**Ipswich Town U18s 2-8 West Ham United U18s**
**U18 Premier League South, Playford Road, Saturday 1 November 2025, 11am GMT**
West Ham United U18s made it three consecutive victories in all competitions with a stunning 8-2 win over Ipswich Town, with U16 starlet Isaac Thomas enjoying a dream debut at U18 level by scoring four goals, Andre Dike netting a brace and Jephthah Medine also etching his name on the scoresheet.
Within the first six minutes, West Ham’s early possession paid off as they took the lead through Thomas, who got off the mark in style by heading in Medine’s pinpoint free-kick delivery.
Lauris Coggin’s side continued to dominate as Medine led a swift counter-attack just minutes later, turning away from his marker and setting up Dike, whose low shot whistled just wide after cutting inside onto his left foot.
Then, in the eleventh minute, Dike produced another moment of brilliance when he curled a superb effort into the top corner to make it 2-0, successfully following up his spectacular strike against Aston Villa last time out.
The young Hammers were relentless in the early stages, and another perfectly executed set-piece saw Thomas rise highest again to head home his second goal, extending the lead to 3-0 after just 18 minutes.
The home side eventually found their rhythm and threatened a response. Benjamin Buskell struck on the volley after a cross into the box, but Finley Hooper reacted sharply, saving with his feet.
Just before half-time, Ipswich pulled two goals back, reducing the deficit to just one goal in quick succession. Indiana Pedder capitalised on a loose touch from Hooper to score into an empty net, before turning in Buskell’s cross moments later to make it 3-2 and give the hosts hope of a potential comeback.
After the interval though, West Ham quickly regained control, and just three minutes into the second half Medine restored the two-goal cushion when Lewis Beckford’s cross caused chaos in the box, and the winger bundled the ball over the line to make it 4-2.
Two minutes later, the Hammers continued to use their threatening set-pieces to their advantage, after another dangerous delivery forced Isaac Boakye-King to turn the ball into his own net, extending the lead to 5-2.
Despite making a few substitutions, including the introduction of Jude Longman, who came on for his first U18s appearance, and Connor Brooks, the Hammers’ intensity didn’t drop as they looked to see out the victory.
Beckford’s relentless pressing forced an error from Joshua Bentley in goal, which almost let Brooks in. Then, the Ipswich defenders failed to clear the ball after more good work from Beckford, with the ball this time falling kindly to Dike, who tapped in his second of the game to make it 6-2.
Things went from bad to worse for Ipswich when their captain, Charlie Wood, was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge and was sent-off in the 76th minute.
Despite the significant scoreline, the visitors refused to stop their attacking dominance, and they almost added another when substitute Martin Peychev was denied on the line by the goalkeeper following another dangerous set-piece.
In the 85th minute, Thomas completed his hat-trick, once again losing his marker inside the box and heading home powerfully from close range from a corner.
Then, in stoppage time, the U16 rounded off a dream debut with his fourth goal of the game, turning in Joe Scanlon’s cross after a clever one-two with Longman, sealing an emphatic 8-2 victory.
The young Hammers will face Ipswich Town again later this month, this time in the U18 Premier League Cup, returning to Playford Road on Saturday 22 November.
Before that, Coggin's side are back at Little Heath next Saturday, 8 November, to take on Crystal Palace U18s in the Premier League South, when they will look to stretch their winning run to four games in all competitions.
**Ipswich Town U18s:** Bentley, Barry, Ologho, Brown (Olawole 70), Wilkinson (Enkotosia 45), Boakye-King, Buskell, Wood ©, Ladegbaye, Eze (Adebayo 45), Pedder
Subs not used: Fletcher (GK), Msabah
Goals: Pedder 43, 44
Booked: Boakye-King
Sent-off: Wood
**West Ham United U18s:** Hooper ©, Perkins, Smith, Thomas, Scanlon, Morris-Agyemang (Peychev 56), Unwin, Dike (Longman 61), Obi (Brooks 56), Beckford, Medine (Omotoye 56)
Sub not used: Ayesta (GK)
Goals: Thomas 6, 18, 85, 90+2, Dike 11, 60, Medine 48, Boakye-King (OG) 50
Booked: Unwin, Brooks