Academy Michael Forbes: FA Youth Cup tie just didn’t go our way West Ham United U18s defender Michael Forbes feels that, on another day, Friday evening’s FA Youth Cup defeat to Arsenal U18s could have turned out differently. Having reached the fifth round of the competition for the first time in nine seasons, Forbes and his teammates were bidding to become the first Hammers’ youth team to reach the competition’s quarter-finals since the 2004/05 season. Yet despite being more than a competitive force in the tie – particularly creating some presentable openings in the latter parts of both halves – Forbes’ team were unable to convert those into goals.