West Ham United reserves 2-1 Crystal Palace reserves
Anthony Edgar gave the watching Avram Grant welcome food for thought by scoring twice in West Ham United's 2-1 reserve win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
The winger, who also netted the winner in the first-team pre-season friendly at Peterborough United last month, capped an impressive all-round display with two well-taken but very different goals.
Now in his second year as a professional, the Academy graduate will hope to force his way into manager Grant's thinking for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of Bolton Wanderers or, more likely, next Tuesday's Carling Cup second-round meeting with Oxford United.
Edgar's first saw him beat three defenders before coolly smashing a low shot past Palace goalkeeper Lewis Price, while the second saw the 19-year-old calmly slot Kieron Dyer's low cross inside the post from the edge of the penalty area.
Edgar's first goal came just 60 seconds after Eagles striker Sebastian Rak had latched on to Calvin Andrew's flick-on and fired Palace into a 31st-minute lead.
The opening goal was harsh on Alex Dyer's side, who had dominated the opening half-hour, missing half-a-dozen chances to open their account at Thurrock FC's Ship Lane ground.
With Kieron Dyer looking lively at right-back and loan signing Tal Ben Haim steady in the centre of defence, the Hammers took the game to their south London neighbours as Grant, assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic and coaches Paul Groves, Kevin Keen and David Coles looked on.
Frank Nouble might have opened the scoring on 25 minutes after latching on to Price's poor clearance, only for the goalkeeper to make amends for his mistake by blocking the England Under-17 striker's shot with his legs.
Freddie Sears saw two goalbound efforts hit defenders, while Olly Lee fired no fewer than three long-range efforts narrowly off-target as Dyer's side cranked up the pressure, only for Palace to hit them with a sucker-punch through Rachs' strike.
Having equalised West Ham again took control and Nouble had already worked Price before Edgar shot his side into the lead eight minutes after half-time.
Ben Haim completed a solid hour before being replaced by Academy scholar Sergio Sanchez, but it was the Palace rearguard who continued to be the busier.
Sears collected an Ahmed Abdulla pass before working Price with a smart shot on the turn, while Dyer missed his kick inside the penalty area before being replaced by Poland U18 international Filip Modelski after 70 minutes.
Palace attacked fleetingly but, when they did, Fabio Daprela had to be at his alert best to deny goalscorer Rak a clear opportunity to equalise from 12 yards.
West Ham had a series to chances to widen the victory margin in the closing stages, only for Sears to slice wide before both Nouble and substitute Cristian Montano shot too close to goalkeeper Price.
While manager Grant and his staff will have been pleased with the performances of Edgar, Dyer and Ben Haim, reserve-team manager Dyer will also have enjoyed watching his side score a victory over a strong Palace team.
The second string begin their Barclays Premier Academy League South campaign by welcoming Manchester City to Ship Lane on Tuesday 7 September, kick-off 2pm.