Ebbsfleet United vs West Ham United U21

West Ham's Under-21 squad, buoyed by Saturday's 2-1 win at Canvey Island, started brightly in Northfleet. The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute through Josh Landers. The Scottish striker, who joined West Ham from Hibernian in January 2025, raced into the penalty area, held off his marker and dinked a composed finish past the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper — his second goal in as many pre-season games.

The lead was doubled in the 33rd minute. Jephthah Medine, still only 17, connected with a cross from Daniel Cummings and volleyed home first-time at the back post, repeating the trick that brought him a goal against Canvey Island four days earlier.

Ebbsfleet responded before the interval. Maxx Manktelow got the ball down on the edge of the box and drilled a low shot home in the 44th minute, halving the deficit and sending the sides into the break at 2-1.

The second half saw Ebbsfleet push for an equaliser, but West Ham's young defence — featuring new signing Jett Murphy, who played the first 45 minutes after joining from Chelmsford in June — held firm. The Hammers saw out the remaining 45 minutes without conceding to claim a second successive pre-season victory.

Medine's 33rd-minute goal — a clinical volley from Cummings' cross — proved to be the winner. It forced Ebbsfleet into a chasing game before half-time, and while Manktelow's strike gave them a foothold, the Fleet could not find a second equaliser after the restart. The quick double from Landers and Medine in the space of 14 minutes gave West Ham the control they needed to weather Ebbsfleet's second-half pressure.

• Josh Landers (West Ham U21): Opened the scoring with a composed dinked finish in the 19th minute — his second goal in two pre-season games. The 18-year-old Scot, who scored 18 goals in 45 youth-league games since arriving from Hibernian, continues to build a case for a senior debut. Player of the match.
• Jephthah Medine (West Ham U21): Doubled the lead with a crisp first-time volley at the back post. The 17-year-old scored five goals and assisted four in 22 U18 Premier League matches last season and is stepping up to U21 level this summer.
• Maxx Manktelow (Ebbsfleet United): Drilled home a low shot from the edge of the box to halve the deficit on the stroke of half-time, giving the Fleet a platform for the second period.

Three goals in a 25-minute first-half spell told the story of an open, transitional contest before both sides tightened up after the break. West Ham's two goals came from their two most in-form attackers — Landers and Medine have now scored four between them in two pre-season games. No cards were shown across the 90 minutes, reflecting a clean, competitive friendly. The halftime scoreline of 1-2 was also the final score, indicating a second half where Ebbsfleet had the territory but not the cutting edge to find an equaliser.

Mark Robson, West Ham United U21 head coach, was pleased with his side's first-half display and resilience after the break:

"I thought in the first half, we were really good. We played some really good football and scored two good goals. The first one [from Landers] was really well worked and the second was a really good bit of pressing to cause them problems and get in behind them."

"The staff and I are really pleased with the boys. It was a bit more difficult in the second half. They put more pressure on us and we struggled a little bit to get some rhythm. We were resolute and dug in defensively."

Robson also stressed the importance of work ethic for his young squad:

"One of the things we've said to the players is about work ethic. Talent alone isn't enough. We've got talent, but we need to make sure that we're a team. When you're in or out of possession, you've got to work together."

Source: Hammers.News

For West Ham United U21, this is a second successive pre-season win after the 2-1 victory over Canvey Island on 18 July. Robson's side face Colchester United on Friday 24 July — a step up in opposition against a League Two side. Josh Landers, with two goals in two games, is building momentum ahead of the Premier League 2 campaign, and the club's EFL Cup tie against Portsmouth in early August.

Ebbsfleet United, who under manager Josh Wright had beaten Tottenham Hotspur U21 2-1 on 18 July, will take positives from a spirited second-half display. The Fleet's next pre-season fixture is against Cardiff Met at the Morrow Stadium on Friday 24 July.

A competitive pre-season workout that followed a clear pattern: West Ham's academy side executed their attacking transitions crisply in the first half, Ebbsfleet responded well before the break but could not sustain the pressure into a second-half equaliser. Landers and Medine look sharp for this level, and Robson's emphasis on collective work ethic — backed by his quotes — suggests a squad developing the right habits. Ebbsfleet will want to tighten up defensively before the National League South season begins.