A young West Ham XI comprehensively overcame Ryman League side Grays tonight.
Ian Hendon's development squad - which included a number of players hoping to feature in Sam Allardyce's first team plans this coming season - ran out 5-1 winners on the night at East Thurrock United, Grays' temporary home.Although the home side took an unexpected lead just two minutes into the game, the Hammers were back on level terms when Junior Stanislas converted a free kick that somehow managed to evade the home side's defensive wall just six minutes later.
Hendon's side - watched by first team boss Allardyce, who spent much of the evening signing autographs and chatting to supporters - continued to apply the pressure and went ahead on 12 minutes when Frank Nouble scored a confidence-boosting goal when finishing cooly from close range.
Having barely recovered from the shock of going behind, Grays - who featured former Hammers starlet Bertie Brayley on the bench - conceded a third goal inside seven minutes when Eoin Wearen completed another good move; Zavon Hines, whose own future remains in the balance being the architect of both Wearen's and Nouble's efforts.
After four goals in the opening quarter-of-an-hour it was perhaps some surprise that the crowd had to wait until midway through the second period for a fifth. Junior Stanislas, who was recently linked with a loan move to Leeds United notched his second of the evening to make it 4-1, when following up Nouble's saved effort.
West Ham, dominant for large periods of the match wrapped the game up with a fifth goal deep into injury time. Kieran Sadlier, the promising Republic of Ireland youth international directed a neat flick beyond Grays' sub 'keeper Northwood to make the final score 5-1 and complete a job well done.
There was further good news for manager Allardyce as new signing Abdoulaye Faye came through 45 minutes with no reaction. The experienced Senegalese centre half is now likely to start alongside James Tomkins against Cardiff at the Boleyn this Sunday.
Grays Athletic 1 West Ham Utd XI 5: match facts
West Ham Utd XI: Cowler (Baxter 81), Driver, Shaw (Siafa 60), McNaughton (Stephens 70), Faye (Sanchez 46), Stanislas (Sadlier 70), Montano (Turgott 60), Abdulla (c), Wearen, Hines, Nouble (McCallum 70).
Subs not used: Lletget, Moncur, Hall.
Goals: Stanislas (8, 67), Nouble (12), Wearen (15), Sadlier (90+2).
Grays Athletic: Aksoy, Pope, Bunce, Thomas, Baker, Agumbar, Beaney, Denni, Sigere, Carlos, Flynn.
Subs: Small, Fontaine, Northwood, Oxby, Sweeney, Worrell, Smith, Brayley.
Goals: Denni (2).
Attendance: 627.
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