With Woking down to ten men after a second yellow shown to Sam Ashford, the second half saw the young Hammers take almost complete control, moving the ball confidently in the Woking half and patiently probing for an opening.
Ryan Battrum’s thunderous strike against the crossbar came closest, while Preston Fearon, Regan Clayton, and debutant Mohammadou Kanté all helped keep the pressure on Woking’s deep-lying defence. Orford twice went close as the minutes ticked away, only to be denied by the home side’s man of the match, goalkeeper Tom Norcott.
That persistence finally paid off in the closing stages. On 90 minutes, Junior Robinson’s low cross was calmly tucked in by Orford to give West Ham the lead they had long threatened. Deep into stoppage time, on his West Ham debut, Kanté stole the ball high up the pitch, galloped into the area and calmly converted to double the advantage and round off an excellent performance from Mark Robson’s young Hammers which puts them in the top two in Group C after matchday one.
Orford opens our account for 2025/26! 💥 pic.twitter.com/VXbv1TzyYM
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 13, 2025
Woking: Norcott, Hinds (Ward 66), Odusina © (Drewe 58), Tu. Akinola, Richards, Turner, Andrews (Ti. Akinola 58), Osude (Hyde 66), Hall, Effiong, Ashford
Subs not used: Ross (GK), Beautyman
Booked: Ashford x2
West Ham United U21s: Herrick, Golambeckis ©, Luizão, Mayers, Robinson, Orford, Fearon (Akpata 69), Clayton (Rigge 86), Battrum, Adiele, Landers (Kanté 58)
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Brown, Briggs, Caliste
Booked: Luizão
Goals: Orford 90, Kanté 90+7
Robson: We looked really good today, really comfortable
There was little to fault in the U21s' return to competitive football. Facing an experienced side, Woking’s second-half dismissal added a different dimension, the need to remain patient in possession and break down a deep, organised defence.
The young Hammers rose to the occasion, creating a host of chances before finally making the breakthrough. Returning development players who had recently been involved with the first team added extra quality. Fin Herrick made a handful of impressive saves to keep a clean sheet in his first game back. Preston Fearon was instrumental in driving the team forward before being withdrawn to manage his workload, while 17-year-old Airidas Golambeckis captained the side for the full 90 minutes. Lewis Orford was his usual composed self, dictating play in midfield with his and netting the opener in the final minute of regular time, and substitute Mohamadou Kanté caught the eye during his cameo, using his physical presence and intelligent pressing to win back possession and drive the team forward before sealing the win deep into stoppage time.