Nathan Trott was an un-used substitute watching his Development Squad teammates show their fight and spirit once again on Wednesday as they recovered from going two goals down to record a 3-3 draw with PEC Zwolle.
The youngsters, who are currently on pre-season tour in the Netherlands, started slowly in Arnhem but finished the better side and could have even nicked a winner late on.
Inside two minutes, the Hammers went one down when a free-kick was smashed into Sam Howes’ top corner and the hosts piled on the misery a quarter of an hour later as they converted a second.
Sam Ford halved the deficit five minutes before the break with a tidy finish, but with just 60 seconds left of the opening period, another loose ball in the penalty area was put away by the Dutchmen.
But Terry Westley’s young team came out battling in the second half, and almost instantly, Joe Powell made it 3-2 from the penalty spot after Jahmal Hector-Ingram had been bundled over.
The latter then, just eleven minutes later, turned home a cross from the right-hand-side to cap a great move and draw the Hammers deservedly level.
Despite not being able to add a winner, West Ham will now go into Saturday’s clash against partner club VVV Venlo with confidence after a strong second 45 minutes.
Early, however, the side were left rueing their lack of concentration as they fell behind so quickly. There was nothing keeper Howes could do with Zwolle’s 20-yard direct free-kick though, which was superbly angled home by Chris Dagaghian.
The visitors struggled to get a foothold in the game, and Noha Sylvestre’s clever forward pass which just evaded the run of Hector-Ingram was the closest the Claret and Blues came to making it 1-1.
On 17 minutes, Zwolle made it two. Howes was on hand to deny the first effort struck inside the box, but he was again helpless as Milo Witteveen smashed home the rebound.
Niggles for a number of West Ham players made things more difficult for the away team, as Rosaire Longelo and Anthony Scully were both substituted, but there was joy on 40 minutes.
Ford – nipping in to intercept a lacklustre pass across the back four – turned on the speed to race away from the defence and cleverly turn past the keeper with his left foot.
Frustratingly, however, the Hammers fell asleep again at the back, as it was this time from the left where Zwolle capitalised, Bas van Wijnen turning past Howes for 3-1.
But there was a clear determination in the second period from West Ham, and they found a way back into the game five minutes after the break.
Powell – lively throughout – sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards after Hector-Ingram was fouled following a great move, and the visitors bettered that on 61 minutes.
The majority of the Hammers’ team enjoyed a touch of the ball and, as it eventually found Matt Carter, Hector-Ingram was able to get something on the full-back’s cross to make it 3-3.
With ten minutes remaining, Powell had his side’s best opportunity to grab the winner, but his free-kick was curled over the crossbar.
