The Hammers named a strong starting XI for the match and caused plenty of problems for the Canaries in attacking areas and clinically took their chances to come away with a 5-0 victory.

City named an unchanged side from the team that had beaten Arsenal 4-1 in the under-18 Premier League South Division in their last match, while West Ham United, on a poor run of form in the PL Youth Under-18 Premier League, made a number of changes with only Sonny Perkins, Kamarai Simon-Swyer, Regan Clayton and Kristjan Hegyi retaining their spots in the starting XI from their previous match.

That meant there was a start up front for Ademipo Odubeko, who has featured for the Hammers first team in FA Cup matches against Stockport and Manchester United this season, and captain Jayden Fevrier, who has played the majority of the campaign for the club’s under-23 side this term.

It was the lively Fevrier who was first to fire a warning shot for the visitors when he latched onto a ball from Kai Corbett, but his scuffed effort from the edge of the box and it was comfortably saved by Sam Blair. However, Corbett was at the heart of the action again on 11 minutes as he fed the ball to Odubeko in the box and he worked the ball onto his left foot before powering a shot towards goal, which Blair got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Norwich responded to that early set back well though and began to control possession and look dangerous down the right. Jonathan Rowe and Sean Stewart linked up well in the 14th minute as Stewart played a neat one-two with his teammate before sending a low cross into the box that Hegyi got a hand to and pushed out into the area for a defender to clear.

Then Rowe sent over a lovely cross on 20 minutes that Tony Springett was inches away from connecting with and drawing City level. Springett then had an appeal for a penalty turned down when he appeared to get a push from Jamal Baptiste before West Ham went back on the attack with a shot from Corbett that Blair turned around the post.

It was a warning sign and when Fevrier won the ball back of Stewart on the right and delivered a low cross into the box, Odubeko was in the right place to side foot home to extend the Hammers’ advantage.

Norwich regained control of possession once more though and Springett tested Hegyi with a shot towards the top corner, that the Hungarian keeper had to turn over his crossbar.

However, West Ham United completed what was a clinical first half performance a minute from the break when Swyer’s ball set Fevrier in on goal and he cut the ball back onto his left foot before firing past Blair.

Norwich came back out in the second half in determined fashion tough with Abu Kamara playing a neat one-two with Tom Dickson-Peters on the edge of the box before sending a shot against the base of the post.

Then on 52 minutes Kamara did well to backheel a Springett cross into the path of Rowe but his shot was superbly saved by Hegyi. West Ham proved they were still dangerous on the counter though as Odubeko hit an effort against the post. Jaden Warner then bravely blocked an Odubeko effort that looked destined for the back of the net, following a good lay-off from Corbett.

West Ham United extended their lead shortly after that moment though when Corbett swung a corner towards the back post and Baptiste got the faintest of touches at the back post to divert the ball home.

The Canaries struggled to create openings once that fourth goal went in and West Ham United where able to put the gloss on their performance five minutes from time when Corbett was sent in on goal and he found the bottom corner to make it 5-0.

Norwich City: Blair (C); Jackson (Thorn, 58), Warner, Shipley, Stewart; Springett, Khumbeni (Earley, 60), Brooke, Rowe (Duffy, 76); Kamara, Dickson-Peters.
Subs not used: Hills, Okeowo, Alidor-Hamilton
Bookings: Jackson (17)

West Ham United: Hegyi, Woods, Clayton (Robinson, 85), Potts, Laing, Baptiste, Fevrier (C) (Diallo, 72), Perkins, Odubeko, Swyer (Mubama, 80), Corbett.

Subs not used: Frobes, Knightbridge, Earthy, Adu.
Goals: Odubeko (11, 31), Fevrier (44), Baptiste (72), Corbett (85)
Bookings: Clayton (15), Woods (50)

Under-18s exit FA Youth Cup following defeat to West Ham United at Carrow Road

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