Filipe Coelho's team suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat in our second outing of the week, falling to London rivals West Ham in Premier League 2 action at Rush Green on Friday evening.

Although we had the first opportunity at goal through winger Tyrique George - back from his senior team involvement - his stinging shot lifted just wide beyond the crossbar. Instead, it was the Hammers who opened the scoring, as Emeka Adiele netted a low strike and added a second in similar fashion.

However, the Blues showed resilience. Just before the break, McNeilly scored an outstanding goal with a commanding header from a perfectly delivered Vale corner, meaning we went into half-time 2-1 down.

West Ham started the second period brightly, with Sean Moore scoring their third goal by capitalising on the break. We didn’t give up, though. Chelsea fought until the end, with Vale getting on the scoresheet with an impressive strike slotted into the bottom corner, but it wasn't enough.

Unfortunate start

We got our Premier League 2 clash off to a quick start, with the first chance falling to George after a bold charge upfield. He made his way into open space in the area and unleashed a venomous strike at goal, but the effort sailed just over the crossbar, denying us an early advantage.

Our opponents didn’t take long to strike back, though. They did so with a tidy finish. It was the Hammers who opened the scoring through Adiele, who dribbled into our box, beat his marker and slotted the ball past Max Merrick from close range.

But Chelsea reacted well. Ishe Samuels-Smith utilised the wing, sprinting down and delivering a perfect looped cut-back. Ato Ampah, moments behind the ball, couldn’t keep up with the pace to connect, but it was a warning to the Hammers that we were ready to battle.

George was involved again soon after, showing his skill by taking on a Hammers defender and firing a stinging effort towards goal, but the shot hit the side netting, us another close chance passed. Travis Akomeah showed some neat defending when Moore received the ball inside the box and looked set to strike, standing tall and intercepting the shot before any real danger could come.

The Hammers nearly doubled their lead through Lewis Orford, who capitalised on a slip from our keeper upfield. Although Merrick sprinted back toward his goal, Orford was quicker and drilled a low strike which just went wide of the post, giving Chelsea a lucky escape.

The game soon turned into a battle for possession and became slightly cagey. Vale, wearing the captain's armband for the night, did well to grab the ball and drive upfield, using his speed to break behind the Hammers defence. However, when he found McNeilly, the striker couldn’t find a way through the crowded West Ham defence with his effort.

A lovely spell followed, with Kiano Dyer and Vale linking up well. Dyer made his way into the box, maneuvering around defenders before spotting Vale in the centre. Vale drilled in a low strike, but the Hammers keeper reacted quickly and blocked the effort.

It was the visitors who remained clinical in front of goal, extending their lead through Adiele once again. Sprinting into space upfield, he managed to get his shot off despite Brodi Hughes’ attempt to block. The effort skimmed past Hughes' leg and squeezed between our keeper and the near post.

Our moment arrives

We knew we were in for a tough fight, and that’s exactly what we made it on the brink of half-time.

Our breakthrough came via a perfectly executed set-piece. Vale swung in a looped corner that landed perfectly for McNeilly, who powered a header into the back of the net. His effort was too strong for West Ham's Finley Herrick to keep out, giving us the goal we had deserved.

Although a sense of frustration lingered from the handful of dangerous opportunities we created but couldn't convert, we headed into the break 2-1 down, knowing there was still work to do after the interval.

It wasn't the restart we had hoped for, though. West Ham once again capitalised on the break, catching us off guard. The opposition used their speed to secure another goal when Orford made a smart run upfield and played a through-ball to Moore, who finished simply to find the back of the net.

Almost immediately, another threatening chance came when Ollie Scarles weaved into the area and tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his effort lifted over the bar, denying the home side a fourth.

Substitute Richard Olise made a statement, using his fresh energy to push upfield. He squared a short pass to Vale, who tried his luck at goal, but unfortunately his effort sailed over the crossbar too.

Substitute 16-year-old Shumaira Mheuka gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope. Another excellently delivered corner from Vale swung in and the forward did well to leap and connect with a header, but his effort lifted just over the target.

Minutes later, the young Blue had another attempt. The striker was untouchable as he dribbled upfield, moving smoothly around the Hammers defence. As he reached the edge of the area, he drilled a low strike but the ball drifted inches wide.

Late hope

We continued to battle and it was Vale who deservedly added his name to the scoresheet. As we entered the final stages of the fixture, the midfielder left the supporters at Rush Green stunned.

The Blues captain closed in on a loose ball inside the area and slid into it, sending it straight into the bottom corner, leaving Herrick with no chance of saving.

However, despite our last-minute pull-back, it wasn’t enough to catch up with West Ham’s one-goal advantage, despite pushing hard during 10 minutes of added time. This meant we returned to Cobham empty-handed, leaving our opponents victorious in this London derby.

What’s next

Chelsea Under-21s will next be in action against Anderlecht for our second group-stage fixture in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday evening at Kingsmeadow, with a 7pm kick-off. Tickets can be purchased for our next clash here, with adult tickets priced at £7 and senior or juniors priced at £5.

The teams

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Max Merrick; Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson, Travis Akomeah (Richard Olise 60); Ato Ampah (Deivid Washington h-t), Alex Matos, Kiano Dyer, Ishe Samuels-Smith; Harvey Vale (c), Tyrique George (Reiss Denny 79); Donnell McNeilly (Shumaira Mheuka 51)
Unused sub: Josh Acheampong
Booked: Matos 26, George 45+2, Hughes 84, Wilson 90+8
Scorers: McNeilly 45, Vale 87

West Ham (4-3-3): Finley Herrick; Ryan Battrum, Ezra Mayers, Tyron Akpata, Kaelan Casey (c) (Sean Tarima h-t); Luizao, Sean Moore (Josh Ajala 64), Lewis Orford; Kamarai Swyer, Oliver Scarles (Dan Rigge 90), Emeka Adiele
Unused subs: Mason Terry, Brad Dolaghan
Booked: Ajala 90+1
Scorers: Adiele 4, 34, Moore 48