Strong West Ham Test For Wee Hibees

The wee Hibees took on an experienced West Ham United side earlier this week in a friendly match at Rush Green Stadium!

Our U19s side travelled down to London on a three-day visit to train at the Premier League club’s facilities before playing a friendly against our hosts.

The experience immediately followed our Monday night victory over Rangers in Glasgow, with Darren McGregor’s side travelling down and quickly making use of the facilities on offer. 

On Thursday morning our youngsters took on a strong West Ham side that included a couple of U21s, losing 3-1 in a tightly-contested clash. 

Hibernian XI: Mallon, McSporran, Jimenez, Gillie, McNeill, Bruce, MacDonald, Buckley, Downie, McDonald, Davidson.

Substitutes: Brown, Shankland, Gallacher, Burns, Thomson, McDermott. 

The home team opened the scoring inside four minutes through Joshua Ajala, who - with a well-taken volley - swept in a Jethro Medine cross from the right flank.

Less than 10 minutes later, Hibs would be denied a clear sight at goal as Callum MacDonald surged forward. The ball found its way to Adam Buckley, but the midfielder was crowded out and blocked well as he took aim from 25 yards.

Regan Clayton and Ajaya would both fire over from promising chances, before an incisive attack finished off by Daniel Cummings doubled the Irons’ lead on 35 minutes.

On the cusp of half-time, Luke Davidson halved the deficit following a lightning-quick counter. A long West Ham throw was cleared to Reiss Downie, who excellently sent Davidson through on goal. The attacker glided forward, rounded Tom Wooster and slotted home into the empty net ahead of him. 

The hosts flew out the traps in the second 45, creating four half-chances inside the first 10 minutes – with mostly long-range efforts fizzing wide of, or over, Ryan Mallon’s goal.

Despite being pinned back for a moment, Hibs sought an equaliser and came close when Davidson hit the by-line and picked out Josh McDonald with a cutback. The midfielder’s first-time effort was well struck, but narrowly curved round the post.

We gained an even greater opportunity to level after a needless off-ball foul in the box from a Hammers defender allowed McDonald to step up to the spot. Unfortunately, despite McDonald shooting well, Wooster got down low to his left-side to thwart the midfielder’s effort.

West Ham took advantage of the missed chance with a flowing team move, which culminated in Gabriel Caliste lifting the ball over Mallon to restore his side’s two-goal cushion.

We had the ball in the back of the net again on 86 minutes as Lewis McNeill nodded in from a deep free-kick delivery, though the offside flag nullified the centre-back’s finish.