It was not a game Chelsea were necessarily expected to win when West Ham arrived at Cobham for the Under-18s Premier League clash. The Hammers entered the game with a unblemished record, eight wins from eight and nine points clear of second place Tottenham. The Blues sat fifth in the table on 13 points.
Ultimately, the visitors were able to extend their record with a 4-2 win but Chelsea set out a challenge the league leaders had to meet. Ed Brand's side started the game with an electric pace and found themselves two goals to the good after just 14 minutes thanks to a composed strike from Donnell McNeilly and penalty from Leo Castledine.
The Blues dominated the early stages, as first team coaches Bruno Saltor and Billy Reid watched on, but were forced deeper as the half progressed and West Ham built pressure as the first period ended with the same scoreline. The Irons came out an efficient and strong side in the second 45 minutes and went about turning the game in their favour.
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Goals from Callum Marshall, Gideo Kadua and Kaelan Casey saw Chelsea's lead transform into a deficit with 25 minutes left on the clock and while the home side eventual managed to find opportunities of their own, it was West Ham in the ascendancy for the half. Kadua sealed the victory with an injury-time strike.
Nevertheless, there were some impressive moments from Chelsea against a team that looks set to take the league by storm. We take a look from who:
Tudor Mendel-Idowu - The Eton College King's Scholar wasted little time in making an impact in the match. The 17-year-old played a helping hand in each of Chelsea's goals, first breaking down the right to supply McNeilly before earning the Blues a penalty with another mazy run as a defender held his arm inside the West Ham box.
Mendel-Idowu played a more floating role and the Hammers really struggled to deal with him in the first period. Not everything came off, but creating two goals showed his impact. Struggled to get into the match in the second half but provided two good deliveries into the box that the Blues would have liked to do better from.
Leo Castledine - For many, it will have been surprising to see a player who has had so much success in front of goal in a more advanced position at Under-19s and Under-21s level, playing a role in defence. However, he has been used in the position before with development team boss Mark Robinson believing the versatility can benefit the former Wimbledon academy star.
Castledine showed plenty of ability on the ball in the opening half, and impressive quality and composure to carry the ball out of defence while still making up the ground to return to his position. Could do little as West Ham pressed home their advantage.
Max Merrick - The 17-year-old goalkeeper signed professional terms earlier this month and despite West Ham's profiencency in front of goal, he produced a good performance. The youngster showed plenty of composure to play the ball out in the build up to Chelsea's first goal, and he produced a string of good stops to keep Chelsea's lead in tact in the opening half.
A double-save to strikes from Marshall and Lewis Orford may have been the most outstanding moment but Merrick's ability to claim the ball from Divin Mubama.
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