A VITUOSO display from Arsenal wonderkid Jack Wilshire ended West Ham's hopes of winning the Premier Reserve League South title.
The Gunners midfielder, who has only recently turned 16, put on a fantastic show as Arsenal ran out 2-0 victors in front of a 1,000-plus crowd at Barnet's Underhill stadium.
Wilshire, a diminutive figure in the Alexandr Hleb mould, made one goal and scored a sublime second in front of the watching, and no doubt impressed, Arsene Wenger.
Kevin Keen's Irons, who began the evening in second position and still with an outside chance of winning the title, started the match brightly enough, forcing a host of early corners.
However, wild efforts from Canvey's Tony Stokes and England Under-19 international winger Junior Stanislas aside, the Hammers failed to create a decent scoring chance.
And the visitors were made to pay by the superb Wilshire, but not before goalkeeper Marek Stech had been tested by shots from Rui Fonte and Armand Traore.
Arsenal finally took the lead on 24 minutes when Wilshire cut inside Ashley Miller and laid a clever through ball between Bondz N'Gala and Josh Payne for Fonte to stab past Stech.
Just 10 minutes later and it was 2-0 as Wilshire again ghosted past Miller before curling a delicious 25-yarder that flew into the top-left-hand corner via the inside of the post.
The home side threatened to run riot as the half drew to a close, but the Czech youngster was equal to efforts from Jay Thomas and Nacer Barazite.
Keen's side made a better showing after the break with Stanislas twice working Italian Vito Mannone with low shots before Stokes hit the post after the goalkeeper had dropped the winger's cross.
At the other end, Arsenal substitute Gilles Sunnu and Traore both tested Stech with well-struck shots, but the Gunners were forced to settle for a two-goal win.
Defeat means the Irons' second-string can now no longer overhaul league leaders Aston Villa.
West Ham Reserves: (4-4-2) Stech, Spence, Miller, Payne (Ashman 88), N'Gala, Kearns, Stanislas (Lee 76), Harvey (Edgar 66), Collison, Jeffrey, Stokes.
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