West Ham United Under-18s lost their first match of 2012, going down to a 2-1 FA Premier Academy League defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The youth team had enjoyed three straight victories at start the year, beating Chelsea and Norwich City in the league and Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
However, Academy Director Tony Carr admitted a poor first-half performance and a pair of unsuccessful penalty appeals had cost his team dear at the Oasis Academy.
"We had a poor first half and found ourselves 2-0 down from two set plays," Carr told whufc.com
"We were playing in very windy conditions on a very small pitch and they made life very difficult for us, to be fair. In the second half, we improved and Kieran Sadlier scored direct from a corner when the ball caught on the wind.
"We then had two penalty appeals turned down and Pelly Ruddock hit the crossbar. We completely dominated the second half but could not get the equaliser. A disappointing first half cost us the game, but we had two great shouts for penalties turned down - one for a foul on Elliot Lee and the second when Paul McCallum was in on the goalkeeper and fouled."
Highlights of Saturday's trip to south London will appear on West Ham TV soon.
The Hammers return to action on Saturday, when they welcome Arsenal to Little Heath for an 11am kick-off.
While West Ham's youngsters continue their quest for an FA Premier Academy League Group A and FA Youth Cup double, the club's young professionals are continuing their own careers at their various loan clubs in the npower Football League.
Goalkeeper Peter Kurucz turned out for Rochdale in their 3-0 League One defeat at Wycombe Wanderers. In League Two, Callum Driver started for Burton Albion in their 1-1 draw at Bradford City, while Ahmed Abdulla, Cristian Montano and substitute Eoin Wearen were all involved in Dagenham and Redbridge's 4-1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra.
Also in League Two, George Moncur chalked up an assist and a goal as AFC Wimbledon came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 at Gillingham. In the Championship, Jordan Spence was not involved in Bristol City's 2-1 home win over Doncaster Rovers.