Josh Landers doesn’t often let the opposition off the hook twice in one half. So there was a sense of inevitability when the Scotland youth striker raced through during West Ham United’s National League Cup final meeting with Boreham Wood.
Landers had been denied by Meadow Park goalkeeper Ted Curd earlier in the proceedings, albeit Lewis Orford would turn the ball home on the rebound.
When he was set clear for a second time, though, Boreham Wood would not be quite so fortunate. Greg Lincoln’s West Ham United reserves raced into a 2-0 lead, and Josh Landers profited from a horror mix-up to coolly slide a left-footed finish past an onrushing Curd.
Heartbreak for Herrick and West Ham! 😩
What did you make of that National League Cup final loss?
Finlay Herrick of West Ham United during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester City U21 and West Ham U21 at Joie Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Josh Landers scores in West Ham United’s National League Cup loss
Earlier this month, former Hibernian starlet Landers ended a four-month goal drought. Form, as they say, is merely temporary. And there was a real touch of class about the way Landers put away his 18th goal in 32 starts since crossing Hadrian’s Wall in January 2025.
Ian Waterhouse, on commentary duty for West Ham’s official YouTube channel, described Landers’ silky-smooth finish as ‘simply sensational’.
For the first time since he moved this side of the border 15 months ago, the teenager had seen the goals dry up recently.
Landers scored 14 in his first 18 outings for the Under-18s. And, shortly after making the step up to the Under-21s last summer, Landers obliterated Brighton and Hove Albion with a 17-minute September hat-trick.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
He would have to wait until March, though, to build on that South Coast treble.
Have we left anyone out of our West Ham ACADEMY star XI?
Who do YOU think is the cream of the current youth team crop?
West Ham Academy XI
Now, centre-forwards often use the ‘ketchup’ analogy in situations such as this. After banging on the bottle for god knows how long, eventually the sauce – or, in this case, the goals – will start flowing again.
Following up zero goals in eleven games with three in three, a disappointed Landers at least makes the short trip back to Chadwell Heath with something sweet to get his teeth into.
Despite the Scot putting them 2-0 up at half-time, Boreham Wood triumphed on penalties after Finlay Herrick undid his excellent work with a horror spill in the 93rd minute.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox