U18s march on

Goals from Tom Harvey and Fred Sears kept West Ham United's Academy Group A title chances alive as they continued their good run of form against Crystal Palace at Beckenham.

The young Hammers - who lost the corresponding fixture 4-1 last November - spent much of the game under the cosh against a battling Palace side, fresh from a 2-1 win over title favourites Arsenal last weekend. But two late goals won the game for the Hammers, who remain unbeaten in 2008.

Tom Harvey broke the deadlock with just 15 minutes to play, before substitute Sears put the game beyond the home side four minutes from time after cooly rounding the Palace 'keeper.

The home side's stalemate was the first time they had failed to score in 19 games.

West Ham United: Street, O'Neill, Spence, Brookes, Fitzgerald (Miller 80), Edgar, Harvey, Payne, Lee, Stanislas (Kearns 80), Hunt (Sears 78).

Goals: Harvey (75), Sears (86).

Crystal Palace: Jacobs, Abnett (Sweeney 65), Dalhouse, Adelakun, Swaibu, Nnmani, Robinson, Smith, Kudjodji, Jupp (Comley 70), Cadogan.

Subs not used: Edwards, Randall, Thorp.