The Fleet suffered a narrow defeat against West Ham United’s U21 in the third act of the National League Cup and a late goal from the returning Nathan Odokonyero came a little too late for a comeback.
There were debuts for midfielder George Moncur and goalkeeper Felix Goddard who were both announced ahead of kick-off whilst Dominic Samuel and Odokonyero returned from long-term injuries
There was an early setback for the Fleet when West Ham found the opener with eight minutes on the clock. Am interception from a crossfield ball showed Kamarai Swyer to sleep a pass to Josh Ajala and he slid the ball past Goddard.
Dominic Poleon was forced into an early exit following a heavy challenge by Junior Robinson and that saw an introduction for Franklin Domi.
The first chance for the Fleet came in the 20th minute when Samuel found himself through on goal and snuck the ball past goalkeeper Finlay Herrick but play was pulled back for offside.
New loan signing Moncur looked a threat as he busied himself by whipping in a couple of dangerous balls into the area but no Fleet player could capitalise.
Goddard was then called into action as he denied Sywer’s effort from the edge of the area. And his most important contribution of the evening came when the visitors were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark. Todd Kane brought down Ajala and Lewis Orford stepped up but the Fleet’s debutant goalkeeper went the right way and made a strong save to keep that one out.
Louis John and Odokonyero were introduced for the second-half but it was Alex Aoraha who tried his luck first with an effort blocked.
And West Ham found a second goal on 55 minutes when a spell of good passing play saw Emeka Adiele make his way into the box. He held play up and squared the ball back into the arriving Sywer who drove home for 2-0.
Odokonyero saw a shot palmed away by Herrick and Moncur’s run and low effort also kept the young Hammers keeper busy.
Goddard denied the dangerous attacking pair of Ajala and Swyer once more with some intelligent goalkeeping and it meant Fleet’s late goal kept the result in the balance. It came from a Todd Kane free-kick whipped into the area and the ball fell for Odokonyero to find the net with a outstretched leg from close range.
There were chances to grab an equaliser, especially when Domi’s initial effort was deflected and fell to Maxx Manktelow but he couldn’t keep his effort low enough as the ball bounced for him. John also came close in added time but that one was wide of the mark.
Fleet’s final National League Cup fixture of the group stage comes against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, 21st January.
EUFC: Goddard, Chapman (John 46), Kane, Dallison, Olagunju (Wakely 75), Aoraha, Davies, Moncur (Manktelow 61), Bingham, Samuel (Odokonyero 46), Poleon (Domi 11). Subs: Anthony, Firth
WHUFC: Herrick, Robinson, Luizao, Fearon (Moore 89), Laing (Golambeckis 73), Mayers, Battrum (Tarima 89), Orford, Ajala (Dolaghan 89), Swyer, Adiele. Subs: Akpata, Castile, Terry
Attendance: 508
Photos: ©EUFC: Dave Plumb
Man of the match vote below.
