Charlie Pegrum opened the scoring in the sixty-fourth minute with a superb finish before substitute Ryan Loft doubled Hornchurch’s advantage four minutes from time, heading home from an Alfie Massey free-kick to ensure the hosts finished their group-stage campaign with all three points.

Despite the victory, the result was not enough to secure Hornchurch a place in the next round of the competition, with McMahon’s side finishing third in the group and ultimately missing out on progression. Nevertheless, it was a strong performance from the Urchins, who continued their positive run of form with an encouraging display against the young Hammers.

Daryl McMahon made several rotated changes to the starting eleven ahead of the game, after Friday’s 3-1 league defeat at AFC Fylde. 

The game got underway and in the opening stages, spectators saw both teams looking to make an impression, with West Ham creating the first notable opportunity in the eighteenth minute as Lewis Beckford produced an effort which narrowly passed the post.

Hornchurch responded two minutes later with a dangerous corner which was initially delivered into the penalty area before being cleared into the path of Myles Weston. The winger attempted to make the most of the opportunity, but his strike was blocked by the West Ham defence.

The visitors continued to pose a threat, and Beckford was involved again in the twenty-fourth minute as he delivered a dangerous cross into the Hornchurch penalty area. However, Theo Adelusi was well positioned to deal with the danger before Junior Robinson’s resulting corner was headed clear by Nathan Ferguson.

Hornchurch thought they had found the breakthrough in the thirty-second minute, when Josh Walker produced a good turn before seeing his effort palmed away into the path of Henry Hearn. The forward finished well from the rebound, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, ruling out the goal and keeping the scores level.

The Urchins continued to create opportunities as the first half progressed, with Charlie Pegrum almost finding a way through in the thirty-ninth minute. A fantastic through ball from Ferguson found Pegrum in a promising position, but West Ham goalkeeper Finley Hooper produced an excellent save to deny the forward.

Hornchurch threatened again three minutes before the interval when Pegrum squared the ball into Ferguson’s path. The midfielder struck well towards goal, but Hooper was once again equal to the effort, producing another important save to preserve the visitors’ clean sheet.

Despite Hornchurch creating several promising opportunities, neither side was able to find the breakthrough during an entertaining first half, with both teams heading into the interval level.

Half-Time - Hornchurch 0-0 West Ham United U21s

McMahon made a triple substitution at half-time as he looked to freshen things up and give his side a different attacking dimension for the second period.

Angelo Balanta, new signing Harry Taylor and Myles Weston were withdrawn, with Miles Bracking, Seb Ferdinand and Frankie Moralee introduced as the Urchins looked to build on their first-half performance.

The second half kicked off and Hornchurch continued to search for the opening goal following the restart, although West Ham threatened to take the lead in the fifty-seventh minute, when Andre Dike produced a good strike towards goal. However, Rhys Byrne was alert to the danger, getting down well to make an excellent low save and keep the scores level.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the sixty-fourth minute as Hornchurch took the lead through Charlie Pegrum. The ball broke kindly into the forward’s path inside the attacking area, and Pegrum made no mistake, curling a superb effort into the back of the net to give the Urchins a deserved advantage, 1-0 Hornchurch. 

Two minutes later, McMahon made his final changes of the evening as Josh Walker and Henry Hearn made way for Dom Poleon and Ryan Loft, with Hornchurch looking to maintain their attacking threat and see out the remainder of the contest.

Pegrum continued to cause problems for the West Ham defence and almost doubled his tally in the seventy-eighth minute. The forward produced a fantastic strike towards goal, but Hooper was once again on hand to palm the effort away and prevent Hornchurch from extending their advantage.

West Ham thought they had found an equaliser in the eighty-first minute when they managed to put the ball into the back of the net. However, their celebrations were short-lived as the goal was ruled out for offside, allowing Hornchurch to maintain their narrow lead.

The Urchins continued to defend their advantage before delivering a decisive second goal in the eighty-sixth minute. A free-kick from Alfie Massey was curled beautifully into the penalty area towards the far post, where substitute Ryan Loft had found space. The forward rose powerfully to meet the delivery and directed a commanding header beyond Hooper to double Hornchurch’s advantage and put the result beyond doubt, 2-0 Hornchurch. 

The goal capped off an excellent evening for the Urchins, with Loft making an immediate impact after his introduction from the bench and ensuring Hornchurch had a two-goal cushion heading into the closing stages.

Two minutes of additional time were indicated, but Hornchurch comfortably maintained their advantage as the final whistle confirmed an impressive 2-0 victory over West Ham United Under-21s.

The result provides a positive conclusion to Hornchurch’s National League Cup group-stage campaign, with Pegrum and Loft both getting on the scoresheet in a deserved victory. However, despite finishing their campaign with three points, the Urchins finish third in the group and are unable to secure qualification for the knockout’s stage of the competition.

McMahon and his side can nevertheless take plenty of encouragement from their recent performances, with the first team having produced a strong effort over recent weeks.

The Attention now turns towards a huge occasion at Bridge Avenue, as Hornchurch prepare to welcome League One opposition Blackpool in the Emirates FA Cup first round.

Full-Time - Hornchurch 2-0 West Ham United U21s

National League Cup

Bridge Avenue