CYPRUS international striker Michalis Konstantinou was over-shadowed by West Ham United youngster Zavon Hines during an unimpressive 45-minute trial at Grays Athletic this afternoon.

The 30-year-old forward, scorer of 24 goals in 60 games for his country, has spent the past week training with the Irons.

But the Olympiakos man cut a desolate figure for long periods before being replaced at half-time as a young Hammers XI slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the New Rec.

The powerful Paralimni-born hitman, who cost Panathinaikos £8million when moving from Iraklis in 2001, showed few signs of his international class.

Partnering in-form teenager Hines – who notched his second goal in the space of 18 hours after hitting the net against Southampton on Friday evening – Konstantinou failed to reproduce the form that saw him score against Barcelona in the Nou Camp in the Champions League in March 2006.

Instead, it was the Blue Square Premier outfit who impressed against a Hammers team including first-teamers Lee Bowyer – making his first appearance since February 9 – and Matty Etherington.

A feisty opening saw referee Gary Jerden speak to both captains following late challenges from West Ham's Jordan Spence and Grays' Adam Gross.

When the dust finally settled, it was the hosts who had created the vast majority of chances before Hines scored his fifth goal – and third penalty – in six pre-season outings against the run of play on 40 minutes.

Earlier, Jamie Taylor and Charlie Ide had both headed off-target for Mick Woodward's side, while Taylor and Stuart Elliott were denied by Irons' goalkeeper Adam Street.

For West Ham, Hines had already had one strong penalty appeal turned down when he was sent crashing by Jon Ashton, immediately grabbed the ball and sent Steve Arnold the wrong way from the spot.

However, the Irons' lead lasted just five minutes against a team who had already chalked up impressive pre-season wins over Gillingham and a Charlton Athletic XI.

Lively former West Ham Academy graduate Ishmael Welsh swapped passes with Ide before slotted past Street from close-range to send the sides in level at the break.

Grays again looked the more likely to break the deadlock after the interval, and Ide had twice gone close before snatching a deserved winner in the very last minute.

A smart period of one-touch passing released Danny Kedwell inside the penalty area, and the former Brentford youth team player was on hand to convert the substitute's low cross.

Kevin Keen's men produced precious little in the second period, but Hines should have scored with seven minutes remaining, racing on to Junior Stanislas' through ball but shooting far too close to Arnold.

Grays Athletic: (4-4-2) Arnold, Geir (Davis 85), Gross, Stuart, Ashton, Bodkin (Sloma 74), Welsh (Campana 67), Elliott (Molesley 54), Cogan (Bailey 81), Taylor (Kedwell 62), Ide. Unused Subs: Wooley.

West Ham United XI: (4-4-2) Street, Spence, Miller (Edgar 84), Eyjolfsson (Harvey 75), N'Gala, Jeffrey, Etherington (Stanislas 59), Bowyer (Widdowson 67), Collison (O'Neill 75), Hines, Konstantinou (Stokes 46). Unused Subs: Miklosko.

Attendance: 1,372