HAMMERS ARE CLYDE BEST!

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jul 20, 1997

West Ham enjoyed a pleasant 2-0 stroll in the sun against Clyde on their Scottish tour.

Michael Hughes and Paul Kitson were on target against the Second Division Side.

If the Hammers had increased the pace that scoreline would have been much greater.

It took the Premiership side only seven minutes to go ahead when Hughes sent a rising left-foot drive into the roof of the net.

Three minutes into the second half Kitson made it two when he stretched to toe-end in from close range.

Premiership newcomers CRYSTAL PALACE had their need for extra firepower underlined at GILLINGHAM where they scrambled a lucky 2-2 draw.

Ade Akinbiyi dazzled with two well-taken first-half goals for Gills.

He put Palace in the shade after 24 minutes, robbing Dean Gordon and racing away to beat keeper Carlo Nash with a low drive, and grabbed his second 16 minutes later.

Gills keeper Jim Stannard produced exceptional saves to foil Gordon, George Ndah and Dougie Freedman.

But Palace broke through when Simon Rodger scored in the 75th minute, and then Marc Edworthy levelled from 25 yards.

MILLWALL boss Billy Bonds is offering his trialist strike-force another chance after a 7-0 win over non-league SITTINGBOURNE.

Having sold last season's leading scorer Steve Crawford on Friday, Bonds tested Guy Anderson, from Finland, and Anthony Smith, from the Cayman Islands.

Anderson scored two and Smith one, but they were upstaged by Lions youth player Danny Hockton, who came on a sub to score a second-half hat-trick.

Paul Merson suggested he will be a big hit for MIDDLESBROUGH in the Nationwide First Division with a sparkling performance in a 1-1 draw away to HARTLEPOOL.

Merson, Boro's pounds 5 million signing from Arsenal, produced some magical moments, and set up his side's goal with a delicate chip for ex-Spanish international Jose Maria Bakero to score.

MANCHESTER UNITED'S likely lads went looking for some Irish highs but ended up on the wrong end of a convincing 3-0 beating at Coleraine.

The kids were always chasing the game and went down to goals from David McCallan, Paul Gaston and Pat McAllister. Delighted Coleraine boss Kenny Shiels said: "We gave them a lesson."

FULHAM started their pre-season tour of Ireland with a 1-0 win over Galway United. Paul Watson hit the winner.