West Ham United won through to the FA Youth Cup fifth round with a convincing 4-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday - delighting Under-18s coach Nick Haycock.

Rob Hall scored twice and Elliot Lee and Matthias Fanimo once each as the Hammers cruised into the last-16 against their Football League Youth Alliance opponents at the Boleyn Ground. The whole game will be replayed as-live at 6.30pm on Thursday on West Ham TV.

Haycock hailed the team performance produced by his players in setting up a last-16 clash at Chelsea, who overcame Norwich City in a penalty shootout. In particular, the coach was pleased with the quality of the goals scored.

"It was nice to see Matthias get his head over one and show some good technique!" joked Haycock, alluding to an earlier shot that the winger had blazed high into the Bobby Moore Stand.

"Coming through the ranks, Rob has always had that short backlift and great interplay with Elliot. With Rob, it's the whole process [of players going up to the first team] and the Gaffer was there to see him on Wednesday. Yes, I know we'd be sitting at the top of the league if we had certain players in the team , but it means nothing if we're not getting players into the first team.

"In a game like that when you're on the front foot for the whole time, it's the forwards that take the headlines, but I thought the back four showed great discipline. When you play against a team playing 4-5-1 and trying to counter-attack you, the full-backs and centre-backs need to stay organised and they did.

"I was particularly pleased with Jake Young and Kenzer Lee. I thought both put in good defensive performances and Jake's attacking play was better than it has been in previous weeks.

"First-year scholar Taylor Miles and Jack Powell complemented each other well in the middle of the park and I don't know where Taylor gets his energy from. He seems to be here, there and everywhere. Jack is a different type of player to Taylor, but I think he's starting to grow and control games from the middle of the park."

While West Ham's players are full-time scholars, Brighton run a Centre of Excellence which means some of their players spent Tuesday at school or college. However, Haycock was impressed by the attitude and approach to the game shown by Martin Hinshelwood's side.

The U18s coach also revealed that the homework done on the Seagulls had paid off, with chances galore being created by his forward and midfield players winning tackles and intercepting passes deep inside the Brighton half.

"No disrespect to Brighton but we had them watched and we shaped up to press them high up the pitch, knowing the way they play. I think, had we been a little bit more clinical in the first half, it could have been done and dusted by half-time.

"Great credit to them because they kept going and it was pleasing to see a team trying to play the right way, as I want my team to play. The fact we are an Academy and they are still a Centre of Excellence, the gulf showed a little bit at times, but credit where credit is due because they kept going and didn't let their heads drop.

"It could have been a lot more than it was and it would have been sad to see for them because they didn't deserve to get battered."

West Ham will travel to Staines Town FC to face Chelsea in the fifth round, with the tie being played before 11 February 2012. Having won 3-2 at the Blues just last Saturday, the Hammers have every chance of progressing to the quarter-finals but Haycock is taking nothing for granted.

"It'll be a tough game and a different game to Wednesday's tie. We won't have it all our own way but we're well capable of marching on in the competition.

"All FA Youth Cup games, no matter how much you shape up and prepare, are about the players' performance on the night and anything can happen. That's cup football."