Tomorrow night we welcome West Ham U21's to Rodney Parade. We have only faced the team once in the past, a 5-4 loss in the 2019/2020 season, so we have decided to use this week’s from the archive as a chance to look back on an iconic victory over the senior West Ham Squad.
Prior to the 1978-79 season, we had only faced West Ham twice in our history, both times in league encounters in the 1946/47 season. Our first game ended in a 3-0 win for West Ham at Upton Park, and the second ended 1-1 at Somerton Park.
This was the first cup encounter between the sides, with Newport reaching the third round following a 2-1 second round win away at Worcester City. The original tie had to be rescheduled when heavy snow left the pitch unplayable, with the game then taking place on a brutally cold Tuesday night in the middle of February.
There were two divisions between the sides at the time, with Newport in the fourth division and West Ham in the second. Giant killings have always been our speciality though, and a packed crowd of 14,124 at Somerton Park were in for a treat.
Howard Goddard headed us into the lead in the 14th minute, only for the Hammers to equalise just seven minutes later through Pop Robson. Somerton Park was sent into the rafters in the 81st minute when Mervyn Day fluffed a cross in the West Ham goal, allowing Eddie Woods to tap home the winner and secure a spot in the fourth round.
Sadly, our run would end in the following round, with third-division Colchester being up 1-0 at Layer Road following a 0-0 draw in Newport.
Secure your ticket for tomorrow night's encounter here.