Young players who are getting the chance to play regularly with West Ham United's development squad are stepping up the challenge, according to coach Ian Hendon.
Hendon took a young and inexperienced side to face Dagenham & Redbridge's first team on Tuesday afternoon and despite going 2-0 down to the more experienced Daggers early on, West Ham's youngsters battled back to earn a 2-2 draw.
The coach was happy with the commitment and attitude shown by his players.
"Basically, Dagenham and Redbridge called us up on the off chance to see if we had a space for a game, which we did," said Hendon. "It was a perfect opportunity for us, as our Under-18s don't have a game this coming weekend. They have a little break so we made a team up with half the players who have been featuring regularly for the development squad and then pretty much half the youth team.
"So we had a very young side out there against what was a big, strong Football League-experienced side in Dagenham. It turned out to be a good game. The scoreline finished up 2-2.
"They went 2-0 up and then scored an own goal for our first goal. We had got the ball in well from the right-hand side from Matthias Fanimo, Their defenders tried to clear it, but it went in off one of their guys who stuck it in the net from four yards.
"Our second goal came from George Moncur, who struck home well from the penalty spot late on. From our point of view, we showed good character and we bounced back to get an equaliser.
"What pleased me with such a young side we had out was that no heads went down when Dagenham went 2-0 up. It could have fizzled out for us after that because Dagenham are a very strong and physical side, but we got our heads around it all and got back into the game and nicked a draw."
Hendon has been delighted with the application shown by his players in recent weeks, culminating in a positiver performance and result at Victoria Road
"I watched our youth team game last weekend when we lost to Charlton and it's probably fair to say we didn't perform as well as we have been doing, so it was good for many of the lads who were involved in that match to get back out there and get that result out of the system. We had a go and we battled and stuck at the challenge they faced in Dagenham and we got a reward with a draw.
"My teams change daily - hourly even - and can change again as we are preparing for the game. That is how it is with the development squad. An example is Brian Montenegro, who was set to feature on Tuesday as he has done in recent development games, but was then pulled out to join the first-team squad travelling to Southampton.
"As a coach, that is something I am getting my head around. For those young lads who come in from youth level, it is a step up and a learning curve to play against Football League players and teams - they can start to understand what the game is all about.
"It is not always nice and pleasant. There are some hard players out there in these games and they don't take prisoners - they like to dish it out. So, many of our younger players are learning about that but it will only stand us in good stead going forward."
Goalscorer Moncur is one player who has consistently produced the goods for Hendon this season, earning plaudits from his coach - as well as the captain's armband.
"I am definitely starting to see some of the lads' characters come through now. I gave George Moncur the captaincy for this game - the armband had been passed around a bit before but with quite a few of the other young lads out on loan, it has been put on George's arm and so far stayed there.
"He has played nearly every minute of every development game so far. He works hard in every game, for me and the fact he has played in every game means he is learning in every match too.
"The other week we came up against MK Dons' first team and George was one of the players who stood out for us, so all in all, I am pleased with how it is going and we will try to continue in the same way."