Over 2,000 supporters watched on at Carrow Road as Norwich City's youngsters fell to a 2-0 defeat to West Ham in their penultimate Premier League Two game of the season.
The defeat means that Alan Neilson's side's hopes of qualification are all but over, ended by two first-half goals in a flat display.
City were behind inside the opening ten minutes after West Ham piled on the pressure - with Lewis Orford latching onto George Earthy's cutback before dispatching confidently past the trialist in goal.
Norwich nearly produced an instant response courtesy of Errol Mundle-Smith, but his effort was lashed into the side netting.
On the half-hour mark, Earthy turned from provider to finisher, collecting the ball from 25 yards and unleashing a thunderous effort into the top corner of the net to double the visitors' advantage.
Patrick Kelly nearly added a third before the interval, only to see his shot blocked by the City goalkeeper, who followed up by denying ex-West Brom loanee Callum Marshall from close range.
It was a quiet second period for both sides with clear cut chances few and far between until 74 minutes, when Marshall rode a challenge only for his shot to cannon off the post and away from danger.
Mundle-Smith came close to a consolation for Norwich late on, but his effort was tipped around the post by West Ham shot-stopper Jacob Knightbridge. Charlie Wilson had an opportunity to convert from the resulting corner but nodded wide despite being unmarked.
Ben Watt headed just over from Mundle-Smith's free kick in stoppage time with the final chance of the contest, with Norwich losing their eighth game in 10 league matches.
Their final game of the season comes later this season against Aston Villa.
Norwich City Under-21s: Trialist, Riley, Watt, Wilson, Forsyth (Williams 60), Manning (Coker 84), Djedje (Doy 71), Myles, Duffy, Mundle-Smith, Ogwuru (Roberts, 45). Subs not used: Rose (GK)
Bookings: Forsyth (55), Djedje (69)
West Ham United Under-21s: Knightbridge, Robinson (Adiele 54), Mayers, Golambeckis, Casey (Tarima 59), Swyer (Ajala 83), Kelly, Marshall, Earthy (Rigge 59), Moore. Subs not used: Terry,
Goals: Orford (9), Earthy (30)
Bookings: Mayers (44), Kelly (75), Tarima (85)
Attendance: 2,377
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