Joel Kerr made it a European night to remember as our Under-21s opened their Premier League International Cup campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 win over VCF Mestalla at Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Mark Robson’s young Irons sit top of Group A after the first round of fixtures — three points, a clean sheet, and a reminder that Academy football can still deliver proper drama on a midweek in Dagenham.

It was not a stroll. Valencia’s reserve side, used to Spain’s fourth tier, arrived with tempo and caused plenty of problems. The visitors hit the woodwork three times and spent long spells asking questions of the home defence. For stretches of the second half it felt like one of those nights where you dig in, take your chance, and hope the frame stays friendly.

The first half stayed goalless. Mestalla had the brighter early looks — Mario González forcing a corner, Ochoa and Hugo Fernández sniffing around — while West Ham’s set-pieces late in the half came to nothing against goalkeeper Raúl Jiménez.

After the break the visitors kept coming. Taucas rattled the bar. A handball shout in the box went unanswered. And still the Hammers waited.

Then Kerr struck. On 70 minutes a clean West Ham attack finally found its finish, and the Northern Ireland youth international — already making his name in Robson’s side — put us in front when it mattered.

Mestalla threw on fresh legs and poured forward. Posts and bars kept denying them. A late penalty claim of their own was waved outside the area. It was proper siege football.

Deep in stoppage time the Irons sealed it from the spot. Kerr is credited with the 90+2 penalty on the Premier League International Cup records, making it a brace on the night and killing off any late drama.

Three points. A European opener banked. And another night that says the Academy pipeline is alive and kicking while the first team sits through the international break.

Monaco 2 are next up in this group at Chigwell in October. For now, enjoy this one — Kerr’s night, Robson’s start, and a result that looked tighter than the scoreline suggests.