NEWPORT County AFC were beaten by a beautiful strike on a horrible night as West Ham United under-21s edged a tight EFL Trophy tie at a rain-soaked Rodney Parade.

Having won 2-0 at Cheltenham Town in their first match in this competition three weeks ago, County knew that another win would put them on the brink of the knockout stages.

But it wasn’t to be as they created a host of chances without ever finding the composure required on a frustrating night for the sparse crowd.

The young Hammers arrived on a nine-game unbeaten run, having beaten Bristol Rovers in their first Trophy tie and thumped Middlesbrough Under-21s 5-0 in their last match.

Steve Potts’ side are currently fifth in the PL2 table, having scored 20 goals in just seven games.

They could only manage one here, but it was a spectacular strike from Gideon Kodua on 63 minutes that was worthy of winning any game.

Coughlan’s starting XI showed four changes from Saturday’s impressive 2-0 win at Gillingham, with Shane McLoughlin, Declan Drysdale, Aaron Wildig and Will Evans rested.

In came Lewis Payne, James Waite, Nathan Wood and Kiban Rai, while academy prospects Fraser Needham and Alfie Young were named on the bench.

Omar Bogle again led the line after his two penalties at Gillingham to claim three points were overshadowed by the arrest of a home fan for racially abusing the striker.

Bogle was flanked by Rai and Wood in an attack-minded 3-4-3 formation and the Exiles were on the front foot from the start.

There were less than three minutes on the clock when Wood rattled the post with a fierce effort and Bogle saw a shot blocked five minutes later after robbing dithering defender Levi Laing.

Bondswell then headed over at the far post before Bogle fired just wide in the 15th minute as the chances kept coming.

Bryn Morris almost opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a lovely touch on edge of the area to beat his man, but he then fired over the top.

The visitors looked technically accomplished and they did pose a threat on the break, with George Earthy firing into the side netting soon after Morris’ chance.

Rai then earned a rebuke from Coughlan on the touchline as he brought down a high ball beautifully but blasted his shot over the top, ignoring Bogle and Payne in space.

County were dominating possession and territory, but they had to be alert to counter-attacks and Nick Townsend pulled off a fine reflex save to deny Kodua before Ryan Delaney blocked Patrick Kelly’s effort on the rebound.

Earthy then skied the best chance of the night after a fine move from the Premier League academy boys.

Payne went close at the other end after being picked out by Scot Bennett with a clever corner routine, curling his shot just over the bar from the edge of the area.

And there were two more chances before the break as Payne turned provider for Morris with a neat cutback, but the midfielder once again missed the target, and Rai poked wide from Waite’s cross.

County kept creating openings in the second half; Payne headed over at the far post from Rai’s deep cross and the left wing-back was then denied a shot on goal by a superb recovery tackle from Brazilian youngster Luizao on the hour.

It came as something of a surprise then when West Ham took finally broke the deadlock as Kodua rifled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards, moments after Townsend had denied Earthy following a superb solo run into the box.

Rai had a golden chance to level five minutes later when Payne’s miscued shot found him in space six yards out, but he could only shoot weakly at goalkeeper Jacob Knightsbrigde.

Townsend kept his side in it with a fine save to keep out Lewis Orford’s shot, and Coughlan was clearly not ready to give up on the win and £8,000 in prize money as he brought on Evans, Wildig and Drysdale for the final quarter.

Townsend denied Kodua a second, while Bogle and Bondswell went close to levelling late on and there was a big shout for a penalty after an apparent handball in the Hammers’ box in stoppage time.

There was even time for two separate scuffles involving Bogle and Evans in time added on.

But there was no way back into the contest for County, who now turn their attention to Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at home to Oldham Athletic.

County (3-4-3): N Townsend; R Delaney, S Bennett (D Drysdale, 74), M Baker; L Payne, B Morris, J Waite (A Wildig, 74), M Bondswell; K Rai (W Evans, 74), O Bogle, N Wood

Substitutes not used: F Needham, S McLoughlin, O Thomas, A Young

Booked: J Waite, L Payne, O Bogle, M Bondswell, W Evans

Referee: C Hicks

Attendance: 800