Norwich City U18 1, West Ham United U18 2: For the second consecutive week West Ham scored a 2-1 victory over the Canaries as hot on the heels of City's exit from the FA Cup the young Hammers inflicted a similar defeat on David Williams' side at Colney today.

FA Premier Academy Under 18 League

Norwich City U18 1, West Ham United U18 2

For the second consecutive week West ham has scored a 2-1 victory over the Canaries as hot on the heels of City's exit from the FA Cup the young Hammers inflicted a similar defeat on David Williams' side at Colney today. After a goalless 45 minutes the visitors stamped their authority on the match after the break but that was not until the Canaries had lost influential defender Matthew Hlliday with a knee injury.

West ham quickly took the game to City and defender Adam Gusterson had to be alert to break up two promising moves by the visitors.

Having spent Christmas at home in South Africa Bally Smart was quickly into the thick of the action causing West Hm plenty of problems with his pace and it needed a block to deny him a shot on target.

The best opportunity of the first 45 minutes came midway through the half when Jack Jeffrey found himself through on City keeper Joe Lewis but he did well to spread himself and block the shot. Moments later Lewis was again on hand to deny a frustrated Jeffrey.

The Hammers finished the half on top with City having to defend three consecutive corners.

City might have opened their account shortly after the break when Andrew Fisk fed the ball through to Seb Muddel but when the City striker rounded David Blackmore in the visitors goal he could only fire his effort to the side netting.

Lewis again denied Jeffrey but it still needed a goal line clearance from Halliday to finally clear the danger although the City defender twisted his knee in the process and played no further part in the game.

Before Williams could make the substitution City had a good shout for a penalty but referee Mr Broughton was having none of it as West Ham wasted little time in hitting Norwich on the break and from a left wing cross substitute LEE HALES beat Lewis with a rising shot.

West Ham continued to press forward and Lewis again made a good save to deny HOGAN EPHRIAM. The Hammers front man was not to be denied however when on 78 minutes he beat Lewis with a low shot.

To their credit City continued to try and get back into the game and with virtually the last kick of the match they pulled a goal back when Smart squared the ball to CHRIS MARTIN whose shot rattled the underside of the crossbar but it needed the Assistant Referee to signal that the ball had crossed the line despite furious protests from West Ham.

Norwich City: Lewis, Cave-Brown, Gusterson, Howlett, Halliday (Cooper 60), Fisk, Eames (Thrale 90), Muddel (Miller 80), Martin, Smart, Eagle.

West Ham: Blackmore, Andrews, Widowson (Fitzgerald 75), White, Tomkins, Collison (Hales 30), Jeffrey, Cowley, Hines (Harvey 80), Ephriam, Reid. Subs not used: Kemal, Davidson.