West Ham United 3-2 Leyton Orient
FA Youth Cup Fifth Round Proper
16th February 2005
Upton Park

Tony Carr’s young Hammers side can now look forward to a home quarter-final tie against Southampton at Upton Park after edging East London neighbours Leyton Orient in a five-goal thriller last night.

Many of the 3,000-plus crowd were still shuffling through the turnstiles as Orient’s underdogs took a shock lead within two minutes of the start. Jason Demetriou’s free-kick from 30 yards wasn’t really hit with venom but the ball eluded a clutch of players inside the box and Hammers ‘keeper Matt Reed, scampering across his line, didn’t come close to keeping it out.

The O’s were in dreamland but the feeling didn’t last for long. Hammers were level by the 10th minute, Moses Ashikodi firing a left-footer across Clark Johnson and into the far corner, and went on to dominate the first half.

On 17 minutes a rampant Hammers were 2-1 up after a wonderful piece of skill from England Under-17 international Hogan Ephraim. Receiving a pass on the far left of the box, he flicked the ball up and took it round two bemused defenders before slamming an unstoppable shot past Johnson.

Midfielder Tony Stokes increased Hammers’ advantage four minutes before the break. He headed Chris Cohen’s inswinging corner against the angle of post and bar from close range and then reacted quickest to the bouncing ball to force it in. Poor Orient were being outclassed.

Either West Ham thought they had already won the tie at 3-1 or Dean Smith had given his O’s charges a particularly motivating half-time team talk but the home side were immediately on the back foot in the second period. Efe Echanomi, who has netted for the first team this season, was finally making his presence felt and one surging run on 56 minutes led to a penalty.

Hammers felt the O’s hitman had gone down too easily and there were bitter complaints before Demetriou struck a confident spot-kick past Reed’s plunging left hand. The visitors poured forward for an equaliser but Hammers remained solid, James Tomkins in particular keeping a tight rein on Echanomi. In their haste some of Orient’s passing became wayward and Hammers started to look dangerous on the break.

Ephraim came closest, speeding clear of the defence in the inside-right channel and blasting a shot into the side-netting. Hammers are now just two wins away from emulating the 1996 and 1999 teams who managed to reach The FA Youth Cup Final.

One To Watch

James Tomkins, a centre-back who has played three times for England’s Under-17s this season, was an important player for Hammers last night. He held the defence together when Orient put them under intense pressure in the second half, kicking or heading the ball to safety countless times in a committed display. Tall and solid, he always stood his ground.

Other Tie

Aston Villa, last season’s losing finalists, lost 3-1 to Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Liam Craig, Cathal Lordan and Billy Clarke scored the goals that took the Tractor Boys through to a quarter-final at Colchester United.