West Ham United’s Under-21s suffered a shock home defeat to Reading in Premier League 2 on Friday night. But it wasn’t all bad; Joe Scanlon and Airidas Golambeckis made sure of that.
Greg Lincoln’s side lost in a league match on their own turf for the first time since the opening weekend.
An own goal from the aforementioned Airidas Golambeckis in the 67th minute means that West Ham head into the National League Cup final meeting with Boreham Wood on the back of a largely unexpected Rush Green reverse.
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The good news, though, is that Lincoln should have his captain available to start on Wednesday night.
Golambeckis made only his second start for West Ham United’s reserves since an injury in October. And, own goal aside, he came through his 71 minutes on the pitch unscathed.
Joe Scanlon, still only 17, was another bright spark on his first appearance in Lincoln’s XI.
Airidas Golambeckis back for West Ham United v Boreham Wood
Speaking to the official West Ham website, Lincoln singled out Golambeckis and Scanlon for praise.
“At this stage of the season, and with the run of games we’ve had, it gives opportunities and experience to the [younger] Academy boys,” says Lincoln, who also handed minutes to the prolific Andre Dike and 17-year-old duo Finlay Hooper and Callum Leacock.
“They’re all developing players and that was one of the positives from this evening. The boys will be better for the experience.
“Joe Scanlon was making his first Premier League 2 start and had some really good moments. ‘Hoops’ was back in goal again, Andre and Callum came on, and Airidas, who is still eligible for the Under-18s, returned from injury and came through the game unscathed.
“There are positives to take, as there always are. It wasn’t quite our best tonight, but we’ll take the learning from it and be ready for the final on Tuesday.”
An England youth international with Lithuanian heritage, Golambeckis emulated Declan Rice when he was handed the captain’s armband for the Under-21s before his 18th birthday.
Scanlon has stood out with his lethal left boot with the Under-18s, meanwhile. Averaging a goal contribution every three games at that level, he came within a whisker of assisting Josh Ajala on Friday.
“It was a tough game this evening,” Lincoln adds, his team briefly drawing level when Gabriel Caliste converted from a Lewis Orford corner.
“We weren’t quite at our best. I think we probably needed to compete better for the second balls and the detail in our passing could have been better, which led to the game becoming quite transitional.
“Full credit to Reading. We’ll take the learnings, as we always do, players and staff, and take that into the final on Tuesday. The full focus now is on the final.”
Josh Ajala can fire the Hammers to another trophy
The ‘Manager of the Month’ curse is frequently a topic of discussion in footballing circles. But what about the ‘Player of the Month’ curse?
After signing a new deal last week, Ajala picked up the Premier League 2 gong. He would misplace his shooting boots against Reading, though.
Still, one year after his brace secured the 2025 Premier League Cup for West Ham – ironically enough, with a victory over the Royals – Ajala’s outstanding record in the cup competitions is something Boreham Wood will be extremely aware of.
Also singled out by Lincoln, left-footed right-winger Andre Dike has scored 15 goals this season for the Hammers, earning himself a few appearances for the next age group.
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