On a cold Tuesday night in Cornwall, West Ham United became the third Premier League reserve side to take on Truro City during this season’s National League Cup.
The side nailed to the bottom of England’s fifth tier actually emerged victorious in each of the last two.
Truro City beat Fulham’s Under-21s in September, before cruising past Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 a month later.
Stewart Yetton’s side also defeated Southampton’s youngsters, those three points in the league phase ensuring that Truro now have a quarter-final spot to look forward to in early-2026.
This also means West Ham United are the only Under-21 side to beat the National League outfit this season.
George Earthy scored a glorious solo effort, before setting up Callum Marshall to double the visitors’ lead. Mohamadou Kante secured all three points late on. And, on the occasions when Truro did threaten, West Ham could rely on an ‘outstanding’ Krisztian Hegyi between the sticks.
Then again, Tuesday’s 3-0 away win, soundtracked by an impressive cohort of travelling fans, maybe shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
Unlike Fulham or Brighton, Greg Lincoln’s West Ham team boasted a handful of talents who, quite simply, are far too good for this level of football.
West Ham United are the only Premier League U21 side to beat Truro City
Many West Ham supporters believe George Earthy should be promoted to Nuno Espirito Santo’s senior side. Earthy won the Young Player of the Year award for a Bristol City outfit who reached the Championship play-offs just last season.
Callum Marshall won the same prize at Huddersfield Town, breaking into double figures for the Terriers. Marshall made his Premier League debut against Arsenal recently too.
And, while even the Truro fans applauded a ‘stunning’ Krisztian Hegyi performance, they were clapping a goalkeeper with 32 first-team appearances on his CV.
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Lincoln’s young Hammers were ‘probably the best’ reserve side Truro have faced, not to mention the only team to beat them.
But, considering that the match-deciding trio of Earthy, Marshall and Hegyi all have plenty of experience at a level far higher than England’s fifth tier, that really should have been the case anyway.
“I thought they were a really good side,” Yetton said at full-time. “Probably the best Under-21s team we’ve come up against in this competition.
“You could see that from their lineup. They played four or five that wouldn’t normally play, but have Football League experience.
“We found it difficult at times.”
Stuart Yetton says West Ham’s ‘quality showed’ in Cornwall
England Under-21 international George Earthy has been ‘outstanding’ since making his return from a hamstring injury last month. Despite Lucas Paqueta’s suspension last weekend, though, his wait for a first Premier League appearance since 2023/24 goes on.
According to The Standard, Nuno is wary of risking Earthy’s fitness after he missed the whole of pre-season with an ankle issue. Another goal, another assist, and a further 85 minutes of football down in Cornwall should see the Hammers graduate go one step closer to a senior return, though.
Marshall is also likely to be involved in the squad when West Ham host Liverpool on Sunday.
“[We are] maybe disappointed in the manner of the goals again. We felt we could have done better on both goals,” Yetton adds, Truro having let Earthy waltz through for the opener before losing possession in their own half as Marshall doubled the lead.
“[But] if you’ve got quality on the pitch, that can happen. They were really good. They had some experienced young lads out there who’ve got Football League experience, whereas other teams we’ve faced have largely been Under-21s without that. I think that quality showed tonight.
“All credit to them. I thought they were really good. Their staff were great with us, too.”
Greg Lincoln full of praise for goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi
Like Earthy, Hegyi is making a very impressive return to action of his own, following an injury which ruined a loan spell at Debrecen last season.
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“We battled really hard,” said ex-Arsenal coach Lincoln, who took interim charge of the Under-21s after Nuno Espirito Santo promoted Mark Robson to his senior staff.
“And the boys, I think collectively and individually, we did a great job in terms of keeping that threat at bay, winning those first contacts and winning those second balls. We showed a positive attitude throughout.
“Hegyi made some outstanding saves when the game was at 2-0. And as we know, that scoreline, it can go either way if they get a goal, especially with a crowd of over 2,000 people there.
“I think all of the boys, the ones that started the game, the ones that finished the game, everyone played their part in that.”
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