West Ham United's Under 23s are out of the PL2 Cup after falling to defeat at Newcastle on Saturday morning.
The reigning holders took the lead at St James' Park via an early Ashley Fletcher penalty after Dan Kemp was felled in the box, but the hosts drew level through Luke Charman on the hour mark.Terry Westley's side restored their lead with 17 minutes remaining as Declan Rice rose highest to nod home a Knoyle cross. However the lead lasted just ten minutes before Sammy Ameobi curled one home from the edge of the area.
That sent the tie into extra time (after Marcus Browne had rattled the woodwork in added-on time), which resulted in just one goal; Ameobi, whose goal sent the tie into extra time fired beyond Nathan Trott to sned the hosts through to the next stage.
* Under 23s captain Declan Rice, who scored the second of his team's two goals at Newcastle on Saturday has been named as the FAI's U17 International Player of the Year. Rice, now 18, beat off the challenge from Canice Carroll (Oxford United) and Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion) to lift the award.
* The Under 18s enjoyed an excellent 1-0 win at Reading - who finished above the Hammers in the Group Stage - in the second of their seven Merit Group A fixtures on Saturday. Having been beaten 4-0 at home by Chelsea in the opening match of the group, it was imperative that Steve Potts' side beat the Royals to get back on track. The league table looks as follows:
1. Liverpool 1-1-0 4
2. Chelsea 1-0-0 3
3. West Ham Utd 1-0-1 3
4. Manchester Utd 0-2-0 2
5. Arsenal 0-1-0 1
6. Manchester City 0-1-0 1
7. Reading 0-1-1 1
8. Blackburn Rovers 0-0-1 0
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