West Ham United U21s staged a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Colchester United in their pre-season friendly at the JobServe Community Stadium on Friday, 24 July 2026. The young Hammers, who finished 18th in the Premier League last season with 39 points (10W-9D-19L), showed determination to avoid defeat after falling behind in the second half.
How did West Ham U21s perform?
The Hammers started cautiously but grew into the game, with Josh Landers opening the scoring in the 39th minute. Despite Colchester taking the lead early in the second half through Sean Raggett and Milton Oni, West Ham’s substitutes made an impact. Jett Murphy equalized in the closing stages after a scrappy goalmouth scramble, continuing his fine form after scoring on his first-team debut.
Key moments and standout players
Landers, who has now scored in all three pre-season games, was a constant threat, while Murphy’s late goal capped a strong week for the young attacker. Goalkeeper Finley Hooper also made crucial saves to keep West Ham in the game, including denying Bradley Ihionvien twice in the first half.
What’s next for West Ham U21s?
The U21s will look to build on this result as they continue their pre-season preparations. With the senior team finishing 18th last season (46 goals scored, 65 conceded), the focus will be on developing young talent ahead of the new campaign. The next friendly is yet to be announced, but the squad will aim to carry this momentum forward.
