THE West Ham Academy was alive and well to hand an experienced Southampton side a deserved 3-0 defeat at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium last night, writes Dave King.

The burghers of East London are developing an exciting crop of young talent, and the Hammers included in their line-up the names of Ferdinand and Carrick - that's Anton and Graeme, the 17-year-old younger brothers of Rio and Michael.

But it was another youngster, James Allen, who caught the eye scoring twice either side of half-time.

The 18-year-old grabbed his first after 13 minutes, firing home from close range, and then substitute Ferdinand picked him out with a long ball on 66 minutes to beat Saints goalkeeper, Gareth Williams one-on-one.

Seven minutes later Allen put in Omer Riza, and he delicately chipped the keeper for West Ham's third.

It was tough on Williams who had an exceptional game. Twice in the first minute he beat out shots from Allen and Glen Johnson, and then four minutes from half-time he acrobatically tipped over Shaun Byrne's edge of the box curler.

Into the second half, and Williams pulled off a blinding near post save to deny Allen.

Saints, in contrast, put out an experienced starting XI including Kevin Davies, Francis Benali, Jo Tessem, Mark Draper and Imants Bleidelis. But they were outfought by the faster-thinking, quicker passing and more tenacious West Ham side.

Bleidelis, playing on the right-hand side of midfield, looked by far the sharpest of Saints' outfield players. The Latvian's fierce shot after nine minutes was spilled by Hammers' keeper, Sven Andersson, but Frenchman Eric Hassli fired over.

Bleidelis combined well with Hassli after 27 minutes, but his clever chip failed to beat Andersson.

Davies faded in an out of the game. He outjumped Andersson from a Benali free-kick after 60 minutes but headed wide, and then just failed to get a strong contact from Draper cross.

Tessem fired over, Draper with a sharp volley, Davies with a neat shot on the turn, and Hassli with a low shot at Andersson all probed the West Ham goal in the second half, but without a return.

SAINTS: Williams, Baird, Gray, Monk, Benali, Draper, Bleidelis, Tessem, Howard, K Davies (A Davies, 89), Hassli (McDonald, 83). Subs (not used): Poke, Williamson, Gleeson.

ATTENDANCE: 5,642.