by Staff Writer
Thursday, 18th September 2025
On this day in 1974, West Ham thrashed Tranmere 6-0 in a League Cup 2nd round replay in front of a Boleyn Ground crowd of just 15,854, having drawn the initial tie 0-0 at Prenton Park.
The Third Division (now League One) side had upset the odds by holding the Hammers to a goalless draw seven days earlier, when the Hammers had referee Alf Grey to thank for disallowing Ronnie Moore's 16th minute strike for offside and goalkeeper Mervyn Day for making a string of saves.
The return tie was to prove entirely uncompetitive however as First Division West Ham ran riot, with Billy Bonds opening the scoring from the penalty spot after 23 minutes. Bobby Gould, who was on his way to Portsmouth added a second in the final minute of the first half to send West Ham into the break with a two-goal advantage.
The goals continued to flow after the break with Gould notching his second of the evening (a Wednesday night) 12 minutes after the restart and Johnny Ayris making it 4-0 three minutes later.
Billy Bonds grabbed his second goal just three minutes from the end of time to put the Hammers five ahead before John Lyall's side - Lyall has just replace Ron Greenwood as manager - were awarded a second penalty of the evening in the 90th minute.
Despite being the club's regular penalty taken, Bonds selflessly handed the ball to Gould - despite being on a hat-trick himself - allowing the forward to sign off with his first hat-trick in three years.
Team: https://www.westhamstats.info
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