Djair Parfitt-Williams and his West Ham United teammates defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a late Jaanai Gordon goal in a behind closed doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground.
Alex Song played just over an hour on his return from injury, while Slaven Bilic took the opportunity to field highly rated prospects Marcus Browne and Jahmal Hector-Ingram.
Just as it looked like the game was heading for a draw, young striker Jaanai Gordon expertly headed Carl Jenkinson’s pin-point cross past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
In an open game, Michail Antonio looked lively down the right-hand flank, firing a number of dangerous crosses into the box with Joey O’Brien providing a valuable option on the overlap.
The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors as Patrick Bamford got to the byline and cut back for Connor Wickham who forced Rapahel Spiegel to make a sharp save down to his right.
West Ham responded with a chance of their own as Mauro Zarate worked a yard of space and tested the Palace keeper with a stinging shot.
It was the Argentine who again went closest to breaking the deadlock, bending an effort just wide from 25-yards and it was the forward who looked most likely to score throughout the proceedings.
Into the second half, Jaanai Gordon, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry came on as West Ham started the second period brightly. Clear cut chances were hard to come by, Stephen Hendrie tried an audacious volley from range while Gordon tested Speroni’s reflexes.
With an hour gone, Song demonstrated his obvious talent with an exquisite defense splitting pass, Antonio the glad recipient, bore down on goal and forced Speroni into a fantastic save.
It would prove to Song’s last meaningful touch as he was replaced, as planned, by fellow midfielder Amos Nasha. First team full backs Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Cresswell were also given run outs.
Despite the superiority, the Eagles had chances of their own as striker Frazier Campbell’s arrowed shot took a deflection before skimming the post with Spiegel beaten.
Just as the sides looked to have settled for a draw, Jenkinson bombed forward and delivered a superb cross which Gordon, unmarked, steered past Speroni with just minutes remaining of the match.
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