Derby Reserves 0-8 West Ham Reserves

Scott Parker and Dean Ashton both played 90 minutes in a big victory at
Derby

Scott Parker and Dean Ashton both got a valuable 90 minutes under their belt
as Kevin Keen’s men enjoyed a striking 8-0 win at Derby County on Monday
night.

Ashton and Junior Stanislas each scored twice, while Hogan Ephraim, Kyel
Reid and captain Jack Collison also got in on the act, along with a Derby
own goal, in a Premier League Reserve match played at Burton Albion FC.
While much of the focus was on Parker and Ashton, Ephraim scored in his
first game back in the claret and blue after a loan at Queen’s Park Rangers,
Collison continued the goalscoring form seen recently with Wales U21s and
Stanislas shone as a late substitute.

It is now four games unbeaten for Kevin Keen’s men and it was not only the
high score and quality of goals that pleased, but also the fantastic
attitude shown. “The players did West Ham United football club proud
tonight, said Keen. “We have come up to the Midlands on a cold Monday
evening against a young Derby side who battled all the way, so it wasn’t
easy to start with. But the players really showed a great attitude and
produced some fantastic football out there.”

Among the senior players on view at the home of Burton Albion were
goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, right-back John Pantsil and Christian Dailly, who
was himself back after a loan spell having had two successful months at
Southampton. Further forward, Nigel Quashie played alongside Parker in
midfield while Ashton led the line and showed that he has lost none of
hunger for goals - whatever the level of the opposition.

It was Derby who actually had the first serious attempt on goal, after their
captain Mitch Hansen tested Walker with a fiercely-taken free-kick on nine
minutes. Reid and Pantsil then combined to set up Ashton, but the striker
was just unable to get his shot on target. The deadlock was finally broken
on 20 minutes when Reid burst down the left, cut inside into the penalty
area and scored with a stunning effort.

A few minutes later, West Ham United increased their lead as Parker, who put
in a first-class display in the middle of the park, got the ball to Ashton
and he rounded home goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe before firing into an empty
net. Ashton then doubled his tally as he headed in a Collison cross. The
young midfielder then added the fourth just before half-time when he got on
the end of an Ephraim cross.

In the second half, the visitors carried on where they had left off, with
the lively Ephraim involved again with another assist. The young striker’s
low cross was met by Derby’s Kallum Keane, who turned it into his own net.
Ephraim finally got the goal his play deserved when he latched on to an
Ashton pass and scored from close range. With an hour played, Keen sent on
Stanislas and he was to have an immediate impact.

The youngster collected a Reid pass before driving in a shot which crashed
off the bar and into the back of the net. With some free-flowing football,
West Ham United were clearly not finished and number eight was not too far
away. Again it involved good build-up with Reid this time getting down the
right before sending in a deep cross that allowed Stanislas to head in his
second. The England youth international could have had a hat-trick at the
death but Hinchcliffe was equal to his late effort.

West Ham United: Walker, Pantsil, Dailly (N’gala 85), Tomkins, Widdowson,
Parker, Collison (Stanislas 60), Quashie, Reid, Ashton, Ephraim (Jeffery 80)
Subs not used: Stech, Miller.

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