A HEALTHY crowd of 647 turned out to watch an excellent West Ham side overwhelm Grays Ath 5-1 at Rookery Hill.
Hammers boss, Sam Allardyce turned out to watch the young charges run rings round Grays in the first fifteen minutes.
Sam had been at Thurrock on Monday as well. Many of the young players know this and so these games are far from training matches for the young Hammers.
Grays took the lead within two minutes but the Hammers were back on level terms when Junior Stanislas converted a free kick that somehow wormed its way in.
Frank Nouble scored after twelve minutes, then Eoin Wearen made it three.
Grays battened down the hatches and it wasn’t until the hour mark that the Championship side made it 4-1. The final goal from Sadlier was scored in the 92nd minute.
West Ham Utd XI: Cowler (Baxter 81), Driver, Shaw (Siafa 60), McNaughton (Stephens 70), Faye (Sanchez 46), Stanislas (Sadlier 70), Montano (Turgott 60), Abdulla (c), Wearen, Hines, Nouble (McCallum 70).
Subs not used: Lletget, Moncur, Hall.
Goals: Stanislas (8, 67), Nouble (12), Wearen (15), Sadlier (90+2).
Grays Athletic: Aksoy, Pope, Bunce, Thomas, Baker, Agumbar, Beaney, Denni, Sigere, Carlos, Flynn.
Subs: Small, Fontaine, Northwood, Oxby, Sweeney, Worrell, Smith, Brayley.
An excellent match, shame about the small turnout.
Grays were not overwhelmed as reported, but West Ham showed their better pace and stamina, as so they should.
Well done Gfc!