Victor Obinna scored a hat-trick to send West Ham into the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Championship high-flyers Nottingham Forest.
Four goals were scored in a frantic first half before the Nigerian forward settled the tie after the break with his third, scored from the spot.
Some fans may have missed Obinna's opening goal in the fourth minute as they arrived late after London's transport system did its best to hamper their journey.
But those who did witness the goal saw the 23-year-old deflect in Noble's wayward shot past stranded visiting goalkeeper Lee Camp.
606: DEBATE
Sounds as if both teams went for it and it could have gone either way - a proper cup tie
CCROPCA
It was not the only goal of the match that benefited from a touch of fortune.
The strike should have settled the Hammers but instead their opponents, who have won their last five league and cup matches, grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck.
Burly journeyman Dele Adebola proved to be a nuisance for defenders Danny Gabbidon and Herita Ilunga, while man-of-the-moment Lewis McGugan and Chris Cohen were beginning to combine well for the visitors on the right.
Their equaliser came courtesy of Adebola, who timed his run to perfection en route to picking up David McGoldrick's pull-back and slotting past Rob Green in the West Ham goal.
McGugan then tried to add to his own goal of the season collection with a volley from inside the area that went a couple of feet over a relieved Green.
However, luck deserted the Hammers when the England keeper was forced to parry a header from his own team-mate Ilunga and the loose ball was bundled in by McGoldrick.
The lead lasted two minutes and on this occasion it was Forest who were on the wrong end of a fluke.
Understandably, Obinna did not celebrate his second, which started out as a cross from way out on the right but ended up flying over the head of Camp and into the goal.
There was more goalmouth action to follow moments before the interval, Mark Noble coming close to putting the the home side ahead when he forced a great save from Camp, before the east Londoners finally took the lead again shortly after the restart.
On this occasion the ball was fed back into the crowded area from a cleared corner and defender Joel Lynch, who had performed well up to that point, pulled back Winston Reid, who was about to shoot.
After a gentleman's agreement, hat-trick hungry Obinna was handed the duties of putting the West Ham ahead, which he did with a well-placed kick.
On this occasion the Hammers did settle and Forest had Camp to thank for keeping the deficit at just three.
First Frederic Piquionne had a low shot from 25 yards beaten away by the 26-year-old, before Mexican Pablo Barrera struck a shot with the outside of his boot that had to be tipped over.
Forward Freddie Sears, who deserved a goal for his limitless endeavour on the day, then forced Camp to make another fabulous save with a fierce strike.
There was slight panic among the West Ham backline in the last few minutes when Green, largely untroubled in the second half, produced a good save to deny Chris Gunter, while McGoldrick headed two yards wide from a corner.
But the Hammers held on for a result which may soften the pain of their Carling Cup semi-final exit at Birmingham in midweek.
Four goals were scored in a frantic first half before the Nigerian forward settled the tie after the break with his third, scored from the spot.
Some fans may have missed Obinna's opening goal in the fourth minute as they arrived late after London's transport system did its best to hamper their journey.
But those who did witness the goal saw the 23-year-old deflect in Noble's wayward shot past stranded visiting goalkeeper Lee Camp.
606: DEBATE
Sounds as if both teams went for it and it could have gone either way - a proper cup tie
CCROPCA
It was not the only goal of the match that benefited from a touch of fortune.
The strike should have settled the Hammers but instead their opponents, who have won their last five league and cup matches, grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck.
Burly journeyman Dele Adebola proved to be a nuisance for defenders Danny Gabbidon and Herita Ilunga, while man-of-the-moment Lewis McGugan and Chris Cohen were beginning to combine well for the visitors on the right.
Their equaliser came courtesy of Adebola, who timed his run to perfection en route to picking up David McGoldrick's pull-back and slotting past Rob Green in the West Ham goal.
McGugan then tried to add to his own goal of the season collection with a volley from inside the area that went a couple of feet over a relieved Green.
However, luck deserted the Hammers when the England keeper was forced to parry a header from his own team-mate Ilunga and the loose ball was bundled in by McGoldrick.
The lead lasted two minutes and on this occasion it was Forest who were on the wrong end of a fluke.
Understandably, Obinna did not celebrate his second, which started out as a cross from way out on the right but ended up flying over the head of Camp and into the goal.
There was more goalmouth action to follow moments before the interval, Mark Noble coming close to putting the the home side ahead when he forced a great save from Camp, before the east Londoners finally took the lead again shortly after the restart.
On this occasion the ball was fed back into the crowded area from a cleared corner and defender Joel Lynch, who had performed well up to that point, pulled back Winston Reid, who was about to shoot.
After a gentleman's agreement, hat-trick hungry Obinna was handed the duties of putting the West Ham ahead, which he did with a well-placed kick.
On this occasion the Hammers did settle and Forest had Camp to thank for keeping the deficit at just three.
First Frederic Piquionne had a low shot from 25 yards beaten away by the 26-year-old, before Mexican Pablo Barrera struck a shot with the outside of his boot that had to be tipped over.
Forward Freddie Sears, who deserved a goal for his limitless endeavour on the day, then forced Camp to make another fabulous save with a fierce strike.
There was slight panic among the West Ham backline in the last few minutes when Green, largely untroubled in the second half, produced a good save to deny Chris Gunter, while McGoldrick headed two yards wide from a corner.
But the Hammers held on for a result which may soften the pain of their Carling Cup semi-final exit at Birmingham in midweek.
