WEST HAM'S reserves brought the curtain down on their Barclays Premier League South campaign with a last-gasp defeat at Portsmouth.

Greece international striker Theofanis Gekas scored a stunning last-minute goal from the edge of the box to win the game for Pompey.

First team coach Steve Clarke was in attendance to watch a young and inexperienced Hammers side, that contained only two players above the age of 19 – captain Zavon Hines and keeper Peter Kurucz.

Hines came close to giving the Irons the lead, but his fierce shot after a lofted through ball from Anthony Edgar arrowed just wide.

Pompey began to dominate, and while West Ham came close on several occasions, the hosts managed to eke out the win.

Manager Alex Dyer was pleased with his side's efforts, despite the loss. “It was a great performance, to be fair,” he told the club's website. “The lads worked hard, especially in the second half. They came out and the tempo was good to their game.”

Dyer has been impressed by his young squad's application this season. “The young lads who have come up during the second part of the season have really worked hard and have shown the quality that they have got at times.

“They have worked very hard and moved the ball and done the things that we've asked them to do in the games and in training.”