**Sutton United 0-2 West Ham United U21s**
**National League Cup Group D, Gander Green Lane, Tuesday 17 December 2024, 7.30pm GMT**
**West Ham United U21s** signed off their calendar year in style with a well-earned 2-0 victory over Sutton United at Gander Green Lane.
Goals in either half from Josh Ajala and Junior Robinson ensured the young Hammers not only secured their first win against senior opposition this season, but did so with an impressive clean sheet.
Before kick-off at Gander Green Lane, Sutton United hosted a one-minute silence to honour the memory of Oscar Fairs, West Ham United’s U14 Academy goalkeeper who sadly passed away last week following his battle with cancer. Players from both teams also wore special tops in tribute to the young goalkeeper.
With Ollie Scarles and Kaelan Casey involved in Premier League action for the first team, opportunities arose for scholars Airidas Golambeckis and Preston Fearon, who seamlessly stepped into the development side.
The young Hammers were on the front foot from the opening whistle, controlling possession and showing great maturity, both out of possession with their defensive play, as well as their attacking movement when on the ball.
The early exchanges set the tone, with West Ham looking bright and dangerous. A free kick from Lewis Orford inside the opening minutes hinted at their intent, though his low strike was collected comfortably by Sutton goalkeeper Sam Roberts. Moments later, Kamarai Swyer was brought down after beating his marker, setting up another dangerous set-piece which Orford narrowly missed.
Sutton had their first sight of goal on 15 minutes, when Josh Coley’s shot deflected off Luizão and was gathered calmly by goalkeeper Fin Herrick under pressure. It was a rare moment of concern for the visitors in an opening half that they largely dictated.
The breakthrough arrived on 28 minutes, and it came from a superbly worked move. Swyer combined with Robinson down the right, with the wing-back delivering an early cross into the box. Ryan Battrum controlled well and shot back across goal, his effort blocked on the line by Coley. However, Ajala was quickest to react, rifling the rebound into the net despite a desperate attempt to clear.
West Ham carried their one-goal advantage into the break, having limited Sutton to half-chances while creating a handful of dangerous moments themselves.
The home side emerged with more purpose in the second half, and West Ham had to stay sharp. Herrick was called into action to claim a series of dangerous crosses.
As Sutton pushed for an equaliser, the young Hammers held firm. Sean Tarima made a vital interception on 76 minutes to deny Nana Boateng after a slick Sutton move, keeping his side ahead at a crucial stage in the game.
The decisive second goal arrived with eight minutes remaining. Starting from the back, goalkeeper Herrick picked out Preston Fearon in midfield. Fearon turned and fed Swyer, who got away from his marker and drove forward before finding Ezra Mayers on the left. Mayers’ low cross found Ajala, whose first-time effort came off the inside of the post. The rebound fell kindly for Robinson, who was on hand to poke home and seal the points for West Ham.
Sutton continued to battle, but the Hammers managed the game well in the closing stages. Substitutes Brad Dolaghan and Sean Moore were introduced late on to help see out the victory, and the visitors did so comfortably earning a crucial three points to stay in contention for the National League Cup knockout stages.
**Sutton United**: Roberts, Okoli ©, Ransom (Eccleston 61), Odelusi (Moore 41), Coley (Tume 31), De Silva, Vaz, Boateng, Sivi, Jackson, Williams (Wadham 61)
Subs not used: Sims, Muller, Topalloj
**West Ham United U21s**: Herrick, Tarima, Golambeckis, Luizão, Robinson, Orford © (Akpata 61), Fearon (Moore 86), Mayers, Battrum, Swyer, Ajala (Dolaghan 87)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Rigge, Fawunmi, Caliste
Goals: Ajala 28, Robinson 82
National League Cup Group D
---------------------------
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
Braintree Town
3
3
0
0
4
9
2
Dagenham & Redbridge
3
1
1
1
\-1
4
3
Tottenham Hotspur
3
0
2
1
\-3
4
4
Sutton United
2
1
0
1
1
3
5
Nottingham Forest
2
1
0
1
1
3
**6**
**West Ham United**
**2**
**1**
**0**
**1**
**0**
**3**
7
Ebbsfleet United
2
0
2
0
0
3
8
West Bromwich Albion
3
0
1
2
\-2
1