NEWPORT County AFC started the road to recovery with a 1-0 win against West Ham Under-21s at Rodney Parade in the EFL Trophy.

The Exiles got a morale-boosting success ahead of Saturday’s League Two trip to Barrow thanks to Oliver Greaves’ goal in the 83rd minute.

The substitute, who scored on opening weekend at Cheltenham, struck when penalties were looming to set up a November trip to Reading when qualification for the knockout stages will be on the line.

County also got a nice cash boost courtesy of the victory and got a welcome clean sheet after the 4-1 defeat to Port Vale and 4-0 embarrassment at Swindon.

Now they go from battling with youthful Premier League prospects to facing gnarled League Two men in Cumbria.

It will be a much sterner test – particularly given the continued league absence of the influential Ciaran Brennan – but County at least head north having got last Saturday out of their system.

(Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Head coach Nelson Jardim fielded a strong side, no doubt chasing a reaction to the Swindon shambles.

Nick Townsend had to start in goal because of Jacob Carney’s red card against Cheltenham – young Bailey Hopkins was the back-up – while Ciaran Brennan was able to play before finishing his three-game suspension against Barrow and Crewe in League Two.

Kyle Jameson joined him at the heart of the defence with forwards Kiban Rai, Luke Jephcott and Kyle Hudlin also coming in for starting opportunities with the Exiles starting in 4-4-2, albeit a fluid one.

All the early action went through Bobby Kamwa down County’s right but the hosts failed to test Finley Herrick with long-range efforts with the Hammers ‘keeper only tested by a cross that was diverted straight into his arms by defender Oliver Scarles.

The Exiles delved into last season’s repertoire in the 15th minute to pull a free-kick back to the edge of the box but this time captain Bryn Morris failed to enjoy the same results as against Stockport, curling an effort a couple of yards over.

That was followed by a good low drive by Jephcott but Herrick got down low to his right and held on well.

The game then had a long spell without goalmouth incident as the young Hammers, showing the flashes of raw quality as you would expect, grew into the game.

It wasn’t exactly a thrill a minute, although County would have been reasonably content to head to their changing room with 0 next to West Ham’s name after their first half in Wiltshire.

The Exiles started the second half on the front foot yet it took a good block in the box by Morris to keep things level after a Hammers break created a chance for Lewis Orford.

(Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

It took an even better defensive intervention by Baker on the hour when Kamarai Swyer rounded Townsend after latching onto a long ball but was taken out wide and then the defender cleared from under his bar.

That was followed by a triple chance by Jardim with Courtney Baker-Richardson, Oliver Greaves and Cameron Antwi adding fresh legs.

However, the next big chance came at the other end in the 70th minute with a break down County’s left leaving Townsend to save strongly with his left hand from a powerful Ryan Battrum effort.

Penalties were looming but then County hit the front with eight minutes to go when Baker-Richardson won the race to a long ball, dinked the ball over ‘keeper Herrick and Greaves slid in to finish the job.

That promoted a response from the youngsters and Orford headed narrowly wide of Townsend’s goal from a deflected cross.

However, County protected their lead to get a lift for the weekend trip to Holker Street.

County: Townsend, Baker, Brennan, Jameson, Glennon, Morris (captain) K Evans (Antwi 61), Rai (Greaves 61), Kamwa, Jephcott (Mawene 86), Hudlin (Baker-Richardson 61).

Substitutes not used: Hopkins, Sanca, C Evans.

Goal: Greaves Referee: Oliver Mackey.

Attendance: 697 (59 West Ham).