Frank Nouble struck after just 20 seconds to secure West Ham United reserves a hard-fought friendly victory at Leicester City on Tuesday.
Latecomers to the Foxes' Belvoir Drive training ground would have missed all the action as Nouble started and finished a move to score the only goal of the game in the very first minute.
A Leicester midfielder slipped, allowing the England Under-19 forward to pick up possession midway inside the home half. Nouble then swapped passes with strike partner Freddie Sears before sending an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
With new signing Ruud Boffin in goal and first-team squad members Radoslav Kovac and Junior Stanislas in midfield, the Hammers were handed a stern test by their hosts - managed by former West Ham full-back Chris Powell.
Boffin was regularly called into action in the early stages, racing from his goal on a number of occasions to make catches or to kick or punch the ball clear of his penalty area.
The tall Belgian also showed assured handling when one well-struck bouncing shot was struck towards his goal from 25 yards. When Boffin was beaten, left-back Jordan Brown was in the right place to block following a superb left-wing cross from Leicester's left winger. In the centre, captain Jordan Spence and Sergio Sanchez worked hard to repel the home side.
West Ham gradually worked their way back into things and enjoyed a strong 15 minutes as half-time approached, with Olly Lee seeing one effort blocked following a swift counter-attack involving the lightning-quick Sears.
Into the second half and Alex Dyer's side began to take control of proceedings, with both Sears and Ahmed Abdulla going close, but it was not long before Leicester came on strongly again in an attempt to salvage something from the game.
Boffin was again heavily involved as the half wore on, making one fine save to deny Leicester's No9 from point-blank range. The former PSV Eindhoven man also showed his aerial prowess to deal with a succession of crosses and corners into his box, as well as a defensive header from Sanchez.
Leicester's best chance also fell to the No9 with 17 minutes remaining. The striker looked odds-on to equalise when he burst between Sanchez and captain Spence, only to poke his shot past the goalkeeper and on to the base of the post.
Boffin made a last-minute save to keep out a deflected low shot from a Foxes substitute before punching the resulting corner confidently clear to complete an encouraging full debut for the club.
Dyer's reserves will begin their Barclays Premier Reserve League campaign with a trip to Everton on Tuesday 14 September.
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Modelski, Spence, Sanchez, Brown, Kovac, Abdulla (Montano 67, Moncur 69), Lee, Stanislas, Nouble, Sears
Unused subs: Cowler, Craig, Lletget
