A miraculous second-half fight-back from West Ham United's Under-18s came up just short at Norwich City on Saturday.
Trailing by three goals at half-time, the unlikely figure of left-back Callum Driver scored twice to take the Hammers to within a whisker of stealing an unlikely point before finally losing 3-2.
END OF SEASON AWARDS TO AID ACADEMY
Academy Director Tony Carr made eight changes from the team that lost 3-0 at home to Newcastle United in the FA Youth Cup fifth round in midweek. Carr handed starts to no fewer than three schoolboys, with England U16 stars Blair Turgott and Mathias Fanimo and striker Dylan Tombides all named in the XI.
It was Driver who stole the headlines for the visitors, however, latching on to two loose balls inside the Canaries penalty area to smash home his first and second goals of the season.
While he was disappointed with his side's first-half performance, Carr was glowing with pride at the spirit, application and no little skill shown by his players in the closing 45 minutes.
"Callum's second goal came after 88 minutes, unfortunately, as if we'd played for another five minutes, I have no doubt that we would have nicked a draw.
"We were 3-0 down at half-time and had played poorly against a Norwich team who were physically stronger than us and who included a number of over-age players.
"However, we made a change in shape at half-time, moving from a diamond formation to a 4-4-2. We had been giving them too much space in the midfield, and once we got control of the game, we had a lot of possession and created plenty of chances.
"Aside from Callum's goals, we had two one-on-ones with their goalkeeper and missed a few other opportunities, so we could easily have got a point.
"While I was not happy with the first half, I am very proud of the performance we put in after half-time. It showed great character to take the game to Norwich like we did, and it was only the form of their England U17 goalkeeper, Jed Steer, that kept them ahead."
Driver's first goal arrived after Norwich failed to clear a corner, while the full-back's second strike was nearly a carbon copy as he pounced on the ball after the home side had not dealt with a free-kick.
West Ham return to FA Premier Academy League action with the visit of Ipswich Town to Little Heath on Saturday 20 February.
West Ham United U18: Cowler, Sanchez, Craig, Lampe, Driver, Moncur (Vose 65), Turgott, Fanimo, Subuola (Hall 65), Tombides, Purdy (Wearen 46)