West Ham 1 Albion 1: Silsby stunner cancelled out

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Late West Ham leveller sees Albion take on a point.

Luke Nicoli

2026-09-04T21:00+01:00

Tyler Silsby curled in a terrific effort from the edge of the box. 📸 by Simon Roe.

Our men's under-21s were denied back-to-back wins in this season's Premier League Cup as West Ham United netted a late equaliser.

The Seagulls looked set to chalk up all three points thanks to a superb 20-yard strike from Tyler Silsby in the opening half, but the Hammers netted four minutes from time to earn a share of the spoils.

The visitors, who had beaten Millwall 2-0 in their opening group game, had head coach Shannon Ruth back in the dugout following an extended spell working with Fabian Hurzeler's first team.

He fielded a sprinkling of first-year professionals and they certainly took the most of their opportunities in a dominant first-half display.

Albion's first chance came on nine minutes when striker George Munday worked the right channel before squaring to Younes Ibrahim, who tested Hammers keeper Lanre Owesu with a stinging effort.

Tyler Silsby gave Albion the lead after 18 ,minutes. 📸 by Simon Roe.

Owesu was also called into action three-minutes later when Ibrahim connected with a Liam Crutchett cross, only to see his close-range header palmed away for a corner.

With the Seagulls in the ascendancy, they deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes when Silsby cut in from the left flank before curling an unstoppable 20-yard effort past Owusu. It also capped a superb team move that started in Albion's own half on the opposite side of the pitch.

It took the hosts until the 25th minute to register their first effort at goal, with left winger Majid Balogun blasting over from a tight angle.

Munday also tried his luck from the edge of the box in the latter stages of the half, likewise Bailey Palmer, who always looked a threat down the right flank.

Lewis Beckford has the first effort of the second half for West Ham, with his shot on the turn bringing a good save out of Albion keeper Michael Dike.

Callum Mackley gets the ball forward. 📸 by Simon Roe.

With a number of changes having been made, the visitors took time to find their stride again but they could have made it two on 68 minutes when Crutchett sent in a superb cross that unmarked sub Valentin Joseph failed to connect with at the far post.

At the other end, a slip by Seb Ademola almost let in Hammers sub Preston Fearon but Dike was quick to react to the danger.

West Ham, to their credit, pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages and it arrived four minutes from time when Jephthan Medine sent in a cross which his brother Jethro Medine swept home from close range.

Adam Brett went close with a header in the closing stages while Dike did well to foil the onrushing Ryan Battrum in the game's final moments.

Albion are next in action in the competition on 9 October when Sheffield United are the visitors to the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.