Kenzer Lee has hailed scoring the winner in Wednesday's 3-2 FA Youth Cup third-round victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers as the 'best feeling ever'.
The centre-back has missed nearly all of the previous two seasons with a combination of illness and injury, but has returned to form and fitness to become an important figure for the U18s this term.
The second-year scholar knows he has to continue performing if he is to earn a professional contract and did his hopes no harm by producing a stirring display at Molineux - capped by a clinical 83rd-minute winner.
"I was so shocked when I scored," he said. "It was unbelievable - the best feeling ever! In all the time I've played for West Ham I've never felt like I did when I scored that winning goal.
"Pottsy and Jake Young jumped up for the header and one of them has flicked it on - I'm not sure which one. The ball has come down and there has been a bit of a scruff and it's just fallen on my left foot and I've just hit it and hoped!
"It was going in but it has deflected off one of their defender's shins and gone into the goal."
Kenzer Lee was in solid form at both ends of the pitch
Lee's goal should have arrived eariler, with the centre-back passing up two presentable headed opportunities before making it third-time lucky late on. The 18-year-old is hoping his big FA Youth Cup night will serve as a portent of more positive experiences to come in the future.
"I should have scored a couple of goals, really, because I had a couple of headers that I put wide of the post. It was a great feeling to know my goal won us the game.
"I can't remember the last time I scored, to be honest. I didn't really play last season because I had a lot of injuries and the season before that I was out with illness - they never actually worked out what it was but I had an infection in my lungs and I couldn't even run.
"I got my scholarship from playing in the last couple of games as an Under-16 but then I got lots of injuries and missed most of my first year of my scholarship as well.
"A couple of years ago I wasn't even sure I would get a scholarship so to be here now and score that goal was unreal. Because I missed my first year I've only got this season to get my pro contract - every game is a trial and I can't afford to have a bad game.
"I like pressure because it makes me play pressure and concentrate harder on my game."
Luckily for Lee, virtually his whole family were in attendance to witness his big moment - thanks to the parents of winger Blair Turgott, who organised a coach to carry family members from London to the Midlands.
The Lees will be out in force for the fourth round, wherever that tie is played.
"My whole family were there - three sisters, two brothers, my Mum, Dad and uncle! They got on a coach organised by Blair's parents.
"I don't care who we get in the next round, but we'll need two coaches to get everyone there to watch it!"