Goals by Brent Rahim, Richard Garcia and Youssef Sofiane
saw West Ham's reserves comfortably cut down
Nottingham Forest as they romped to their third victory of the
season at Victoria Road on Tuesday night.
Indeed, the Hammers got off to a flyer as the energetic Rahim collected the ball midway inside the visitors' half before ending his powerful run with a low 18-yarder to secure an eighth-minute lead.
But Roger Cross's team also had Raimond Van Der Gouw to thank for preserving that early advantage. First the veteran 'keeper denied the lively Richard Jeffery as he raced clean through and then he was on hand again to thwart Chris Doig with a fine full-length save as West Ham struggled to deal with the resultant corner.
And the value of that double-Dutch save certainly told midway through the half when another steam-rollering Rahim run opened the door for Garcia, who let fly with a low 20-yarder that nestled in the bottom right-hand corner of the sprawling Barry Roche's net.
Although Forest emerged fighting for the second half, it was game over on 54 minutes. A slick counter-attack from an away corner saw Titi Camara rampage down the left and Sofiane coolly tucked away his Guinean strike-partner's deceptive backheel from eight yards.
Midway through the half, goal provider almost turned goal poacher as another swift turn of foot saw Camara get behind the demoralised defence only for his point blank shot to cannon off the brave Roche's ribcage.
At the other end, Craig Westcarr looked set for a consolation but, just as he had done all evening, Van Der Gouw proved impenetrable.
By now, though, the Hammers' midfield engine room of the booked Rahim and Garcia was proving simply too strong for forlorn Forest and with more accuracy in their shooting boots, both Sofiane and Camara might have inflicted yet more damage by the final whistle.
Hammers: Van Der Gouw, Lumsden (Laws 74), Byrne, Ward, Ferdinand, McMahon, Courtois (Mehmet 68), Rahim, Garcia, Sofiane, Camara. Unused: Forde, Carrick, Tattam.
Forest: Roche, Webb, Doig, Haskins, Hjelde, Morgan, Westcarr, Reid, Kearney, Jeffery (Foy 79), Antoine-Curier (Bodkin 64). Unused: Formann, Robertson.
Booked: Rahim, Westcar.
Referee: T McCoy.
Indeed, the Hammers got off to a flyer as the energetic Rahim collected the ball midway inside the visitors' half before ending his powerful run with a low 18-yarder to secure an eighth-minute lead.
But Roger Cross's team also had Raimond Van Der Gouw to thank for preserving that early advantage. First the veteran 'keeper denied the lively Richard Jeffery as he raced clean through and then he was on hand again to thwart Chris Doig with a fine full-length save as West Ham struggled to deal with the resultant corner.
And the value of that double-Dutch save certainly told midway through the half when another steam-rollering Rahim run opened the door for Garcia, who let fly with a low 20-yarder that nestled in the bottom right-hand corner of the sprawling Barry Roche's net.
Although Forest emerged fighting for the second half, it was game over on 54 minutes. A slick counter-attack from an away corner saw Titi Camara rampage down the left and Sofiane coolly tucked away his Guinean strike-partner's deceptive backheel from eight yards.
Midway through the half, goal provider almost turned goal poacher as another swift turn of foot saw Camara get behind the demoralised defence only for his point blank shot to cannon off the brave Roche's ribcage.
At the other end, Craig Westcarr looked set for a consolation but, just as he had done all evening, Van Der Gouw proved impenetrable.
By now, though, the Hammers' midfield engine room of the booked Rahim and Garcia was proving simply too strong for forlorn Forest and with more accuracy in their shooting boots, both Sofiane and Camara might have inflicted yet more damage by the final whistle.
Hammers: Van Der Gouw, Lumsden (Laws 74), Byrne, Ward, Ferdinand, McMahon, Courtois (Mehmet 68), Rahim, Garcia, Sofiane, Camara. Unused: Forde, Carrick, Tattam.
Forest: Roche, Webb, Doig, Haskins, Hjelde, Morgan, Westcarr, Reid, Kearney, Jeffery (Foy 79), Antoine-Curier (Bodkin 64). Unused: Formann, Robertson.
Booked: Rahim, Westcar.
Referee: T McCoy.