Chelsea returned to Under-18 Premier League action today, travelling to Rush Green to face London rivals West Ham United, in what proved to be a successful weekend as the Blues made it back-to-back wins with a 3-2 victory.

Despite Chelsea starting the match as the more dominant side, it was our opponents who opened the scoring through a Josh Ajala rebound from close range.

However, we stayed in the fight as Sol Gordon levelled the score with a beautifully executed long chip over the Hammers keeper, leaving him helpless.

We gained the advantage after the break through young Chizaram Ezenwata's neatly slotted finish, but that was soon overturned by Mehmet Halim's effort for West Ham.

Chelsea fought back once more and in the closing stages we were awarded a penalty after a West Ham defender committed a hefty foul on Gordon. Our captain for the morning, Ollie Harrison, calmly stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, securing all three points for us.

We got off to a bright start in this sunny weekend league clash. Within the opening minute we had our first sight of goal. Genesis Antwi charged upfield, weaving through a host of West Ham defenders. He laid the ball off nicely for Gordon, who delivered a teasing cross into the area. Schoolboy Ezenwata came close to finding the back of the net, but the Hammers keeper did well to catch the ball and remove the danger.

We had another chance to break the deadlock when Leo Cardoso dispossessed a West Ham defender and found Harrison. He made a precise pass to Frankie Runham inside the box and, though Runham drilled in a powerful low shot, Finley Hooper reacted swiftly to deny the effort.

However, it was West Ham who opened the scoring through a well-executed team effort. The move began with a swift run down the wing, where Gabriel Caliste sent a looping cross into the box. Ajala was in the perfect position to convert from close range, beating Hudson Sands in goal.

Up for the fight

But we responded quickly, finding an equaliser through an impressive finish from Gordon. The first-year scholar collected a long-ball from our keeper, using his pace to outrun his marker. Controlling the pass with precision, he calmly chipped the ball over the keeper to level the score.

West Ham nearly regained their lead when Ajala shook off his marker and found himself one-on-one with Sands. As he charged toward goal, the Blues keeper did well to put him under pressure, and Ajala's low effort drifted just wide of the far post. It was a close call.

As the first half headed towards its end, Joseph Wheeler-Henry tried to get on the scoresheet. Using his impressive speed, he found space near the far post and fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Hammers keeper.

We continued to push for a second goal before the break, Antwi and Gordon causing all sorts of problems for the West Ham defence. Despite the pressure, we couldn’t find the back of the net, and we went into half-time level.

A bold response

Chelsea had the best possible reaction after the break, coming out with energy and passion, and we were rewarded for it. It began with a shot from Cardoso inside the area, which Hooper managed to save. However, Ezenwata was quick to react, sprinting to the rebound unmarked and calmly slotting it into the bottom corner to put us in front.

Our confidence was growing and another goal nearly followed. Antwi charged upfield, bypassing the defenders and picking out Runham inside the box. But the forward's low effort was just saved by Hooper, denying us the chance to extend our lead.

Wheeler-Henry came close once again with an impressive squared effort, but it skimmed just past the face of goal. Aaron Kamara was quick to react, protecting the Hammers' defence by intercepting the shot before it could do any damage.

Pinned back

Despite being in control for most of the second half, our first-year scholar goalkeeper was called into action when West Ham capitalised on a defensive error caused by miscommunication at the back. Ajala found himself one-on-one with Sands, but our keeper did well to stand tall and deny him.

However, the home side did manage to level the score not long after. Substitute Halim received a precise pass from Preston Fearon and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Perfect penalty

The young Blues were awarded a penalty before the end, though, after a West Ham defender brought down Gordon inside the area with a harsh tackle. Our Under-18s captain Harrison stepped up to the task and his right-footed shot sent the keeper the wrong way, restoring our lead once again.

We continued battling until the end and held on to our advantage, allowing our young side to return to Cobham with all three points and secure our second Under-18 Premier League victory of the season, and the second in a row.

What’s next

Chelsea will next be in action against Newcastle United in the Under-18 Premier League Cup on Saturday morning at Cobham, with an 11am kick-off.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Hudson Sands; Joseph Wheeler-Henry, Tayo Subuloye, Calvin Diakite, Genesis Antwi; Landon Emenalo, Ollie Harrison (c); Frankie Runham (Yahya Idrissi 78), Leo Cardoso, Sol Gordon; Chizaram Ezenwata
Unused subs: Jake Murray, Harry McGlinchey, Reggie Walsh, Marcell Washington
Scorers: Gordon 20, Ezenwata 48, Harrison 83
Booked: Sands 14, Emenalo 76

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Finley Hooper; Jethro Medine, Aaron Kamara (Riely Hargan 84), Airidas Golambeckis, Rayan Oyebade; Chinaza Nwosu (Tomas Jonyla 84), Andre Dike (David Chigwada 53); Josh Ajala (Mehmet Halim 63), Gabriel Caliste, Elisha Sowunmi; Preston Fearon (c)
Unused sub: Lanre Awesu
Scorers: Ajala 10, Halim 71
Booked: Golambeckis 11, Hooper 83