New signing shows promise with a hat-trick

New signing Thierry Nevers is showing a lot of promise as he scored a hat-trick for West Ham United U23s against Southend United in a pre-season friendly.

The young Hammers lost to National League side Ebbsfleet United last week and made a slow start in Essex when they went one-nil down.

Kicking off in front of a noisy returning crowd of almost 2,000 at Roots Hall – a rendition of ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ was followed by ‘We’re All Going on a European Tour’ – but it was a trip to much nearer Essex which attracted a vocal band of Claret and Blue-clad supporters.

The Hammers went one-nil down early on but it was Thierry Nevers, wearing No9 for the first time who found himself ahead of the trailing defenders and heading accurately back across goal for the equaliser.

And after the young duo – who both made first-team debuts last season – combined well defensively, a foray forward with the ball from Baptiste saw the duo combine to put West Ham ahead for the first time five minutes before the interval. The goal was a simple one: a delightful in-swinging corner from Longelo, met by a free – but clean – header back across goal from Baptiste from the edge of the six-yard box.

Having finished the first half strongly, the young Hammers started the second equally brightly. A superb curling cross from Ashby picked out the stooping Nevers at the far post, and despite Seaden getting a hand to his header, the effort crashed over the line, much to the 19-year-old’s obvious delight.

Working the ball out to Chesters, the low cross deflected towards Dju at the far post who – twisting his body – produced a fine top-corner finish from a difficult position, making it four for the Hammers in Essex.

The crowning moment was still to come for Nevers, who took full advantage of an unconvincing save from Ekwah’s powerful drive to shuffle the ball home inside the six-yard box – capping an impressive individual and collective performance all-round.  The game finished at 5-1 to the Hammers.

West Ham United: Hegyi; Ashby, Greenidge, Baptiste, Longelo, Rosa (Trialist 87), Ekwah, Chesters, Dju, Diallo, Nevers (Woods 83)
Subs: Trialist, Forbes, Coddington

Goals: Nevers 28, 49, 83, Baptiste 39, Dju 66

Attendance: 1,943

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter