Oladapo Afolayan was delighted with his “dream” debut against Doncaster Rovers in the fourth round of the FA Cup!

The 23-year-old came off the bench against the League One outfit and scored a tap-in to round off the win after Ryan Fredericks forced a good save from the goalkeeper.

Afolayan has been waiting for his Hammers debut for some time, as he joined the club in 2018 from Solihull Moors.

Since then, he has gone on loan to both Oldham Athletic and Mansfield Town.

On those spells, he only scored once, but he has been toiling for even longer, and he was thrilled to finally make an impact for the Hammers.

Speaking after the game, as quoted by BBC Sport, he said: “I am delighted it is a dream come true. it has been a couple of years of hard work since I joined the cub.

“I thought Ryan (Fredericks) was going to square it but he had a shot and I just followed it in.

“I played 60 mins last night for the U23s. When I came off I got told I was in the squad for today. I just had to go home and prepare. All I can do is come in every day and work hard and pray I get opportunities and take them.

“I have played in the FA Cup before. To score in the fourth round here is a dream.”

Afolayan has been excellent for the Irons’ U23s this season and has scored five goals in 10 games this season, including a run of four goals in four games across the month of November.

Hammers assistant boss Alan Irvine was thrilled to bitsn with today’s performance and result in the fourth round tie against Doncaster Rovers..

Irvine told reporters it was fantastic result to reach the fifth round and  to score four goals and record another clean sheet.

And the opportunity it presented to three of our major academy prospects was a big plus for the club with all getting the chance.

And on top of that he was delighted that Afolayan should grab a goal to make his debut a magical moment.

Irvine insisted Doncaster were no pushovers  in what he described as a tricky game because they have shown they can play extremely well recently.

He was also impressed with Said Benrahma whom he believe played a big part in the victory but would loved to have seen him grab his first goal for the club.

Speaking on the Hammers Cuo ambitions ambitions Irvine said: “We have used the squad today but we haven’t used a whole load of kids from the start of the game.

Wwe have used a squad of Premier League players who have a lot of experience so we certainly weren’t looking at this as the sort of game where we could put out a weakened team.

We know what is coming over the next few weeks and we know the importance of being able to spread the demands amongst the whole squad, and fortunately, the players who came in today did extremely well.

They strengthened their claims for starting places but they have also got to try and dislodge some people who have been playing really well for a number of games.

It is a really healthy place for us to be in. I think we have a good squad of players so long as we can keep them all fit and healthy.

If  we can keep them like that then why can’t we have a go at going as far as we can in this competition.”

Niall hands out his marks

Fabianski: A few regulation saves before being subbed, possibly for the first time? 6
Fredericks: Decent game, pushed on and provided some good crosses 6
Diop: A very uneventful afternoon 6
Balbuena: Similarly, untroubled at the back 6
Johnson: No dramas defensively. Got forward although a little hampered by not being a natural left-footer 6
Noble: A strong 90 minutes will keep his levels up in case he’s called upon in the first team 7
Soucek: Clearly just loves to play games. Nearly got a trademark far-post header in 7
Fornals: A chance to show some of his footballing ability today with less reliance on closing down the opposition 7
Lanzini: Did everything expected of him today, went close with a 20 yard effort 6
Benrahma: Bright start and involved in lots of interplay with Lanzini and Fornals. Getting slightly closer to a first goal 7
Yarmolenko: Very professional. Neat finish for his goal and did his share of tracking back 7

Subs
Afolayan: Some nice lay-offs and followed in well for his first goal for the club 6
Trott: Finally given his debut, nothing to do 5
Baptiste: On very late for Fredericks. Happy to get forward. Nice to see the youngsters getting game-time 5

Oldapo Afolayan now in Moyes’s mind after a goal-scoring start

Not many may  be too impressed but David Moyes could be more encouraged than ever to give the winter window a swerve.

Today’s may not have been the most notable win in Irons FA Cup history but it demonstrated that PERHAPS the manager has some options to his troublesome striker issue.

And with just over a week left to sort it or otherwise in the winter window he may be encouraged to believe that Andriy Yarmolenko can do a job should he need it done.

He has been saying for a couple of weeks that he may need to find an answer from within the squad and perhaps employ the services of his youngsters.

Today will have had him optimistic that in  goal scorer Oldapo Afolayan and with  Mipo Odubeko soon to available hopefully he can get through a season where relegation is not an issue.

Given that we are in circumstances where a foreign loan option is his only other option he may feel that sticking with what he’s got is a direction he can accept.

He has has guided the team into seventh place and the fifth round of the Cup with a small and unbalanced squad.

A tough decision ahead for Moysie but it presents a fascinating scenario for us fans.

Hugh hands out the marks

Fabianski: Virtually had an afternoon off. Lovely smile for youngster Nathan Trott when he took over near the end. An extra point for the alone 6+

Fredericks: Terrific assist for the opening goal and always busy looking to supply aerial power into the box 7

Diop: Looked rusty with a clumsy tackle early on but grew into it despite there being little to threaten us 6

Balbuena: Looked as though he’d never been away – entirely competent 7

Johnson: Steady game on the left and one great shot near the end was well saved 6+

Noble: Did a tidy job in the middle of the park 7

Soucek: Always the guvnor in what looked like a training ground exercise for him. Needed two good saves to stop him adding to his season’s goal tally 7+

Big moment for young keeper Nathan Trott

Fornals: Grabbed the opener from close range and was lively all afternoon 7

Benrahma: Lots of really good creative stuff and linked well with Lanzini 7+

Lanzini: Still not at his top level but this was the best we’ve seen for a while 7

Yarmolenko: Played as the centre forward and proved to be the answer many have suggested. Threatening all afternoon and a nice goal  8

Subs

Afolayan: Burley striker in the mould approved of by the manager. Grabbed a debut goal and looked very promising 6+

Baptiste: Came on late but showed real enthusiasm to get involved. This lad’s a prospect 6

Trott: He’s waited a long time for his big moment and although he had little to do it was great to see him out there. 6

West Ham have strolled into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The gulf in class against League One side Doncaster was almost  embarrassing from the first minute as the Irons ran riot at the London Stadium.

Pablo Fornals scored after just two minutes, pouncing on an excellent cross from full-back Ryan Fredericks to send the ball into the back of the net under pressure from a number of defenders.

Andriy Yarmolenko then, playing in his role as a striker as Michail Antonio was rested, added a second, being sent through by Said Benrahma and chipping the Doncaster goalkeeper, Ellery Balcombe.

The Rovers stopper effectively kept Doncaster in the game in the second half, making good saves from Said Benrahma, Mark Noble, and Tomas Soucek.

He was undone by some really amateur defending, though, as defender Andy Butler scored an own goal from a Noble corner.

And the cherry was placed on top of the cake by Hammers tounster Oladapo Afolayan, as he came off the bench to score a tap-in after Fredericks forced a parried save from Balcombe.

The Hammers will now play either Liverpool or Manchester United in the fifth round, and will be back in action on Tuesday against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Goal keeper Darren Randolph missed today’s FA Cup game against Doncaster Rovers after suffering a late knock.

The keeper was provisionally named in the West Ham starting lineup at the London Stadium, but he failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Fabianski.

Nathan Trott was drafted into bench leaving David Martin out in the cold.

Jarrod Bowen is missing from today’s matchday squad but it is not known whether he has picked up a knock or it was for tactical reasons and rested.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio were rested on the bench to be called on if needed.

On the bench, in comes, youngsters 17-year-old Centre back Jamal Baptise and 23-yarr-old centre forward Oladapo Afolayan.

West Ham United Starting XI: Fabiański, Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Johnson, Noble ©, Souček, Lanzini, Benrahma, Fornals, Yarmolenko

Subs Bench: Trott (GK), Coufal, Cresswell, Dawson, Ogbonna, Baptiste, Rice, Afolayan, Antonio