the turnstiles.

Prices for the match are £6 for adults and £4 for concessions.

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