Town's U18s almost staged a remarkable comeback against West Ham on Saturday morning, but the Hammers held on for a 3-2 win at their Little Heath training ground.
Bondz Ngala gave the home side the lead in the sixth minute after a goalmouth scramble and Jack Collison doubled the Hammers' advantage before half-time.
Collison hit the bar minutes after the restart but Town started their comeback on 53 when the scorer of West Ham's second goal conceded a penalty for a foul on Ed Upson. Former Town U16 keeper David Blackmore produced a superb save to keep Jordan Rhodes's spotkick out but the young striker poked in the rebound.
Upson then scored with a header after a cross from the right and Town now had the momentum with them to go and get all three points.
Andy Plummer tipped Junior Stanislas's fierce shot onto the crossbar before Collison hit the woodwork again.
The Hammers then regained their lead when Kyel Reid's freekick wasn't cleared and substitute Freddie Sears prodded the ball home.
Town's U16s beat the same opposition 4-3 at home, with Jack Ainsley on the scoresheet twice.
U18s: Plummer, Short, Robinson, Fenn, Smith, Williams (Bloomfield), Reason, Upson, Knights (Rhodes), Boto and Tooms (Nimmo).
Hammers: Blackmore, Miller, Spence, Ngala, Widdowson, Stanislas, Harvey (Sears), Collison, Hales, Reid (Bowes) and Jeffrey (Hunt).