West Ham United reserves 2-1 Portsmouth reserves
Henri Camara got his West Ham United career off to a flying start by grabbing a brace of goals as the reserves ran out 2-1 winners against Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground.
The striker was lively throughout the game on 18 September and finished neatly twice in the second half to give Kevin Keen's men their first win of the season.
Camara was one of eight first-team regulars who played and there was a welcome sight for watching West Ham boss Alan Curbishley as Scott Parker came through 90 minutes of competitive action against a strong Pompey side, who had the likes of Pedro Mendes, David Nugent and Linvoy Primus in their starting line-up.
The first half saw both sides have half-chances without making any impression on the game. Mendes hit a shot over the bar early on for Portsmouth, while at the other end Calum Davenport came forward for a corner and his header also went close.
Christian Dailly made a good clearance as Portsmouth had another effort and Kyel Reid, making promising runs down the wing, got the ball across to Camara, but it was just too far in front of him.
After the break, Camara sent a long-range shot just wide and then Reid tried an angled shot, also from some way out that just shaved the top of the bar.
The Hammers' pressure was to bring a result as Camara, causing trouble in the Pompey defence every time he went forward, latched on to a good cross from Luis Boa Morte to score from close range.
West Ham were on the front foot, but Pompey went searching for the equaliser and just minutes after sending a shot whistling past Richard Wright's post, they got the ball in the back of the net, thanks to David Nugent.
Parker was making himself busy in midfield, getting the ball out to Reid, John Pantsil, who was making good runs and Boa Morte, who again had a hand in the second goal for West Ham.
Another pin-point cross from Boa Morte fell to Camara, who held off his markers to finish neatly and strike the ball past Pompey keeper Anton Silva.
Jack Collison had a good chance to increase West Ham's lead soon after, but his effort hit the top of the bar and Reid again was in the thick of the action as he tried his luck with another shot from outside the box.
The game finished with the Hammers on top, a blistering debut from Camara and another good work-out for Parker, who came through the match unscathed.
West Ham United: Wright, Pantsil, Spector (Fitzgerald), Dailly, Davenport, Stokes, Collison, Parker, Camara, Boa Morte, Reid
Subs not used: Street, Hales, Hines, Jeffery