United’s response was good. Fletcher fed Scanlon in a central area, the Gibraltar international took only a touch before smashing it low and early past West Ham goalkeeper Lanre Awesu.
It was Murdock who had to be alive to the next chance, though, as he tipped Ajala’s effort just over the crossbar only two minutes later.
The second half’s frenetic early start diminished somewhat for a while, with Musa’s long-range shot — saved — and Thwaites’s excellent free-kick effort — off the right post — the only chances of note. But with the game edging towards a draw and extra-time, United took things up a notch. Scanlon saw his effort palmed into the air before Fitzgerald tried to pounce on the loose ball. He did, but his effort was also blocked, up and on to the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, Fitzgerald had another chance, driving forward on the counter-attack, only to be brought down cleanly with an impressive last-ditch challenge to prevent him shooting at Awesu’s goal.
At the other end, Murdock came up big in the final minute of injury time to keep United in the competition, denying Ajala when one-on-one.