by Staff Writer
Wednesday, 17th September 2025
Mark Robson's Hammers produced an exceptional performance to see off League Two side MK Dons at Stadium MK.
The fourth tier senior outfit were no match for Robson's young charges in this EFL Trophy Southern Group D clash, which saw the Hammers score three times before the half time whistle before adding a further two goals after the interval.
And Preston Fearon, who turned heads during the summer with his efforts in the Premier League Summer Series tournament in the US was chief tormentor for the Dons, scoring twice inside the opening 40 minutes.
Fearon opened the scoring with just 12 minutes on the clock having been set up by George Earthy, one of several youngsters on the cusp of Graham Potter's first team squad. And he doubled both his and West Ham's tally on 39 minutes when Mohamadou Kante's centre was converted by the Academy midfielder.
There was still time for the Hammers to add a third against a shellshocked Dons before the break, with Emeka Adiele's cross being turned into his own net by SK skipper Laurence Maguire.
The hosts were given a brief glimmer of hope when Aaron Collins fired home from the penalty spot following an infringement by Ryan Battrum midway through the second period. But those hopes were to prove short-lived as Adiele was involved once again to provide another inviting centre which Callum Marshall converted from close range to extend West Ham's lead to 4-1.
The young striker, who had been on international duty for Northern Ireland in Germany the previous week then added his second of the game and West Ham's fifth deep into stoppage time to give Robson's side a resounding win, the perfect start to their EFL Trophy campaign.
The other game in the group saw Swindon beat Reading 3-2. You may view highlights from the game below.
West Ham United: Fabianski, Golambeckis (c) (Colau 90+5), Mayers, Clayton, Battrum, Kanté, Potts, Earthy (Caliste 68), Fearon (Medine 90), Marshall
Subs not used: Hooper, Oyebade, Akpata, Sowunmi
Booked: Potts
Goals: Fearon (12, 39), Maguire (OG 43), Marshall (71, 90+8)
MK Dons: Trueman, Tripp, Sinclair-Linton (Thompson-Summers 72), Maguire (c) (Domi 62), Mellish, Collar, Lewis-Burgess, Troso (Guzynski 83), Leko, Collins, Medwynter
Subs not used: Finch, Kelly, Singh-Hurditt, Burke
Booked: Lewis-Burgess Mellish
Goals: Collins (pen 67)
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