Report | Swansea City U23s 2 West Ham United U23s 4

Swansea City Under-23s fell to defeat as Premier League 2 Division 2 leaders West Ham United came from behind to take the spoils at Landore.

The Swans surged into the lead in the 18th minute through Liam Cullen but Anthony Scully equalised for the visitors shortly after. 

West Ham took the lead just minutes into the second half with a fine finish from Nathan Holland, who completed his brace nine minutes from time. 

Dan Kemp fired home the Hammers’ fourth just two minutes later, although the Swans did have the final word in stoppage time courtesy of Cullen's wonder strike. . 

Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack made two changes to the side that started in Monday’s encouraging performance at West Brom.

Both came in the heart of midfield with Simon Paulet replacing skipper Jack Evans, while first-year scholar Erick Kenko made his debut in place of Kees de Boer. 

The first real chance for the Swans came after just five minutes, when Cullen latched onto the end of a Keiran Evans corner but his headed effort proved too powerful. 

West Ham’s keeper Joseph Anang then did well to deny the hosts moments later, as he saved Brandon Cooper's header from a Keiran Evans cross.

At the other end, Jake Thomas produced a great block to thwart a low drive from Joe Powell as West Ham searched for the opening goal.

However, it arrived for the Swans in the 18th minute with Cullen slotting home after Anang could only parry Evans' corner directly into his path. 

West Ham responded and equalised on the half-hour mark as they hit the hosts with a devastating counter-attack with Scully racing through on goal before tucking away his 13th goal of the season.

And the turnaround was completed five minutes after the break, when Holland beat Josh Gould with a low drive following some good play down the left flank.

The Swans had to be on guard to prevent themselves from going further behind, with Jake Thomas doing well to force away Holland's dangerous cross.

Substitute Josh Edwards made history when he entered the action in the 79th minute - becoming the first 15-year-old to appear for the under-23s. It was also his third game in the space of two days, having also turned out for his parent under-16s as well as the under-18s on Saturday.

However, the Swans were pegged back two minutes later following another ruthless counter with Holland cutting in from the left before firing past Josh Gould.

Gould was helpless again as the Hammers put the game beyond the hosts around 90 seconds later thanks to another wonderful strike from Kemp.

The Swansea number one then produced magnificent reflexes to force away a powerful Bernardo Rosa effort as the clock ticked down.

The hosts did have the final word, however, as Cullen scored a late consolation when he received the ball from substitute Ali Al-Hamadi, before bending a precise effort into the top corner.

Swansea City U23s: Josh Gould, Ryan Bevan, Cameron Evans, Jake Thomas, Brandon Cooper (capt), Erick Kenko, Simon Paulet, Josh Thomas (Ali Al-Hamadi, 58), Keiran Evans, Marc Walsh (Josh Edwards, 79), Liam Cullen. 

Subs not used: Lewis Webb, Adnaan Moti, Scott Butler.