It was not the ideal start for the young Blues, as Andre Dike opened the scoring just four minutes in to give the visitors an early lead. However, we responded strongly and showed real determination, with Mathis Eboue heading home the equaliser just nine minutes later to net his seventh goal of the 2025/26 campaign.

The game then settled into a more even contest and, despite sustained pressure, neither side could find a breakthrough before the interval, leaving the scores level at 1-1.

Chelsea began the second half with real intensity and were rewarded when Eboue was brought down inside the area, allowing Jashayde Greenwood to convert from the penalty spot and put us ahead for the first time.

Momentum remained with the Blues, as Sol Gordon added a third with a composed finish, before schoolboy Andrew Pennie made an impact from the bench, tapping in a fourth with just minutes remaining.

West Ham pulled one back in stoppage time through Martin Peychev, but it was too late to alter the outcome, as Chelsea secured a deserved 4-2 victory and moved to the top of the table.

Frantic opening

It was the visitors who made the brighter start, breaking the deadlock early on following a quick counter-attack. Hammers striker David Chigwada found Dike out wide and the winger drove forward before unleashing a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that nestled into the bottom corner, beyond Toby Bell’s reach, giving Chelsea work to do.

However, we responded well and showed real determination to get back into the game. The move began with a loose defensive pass that Kobe Barbour intercepted, before quickly shifting play out wide to schoolboy Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. He delivered an excellent cross into the area, where Eboue timed his run perfectly to power a flying header past Olanrewaju Awesu and bring us level. It was an entertaining opening to this London derby.

We thought we had completed the turnaround shortly after. Defender Calvin Diakite lofted a pass over the top to Gordon, who controlled it well before drilling a low finish into the bottom corner. However, the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, denying Gordon and keeping the scores level.

We carved out another chance as we approached the half-hour mark. Defender and former West Ham player Riley Ebho delivered a clever cut-back, which striker Greenwood met well, rising to head goalwards, but his effort drifted just wide of the post.

Chelsea continued to move the ball with purpose as we pressed for the lead. Gordon was involved once again, picking out Eboue on the edge of the box, who threaded a precise pass through to Nicoll-Jazuli. He shifted the ball quickly and unleashed a powerful strike that looked destined for the net, but a crucial deflection from a Hammers defender diverted it away from danger.

Both sides continued to apply pressure as the break approached, with play flowing from end to end. However, neither could find the finishing touch. It remained all square at 1-1 heading into the interval, thanks to Eboue’s leveller.

Perfect restart

Chelsea returned to the pitch with real intent, as Greenwood drove forward and delivered a quick cross into the box, where Barbour timed his run perfectly to meet it. However, his effort rose just over the crossbar, giving the Hammers an early let off.

Things soon got better for the Blues as we were awarded a penalty after Eboue was brought down inside the area by Kyle Healy-Matthew as he shielded the ball. Greenwood stepped up and confidently sent Awesu the wrong way, placing his effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Chelsea.

Eboue continued to be at the heart of our attacking play, almost adding a second of his own. He drove into a one-v-one situation, but his low effort from inside the box was well saved by Awesu, who diverted it wide of the post.

Fine third

Our third goal arrived shortly after, with the pressure mounting, and it was Gordon who was next to get on the score sheet. Substitute Ibrahim Rabbaj produced a brilliant assist, looping a long ball to the far side where Gordon stayed calm and composed to tap in from close range, extending our advantage to three.

It felt like it was all Chelsea at that point. We thought we had added a fourth when Eboue fired in a powerful strike from outside the area. Although the Hammers goalkeeper did well to block the initial effort, Ebho was on hand to smash home the rebound. However, the offside flag was raised, ruling out what would have been another goal for the Blues.

Awesu was called into action once again, reacting quickly to a sharp close-range effort from Rabbaj and getting down well to make the save. It was a fine stop to deny the winger.

Entertaining finish

We continued to work hard in the closing stages of the game. Eboue came close, striking from just inside the area, only to see his effort crash against the woodwork.

Our fourth goal eventually arrived in style. Schoolboy striker Pennie made the impact, with Eboue delivering a precise pass across goal for him to calmly tap in from close range and secure Chelsea’s fourth of the afternoon. It marked his second Under-18 Premier League goal of the season.

West Ham pulled one back in the first minute of stoppage time through a swift counter-attack, with substitute Peychev finding the bottom corner, but by then the game was beyond them. It game finished 4-2 at Cobham, securing an important win for the Blues and sending us to the top of the Under-18 Premier League South table.

What it means

Following this result, Chelsea now move top of the Under-18 Premier League South table, with this marking our 16th league victory since the start of the season. We sit on 52 points, two ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

What's next

Chelsea will continue our Under-18 Premier League campaign with a midweek away trip to Southampton at Staplewood Training Ground, kicking off at 11am. Supporters can watch the game live on the Chelsea Official App and website free of charge.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Toby Bell; Riley Ebho, Dante Waite (c), Olutayo Subuloye, Calvin Diakite; Isaac Badu (Lewi Richards 82), Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Mathis Eboue; Kobe Barbour (Ibrahim Rabbaj 56), Jashayde Greenwood (Andrew Pennie 56), Sol Gordon (Heze Grimwade 86)
Unused sub: Freddy Bernal
Scorers: Eboue 13, Greenwood pen 53, Gordon 63, Pennie 87

West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Olanrewaju Awesu, Kyle Healy-Matthew (Harry Montague 68), Tomas Jonyla, Emmanuel Fejokwu, Callum Leacock (c), Jonathan Unwin, Andre Dike, Connor Brooks (Isaac Thomas 68), David Chigwada (Joel Kerr 68), Lewis Beckford, Majid Balogun (Martin Peychev 77)
Unused sub: Tommy Goodger
Scorers: Dike 4, Peychev 90+1