Benjamin Booker
The Lamex Stadium (Broadhall Way) | Wednesday 22 July 2026
West Ham United dished out an emphatic 5–0 victory over Stevenage at Broadhall Way, delivering the perfect blend of sharp senior-team execution and ruthless Academy finishing. While pre‑season results always come with a pinch of salt, the intensity, structure, and attacking clarity on display will give Nuno Espírito Santo plenty of encouragement heading into the new campaign.
Below is the full breakdown of how the action unfolded, along with the key takeaways from West Ham’s pre‑season win.
1. Senior XI Set the Early Tempo With High-Quality Patterns of Play
Nuno named a strong starting XI, featuring Jarrod Bowen (captain), James Ward-Prowse, Maximilian Kilman, Mohamadou Kanté, and Kyle Walker-Peters.
West Ham immediately imposed themselves with crisp passing and aggressive pressing. The opener on 13 minutes came straight from the training ground:
- Ward-Prowse won possession deep in his own half
- A flowing move involving Keiber Lamadrid, Walker-Peters, Bowen, and Pablo Felipe carved Stevenage open
- Ward-Prowse followed in his own blocked shot to fire home the rebound
A textbook example of Nuno’s vertical, quick-transition football.
2. Taty Castellanos Opens His Pre‑Season Account With a Clinical Finish
The standout moment of the first half arrived on 25 minutes.
Kilman muscled past Olly Sanderson before threading a superb vertical pass into Bowen. The skipper turned sharply and released Taty Castellanos, who slid a precise finish inside the far post to make it 2–0.
A perfect early sign that Castellanos is settling quickly into West Ham’s attacking structure.
3. Young Hammers Show Defensive Steel Under Second-Half Pressure
Nuno made ten changes at the break, leaving only Airidas Golambeckis from the first-half XI.
Stevenage responded with a strong spell:
- Alphonse Areola was tested by headers from Josh Magennis and Luther James-Wildin
- Terry Taylor forced a smart tip-over
- Former Hammer Dan Kemp headed over unmarked
Despite the pressure, Golambeckis and Young Hammer of the Year Ezra Mayers produced a series of brave blocks and interventions to keep the clean sheet intact.
A valuable test passed for the Academy defenders.
4. Lewis Orford Worldie Sparks Late Three-Goal Surge
Once Stevenage made ten changes of their own on the hour, West Ham’s youngsters took full control and delivered a ruthless final 20 minutes.
Lewis Orford (68′)
Cornet struck the post after great work from Josh Ajala, but Ryan Battrum recycled possession and found Orford. The midfielder curled a stunning first-time effort into the top corner — a genuine pre‑season highlight reel moment.
Josh Ajala (77′)
Cornet’s corner caused chaos, Kaelan Casey connected, and Ajala applied the decisive touch to make it 4–0.
Jett Murphy (90′)
New summer signing Jett Murphy capped the night with a composed tap‑in, sealing a dominant 5–0 win for the travelling Claret and Blue support.
The Verdict: A Near-Perfect Pre‑Season Outing for Nuno’s West Ham
This was as complete a pre‑season performance as Nuno could have hoped for:
- Senior players delivered sharp, structured attacking football
- Defensive solidity remained intact across both halves
- Academy prospects showcased elite composure, physicality, and finishing
- New signings made immediate impressions
A 5–0 win, a clean sheet, and standout moments across all age groups — a hugely encouraging night for West Ham United as preparations for the new season continue.
Match Summary
- Final Score: Stevenage 0–5 West Ham United
- Goalscorers: Ward-Prowse (13′), Taty (25′), Orford (68′), Ajala (77′), Murphy (90′)
- Star Player: Jarrod Bowen (Controlled the tempo, forced early saves, and set up Taty’s goal with a class through-ball during his 45-minute shift)
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