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United go ten points clear at top as they crack West Ham
Paul Scholes scored a fabulous hat-trick, but this was an afternoon when the sublime range of David Beckham's game illuminated Old Trafford. When Beckham deservedly claimed United's sixth goal with a wickedly swerving free-kick from 25 yards, the 61,000 fans inside the Theatre of Dreams began to chant: 'Stand up for the champions'. Extraordinarily, West Ham had scored first when United's defence was unhinged by the unorthodox Frederic Kanoute and Paulo Wanchope in the 11th minute. Wanchope galloped on to Kanoute's headed pass and accelerated away from Mickael Silvestre before shooting with his left foot. Agonisingly, United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich watched the ball enter the net in slow motion in yet another embarrassing escapade for the Australian. As the pocket of West Ham fans celebrated, they could hardly have suspected this was to be the prelude to a torrid afternoon. It was Scholes who brought United level in the 24th minute. The swift-thinking Beckham left West Ham exposed as United engineered a short free-kick for Quinton Fortune to cross from the left flank. When the ball was only partially cleared, Scholes drilled a 25-yard shot through the crowded penalty area into the bottom corner. Within three minutes, West Ham's fate was sealed. Steve Potts tripped Roy Keane and referee Mike Riley unhesitatingly awarded a penalty, despite the posse of players who gathered in protest. Dennis Irwin rode his fortune, scoring from the rebound after goalkeeper Craig Forrest had saved his initial spot-kick. If they were ever to give an award for the cross of the season, Beckham would probably fill all nominations. And the delivery which would perhaps be positioned at the top of the list came during first-half injury-time. On receipt of a return pass from Dwight Yorke, Beckham sprinted down the right flank with Scott Minto in pursuit. Just as the West Ham defender launched his tackle, Beckham swept the ball into the six-yard area for Andy Cole to score with a deft header across Forrest's goal. Beckham climbed from the floor and spread his arms wide in celebration as the crowd chanted his name. The United team ran en masse to congratulate the England midfielder for his dexterity under such acute pressure. By now, West Ham must have suspected the only generosity they could expect from their hosts was a cup of tea at half-time. They were not to be deluded. The second half was just six minutes old when Cole supplied a finely judged pass to Beckham, who was always liable to find his target in this mood. On this occasion it was the darting Scholes, who scored with a flicked shot which he dragged gorgeously across goal by showing the sleight of a conjuror. Ferguson now enjoyed the luxury of withdrawing Keane with more important challenges in mind, but this was no cause for West Ham cheer as Nicky Butt ran from the substitutes' bench to replace the Irishman. After 62 minutes Butt rounded Forrest and seemed certain to score before he was bundled to the ground by John Moncur. United elected Scholes to take the penalty and he made the goal shake with the ferocity of his shot. If that brought a riotous reaction, it was positively muted compared to the response which Beckham drew with his wondrous free-kick in the 66th minute. He curled the ball over the West Ham defensive wall with sufficient spin to deceive Forrest. And his shot entered the net off the underside of the crossbar for a goal memorable even by his own exceptional standards. Cole and Scholes were also withdrawn for the last 20 minutes, enabling substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to complete the goal riot with a sweetly-struck shot in the 73rd minute.
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