West Ham kept their charge for the Nationwide First Division play-offs on course with a hard-earned victory over Stoke.

The Hammers were on the back foot for much of the first half at the Britannia Stadium and struggled at times to get out of their own half.

But with six minutes of the first period remaining David Connolly wriggled free in the area to score before Marlon Harewood sealed the points after the break.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis kept faith with Neil Cutler in goal despite the return from injury of Ed de Goey.

Ade Akinbiyi was absent after failing a late fitness test on a troublesome back injury, while Lewis Neal was also sidelined with an ankle problem.

For West Ham, Tomas Repka served the second of three-match ban and Nigel Reo-Coker completed his two-match suspension.

But there was a double boost for boss Alan Pardew with Michael Carrick and Steve Lomas both declared fit.

The pair have been struggling with hamstring problems recently but were given the all-clear to play and they were both involved early on.

It was Stoke who started the brighter, with Clive Clarke blasting over the crossbar from 25 yards after six minutes.

However, gradually the Hammers settled to their task with Matthew Etherington curling in a dangerous free-kick that forced Clarke to clear four minutes later.

Lomas began to pull the strings for the visitors in midfield, marshalling those around him and maintaining possession effectively.

But in terms of goalmouth action both sides struggled woefully to create anything in the final third for much of the half.

With nearly a quarter-of-an-hour played Clarke again tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target.

And Stoke were unfortunate again soon after when the same player was well-tackled as he prepared to pull the trigger.

As the half progressed, the Potters began to dominate, without ever producing enough invention to break down the Hammers' stubborn rearguard.

And ultimately they were made to pay for not capitalising on their territorial advantage as six minutes before the break Connolly worked space well in the area before slotting home from close range.

Undeservedly behind, Stoke opted to send on Sebastian Svard at the break in place of Peter Hoekstra.

But that did little to reverse their fortunes and within quarter-of-an-hour of the restart they were further behind.

In a flowing move that involved Bobby Zamora, Connolly and Etherington the Hammers swept the ball forward out of their own half.

Zamora exchanged passes with Connolly before feeding Etherington down the right and when the former Spurs winger curled to the far post, Harewood guided his header inside the post.

Sensing the game slipping away from them, Stoke looked for an instant response and after 60 minutes Darel Russell flashed a shot wide from 20 yards.

Then Jermaine Palmer was sent on in place Marcus Hall as the Potters opted to introduce another striker.

With time running out Stoke's frustration began to show and Gerry Taggart was booked for a foul on Harewood.

But for all their endeavour the hosts could not find a way through as West Ham held on to consolidate their place in the top six.

Teams

Stoke Cutler, Halls, Thomas, Taggart, Marcus Hall (Palmer 66), Henry, Clarke, Hoekstra (Svard 45), Commons, Russell (Gunnarsson 85), Noel-Williams.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Hill.

Booked: Taggart.

West Ham Bywater, Ferdinand, Dailly, Melville, Mullins, Etherington (Cohen 70), Lomas, Carrick, Zamora, Connolly (Hutchison 77), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Deane, McAnuff.

Goals: Connolly 39, Harewood 59.

Att: 18,227

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).