A missed penalty cost West Ham United dear as they went down to a 2-1 Barclays U18 Premier League defeat at Everton on Saturday.
With the U21s in action on Friday evening, Steve Potts had a very inexperienced side at his disposal on Merseyside, with a number of schoolboys being given opportunities to shine at a higher age-group level.
As it was, the Hammers fought back from a Delial Brewster goal down to level at Finch Farm through Jerry Amoo's deflected strike shortly before half-time.
After the re-start, Kieran Bywater saw his spot-kick saved by Everton goalkeeper Russell Griffiths after Jake Adelson had committed a foul on Marcio Martins inside the area.
The Toffees took full advantage as Harry Charsley chased down goalkeeper Gines Guzman's clearance, with the ball rebounding off the midfielder and into the net.
The hosts came close to making it three late on but Calum Dyson's goalbound effort was acrobatically tipped onto the post by the Hammers' stopper.
Defeat puts a dent in West Ham's hopes of winning the Barclays U18 Premier League South Group title and qualifying for the end of season play-offs by finishing in the top two.
U18s: Guzman, Pike, Mavila, Diangana, Pask (Akinola), Onariase, Amoo, Bailey (Hector-Ingram), Martins, Bywater, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: T.Brown, Browne, Borg