West Ham United U18s were beaten 3-1 defeat by Chelsea in the U18 Premier League South on Saturday.
The young Irons failed to emulate the senior team who battled their way to a hard earned point over the Blues senior team at the London Stadium.
Mark Noble has been speaking well of the under 18s and even suggested some of the academy players have been allowed to make permanent moves as there are some very good youngsters coming through at that level.
Despite defeat, the young Irons are still 13 points clear at the top of the U18 Premier League South table, having won twelve of their opening fourteen matches.
It’s easy given that, despite the defeat yesterday, to understand Noble’s view that the under 18s youngsters need a clearer pathway to the first team.
Chelsea’s kids took an early lead through Donnell McNeilly before Callum Marshall equalised midway through the first half.
McNeilly scored again after the break, restoring Chelsea’s lead, and Tudor Mendel-Idowu netted Chelsea’s third with just over 20 minutes remaining.
U18s coach Gerard Prenderville suggested that the match was lost in key moments.
“We got back into the match before half time and it was a great goal. Gideon Kodua played a great ball through and it was a superb finish from Callum Marshall. We had belief going into the second half and I felt that we started the second half playing really well. ”
