Three goals in eight second-half minutes left Coventry with a mountain to climb in next Friday's second leg of their FA Youth Cup final against West Ham at Upton Park.

The Hammers underlined their reputation as the best youth team in the country by overwhelming Coventry with a brilliant display of attacking football after the interval.

The match was played on a saturated pitch after four hours of rain but the young Hammers made light of the conditions and should have won by more.

They missed a first-half penalty but did not allow that to upset their composure and eventually it was effervescent midfielder Joe Cole who opened up Coventry for the first goal in the 70th minute. Within eight minutes they had made it three and were cruising.

Oxford referee Rob Harris pointed to the spot in the 41st minute when Coventry defender Mark Burrows slid in late on striker Richard Garcia.

But Bertie Brayley hit a tame penalty and Coventry's giant goalkeeper Chris Kirkland made a simple save.

The Hammers did not let that miss affect their game and they assumed complete dominance in the second half.

The first goal was a brilliant combination between Cole and Adam Newton. Cole split Coventry with a pass down the right flank and Newton sprinted forward to coolly lift the ball over Kirkland into the net.

Five minutes later an element of luck brought the second goal. A centre from the left went through the crowded goalmouth and deflected into the net off Stevland Angus, who appeared to know little about what happened.

Three minutes later a piece of individual brilliance from Newton again opened up Coventry's left flank and his low cross left Brayley a simple tap-in from close range.

Coventry's best effort came from Gary McSheffrey in the 64th minute but his left-foot shot was touched around the post by West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.