FA Youth Cup 5th Round Proper
WEST HAM UNITED 2 NORWICH CITY 1

The Young Hammers won through to the Youth Cup's quarter finals at a chilly Upton Park last night.

It was their third home win in a row in this season’s competition. But, having easily accounted for Oadby Town (4-1) and Fulham (6-1) in the last two rounds, they found Norwich City much more difficult to overcome.

There was plenty of Norwich support in the 1000+ crowd and they saw their boys almost concede in the first five minutes.

A wayward crossfield pass left Hammers' Greg Pearson with a clear run on goal through the middle. Aaron Osborne rushed out to block his shot and Mitchell Cole, following up at speed, blasted the ball into the Centenary Stand’s upper tier with the 'keeper on the ground.

Home 'keeper George Sealey, son of Les, had to be on his toes after that as Norwich poured forward.

Ian Henderson, a right-winger with searing pace, consistently got behind the full-back and Sealey had to push away shots from Ryan Jarvis and Danny Crow.

Then Anton Ferdinand’s attempted clearance missed his own goal by a foot. (He has a brother called Rio!)

Somewhat against the run of play, therefore, Hammers took the lead on 20 minutes. Centre back Elliott Ward, looking like a young Billy Bonds, had already slammed two free-kicks into Norwich's defensive wall.

Pearson got tangled up with a defender as he moved away from goal inside the box and the immediate decision was a spot-kick.

This time, with only the 'keeper in front of him, Ward struck the ball low into the corner before Osborne could blink.

Norwich continued to match the home side in most respects but some defensive indiscipline let them down three minutes before the break.

The backline was motionless as a ball over the top left midfielder Phil Lumsden ten yards clear of the last man. He steadied himself before shooting powerfully past the stranded 'keeper.

Ferdinand and Ward gave the Norwich strikers very little scope to impress in the second period and a further Hammers goal looked likely as Marce Collington, and later his replacement Trent McClenahan, worked openings down the right.

Then, on 74 minutes, England Under-17 star Jarvis curled in a right-footer from well outside the box and the visitors were back in the picture at 2-1.

But Hammers held firm, even in seven added minutes, and earned themselves a 6th Round tie at Millwall or Manchester City.

David Barber