Academy Director Tony Carr was more than content with the West Ham Academy Under-18s as they opened the FA Premier Academy League season with a 0-0 tie with Manchester United. "It was a good start. We are really pleased. Maybe on reflection we might have won it, but they might think the same. For a nil-nil draw it was a very entertaining and open game."

The impressive Ahmed Abdallah and Josh Payne had good chances late on to win the game for West Ham who also had Canadian goalkeeper Adam Street in fine  form in the home goal at the West Ham United Academy facility at Little Heath.

It was the fourth consecutive shut-out for the West Ham United under 18s having ended the previous season with three consecutive shut-outs. As Academy Director Carr added; "It was important to get a clean sheet. It keeps you in the game all the time. Manchester United had their moments obviously as you would expect but I thought we defended very well and worked very hard. It was very hot and we just about edged it. Maybe it would not have been and injustice of we had won."

West Ham United are next in action on Saturday August 30th with an away game with Leeds United.

West Ham United team: Street, Brrokes, Fry, N'Gala, Eyolffson, Lee, Payne, Kearns, (Montano 77), Okus (Grasser 67), Ahmed Abdulla, Edgar