SWINDON Town were edged out 3-2 by West Ham United U21s in a frenetic Checkatrade Trophy game at the County Ground.

Town found themselves behind early on when Martin Samuelsen capitalised on a mistake made by Swindon’s James Dunne in the sixth minute. 

Luke Norris was on hand to restore parity from the spot when the United youngsters were guilty of handball in the 47th minute.

Hammers captain Moses Makasi then restored the lead for the Premier League youngsters with a side-footed finish midway through the second half.

Substitute Paul Mullin had the desired effect when he nodded home an Olly Lancashire knock-down in the 73rd minute to make it 2-2.

But Dan Kemp had the final say for the visitors when he pounced on a Antonio Marintez’s shot which bounced off the post in the 86th minute to seal the win.

David Flitcroft opted to make five changes to the team who claimed a 1-1 draw with Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.

Will Henry, Dion Conroy, Ellis Iandolo, Kaiyne Woolery and Luke Norris were all given the green light, with Chris Robertson, Harry Smith, Paul Mullin and James Brophy dropping to the bench, while goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was not included in the matchday squad.

The first of the chances fell to the home side when Woolery dug out a deep cross towards an incoming Norris at the back post, only for Town’s number nine to head his effort over the bar in the fifth minute.

After that initial chance, Town handed the Hammers the lead a minute later when Dunne’s loose pass was latched onto by Samuelsen, who had no issue rounding Henry before slotted the ball home left-footed.

Just 11 minutes in the visitors showed another glimpse of their ability when Sead Haksabanovic leathered a left-footed effort against the upright when he found a pocket of space in the Town penalty area.

The game had been played at a frantic pace to that point, so it was no surprise there was a slight lull in the action as both teams caught their breath.

Swindon took that chance to regain some momentum and came close to levelling the game when Amine Linganzi met the cross of Hussey to head home, but he had been adjudged offside by the linesman.

Hussey had provided a good outlet for Town during the first instalment, and on the stroke of half-time Swindon had their best chance of the game.

The on-loan defender whipped a wicked ball across the face of goal from a free-kick, but a no-one in a red shirt could get the all-important touch as Flitcroft’s troops went back down the tunnel 1-0 down.

Swindon made the ideal start to the second-half, following good work down the right from defender Ben Purkiss, who’s cross struck the arm of Vashon Neufville.

Norris stood up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake as he thumped the ball low and hard past Trott, who dived to his right.

Swindon had been rejuvenated by their equaliser as the game returned to a more frantic pace with half an hour to play.  

In the 62nd minute Flitcroft threw caution to the wind with a straight swap upfront when Smith and Mullin were introduced at the expense of Woolery and Norris, while Brophy came on for McDermott.

But it was the Hammers who took the lead in the 68th minute when captain Makasi capitalised on a scramble in the Town penalty area to side-foot past Henry.

Town levelled once again in the 73rd minute when Hussey’s corner was headed back across goal to an incoming Mullin who nodded it into the net from close range.

With an injection of fresh legs, Swindon were in the ascendency and substitute Smith came close to opening his Town goal account but could only fumble his shot at the back post wide.

Substitute Kemp was on hand to give West Ham the lead in the 86th minute for the third time when he was quickest to react to Martinez’s shot which bounced off the post, before bundling home the rebound to seal the win.