City’s EDS put on dominant display in PL2 win over West Ham | OneFootball

City’s Elite Development Squad earned our first win of 2025/26 with a 3-1 triumph over West Ham at the Joie Stadium on Friday evening.

Ryan McAidoo opened his Premier League 2 account with a clinical finish on 43 minutes to give City the lead against an organised West Ham outfit.

Reigan Heskey doubled our advantage after a dominant performance before Justin Oboavwoduo made it three from close range.

Mohamadou Kante converted a misplaced pass in the final minute of added time to deny City a clean sheet.

But the hard-fought victory means City jump into the top half of the table with our first win of the campaign.

WHAT HAPPENED

In our first home game of 2025/26, Ben Wilkinson and his team looked ready to face another difficult test, this time in West Ham.

After a tense opening 20 minutes, which saw most of the play locked within the centre of the pitch, City began to grow into the game and take control.

And our patience was rewarded with our closest chance of the half.  McAidoo’s deflected, low shot rattled the left post after brilliant, quick feet inside the West Ham box.

Then skipper Jaden Heskey saw his volley denied by Finlay Herrick. His chance was created by McAidoo who headed Stephen Mfuni’s deep cross from the left back across the face of the goal.

City continued to be aggressive, keeping West Ham pinned deep within their half when we had the ball and quick to press and regain possession when we didn’t have it.

And our hard work was rewarded on 43 minutes when McAidoo picked up a misplaced pass at the back.

Despite Ezra Myers on the City winger’s shoulder, trying to distract him, McAidoo used his electric pace as he broke away and unleashed a lethal right-footed shot inside the far post to give Wilkinson’s side a deserved advantage at the break.

Chances for  Oboavwoduo and Reigan Heskey in the early minutes of the second half left the Hammers flustered as they struggled to find rhythm in the game.

And the latter finally added his name to the score sheet with a vicious effort from a tight angle to double City’s lead. He danced around two defenders and then fired his shot into the top right corner on 58 minutes.

Then Oboavwoduo made it three with just over 20 minutes to play. The number nine tapped in from close range and fantastic trickery from McAidoo on the right gave him space to float in a dangerous cross.

Christian McFarlane tracked a West Ham attack all the way back to the goal line as he cleared Gabriel Caliste's shot as we entered the final 10 minutes.

Substitute Emilio Lawrence almost completed the evening with a fourth, but a fantastic double save by Herrick kept City's goal count at three.

A late Kante strike inside the near post denied our young boys in blue of a clean sheet, but the result still provides an important win and three points for City to build on.

TEAMS

CITY XI Wint, Samuel, Noble, Mfuni, McFarlane, Fapetu (Dada-Mascoll 82’), McAidoo (Muir 76’), J. Heskey, Oboavwoduo (Sangare 76’) Mukasa, R. Heskey (Lawrence 76’)

UNUSED SUBS | Brits.

WEST HAM XI | Herrick, Robinson, Mayers, Fearon, Briggs, Golambeckis, Battrum (Caliste 81’), Akpata (Ajala 59’), Antonio (Kante 59’), Rigge (Clayton 59’), Adiele.

UNUSED SUBS | Hooper.

AS A RESULT

It’s City’s first points on the board and moves us into the top half of the table.

UP NEXT

Out attention now turns to the EFL Trophy and our first outing in the competition this season.

We travel to Oldham on Tuesday 26 August, with kick-off at Boundary Park scheduled for 19:00 (UK).

A detailed match report and post-match reaction will be on mancity.com and the Official Man City App shortly after full-time.