Columbus Crew 1, West Ham Utd 3 THE Hammers began their tour of North America with a strong 3-1 showing at Columbus, Ohio, where they beat home side Columbus Crew. Boss Alan Curbishley fielded a strong side to start the game, but changed nine of the posit

Columbus Crew 1, West Ham Utd 3

THE Hammers began their tour of North America with a strong 3-1 showing at Columbus, Ohio, where they beat home side Columbus Crew.

Boss Alan Curbishley fielded a strong side to start the game, but changed nine of the positions during the 90 minutes, only skipper and transfer target Lucas Neill and teenage full-back Joe Widdowson playing the full game.

It didn't take the Hammers long to go in front. Dean Ashton (pictured above) smashed in an unstoppage effort on the turn, to leave Crew keeper Grunebaum with no chance in six minutes.

But on 20 minutes, their USA hosts were on level terms when against the run of play, Crew's Jason Garey got above Anton Ferdinand to a cross to leave Robert Green beaten by a thumping header.

The Americans retained parity for just six minutes before the Hammers restored their advantage thanks to an own goal from a Crew defender. Brad Evans was forced to put the ball past his own keeper when under pressure from Mark Noble.

The West Ham third came seven minutes into the second-half, Kyel Reid applying the finish from 10 yards, but the goal was beautifully set up by a Craig Bellamy solo run from half-way before he squared it for Reid to finish. Premier League defences beware!

West Ham: Green (Walker 75), Neill, Ferdinand (N'Gala 84), Davenport, (Spence 70), Widdowson, Faubert (Stokes 75), Noble (Mullins 57), Parker (Collison 70), Reid (Stanislas 57), Bellamy (Miller 87), Ashton (Cole 46).