FULL-TIME: Swans U21s 1-1 Charlton

13th January
A wonder strike from James Loveridge earned Swansea City Under-21s a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at a rain-soaked Stebonheath Park on Monday afternoon.

Despite starting the game on the front foot, the Swans went behind midway through the first-half when Michael Smith put the visitors in front in the 26th minute.

The striker found himself in space at the far post of Swansea's goal and slotted home from close range.

But, in really poor playing conditions, Kristian O'Leary's side battled their way back into the game and were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 70th minute when Loveridge hit a sublime effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

The Swansea winger picked up possession deep inside the opposition's half before rifling home a wonderful strike, which gave Charlton goalkeeper Dillion Phillips no chance.

 

SWANSEA CITY U21s: Oliver Davies, Liam Shephard, Jernade Meade, Oscar Sielva, Joseph Jones, Scott Tancock ©, Gwion Edwards (James Loveridge, 62), Lee Lucas (Ryan Hedges, 62), Josh Sheehan, Rory Donnelly, Kenji Gorré.
SUBS: Gregor Zabret, Alex Gogic, Sam Evans

CHARLTON ATHLETIC U21s: Dillion Phillips, Oliver Muldoon, Morgan Fox, Bradley Jordan ©, Joe Gomez, Harry Lennon, Diego Poyet, Tobbie Sho Silver, Kardez Daniels (Addie Allez, 75), Tareiq Holmes-Dennis (Jack Munns, 55), Michael Smith.
SUBS: Harry Doherty, Harry Gerard, Terell Thomas.

In extremely wet conditions at Stebonheath Park, the Swans started off on the front foot as Oscar Sielva nearly opened the scoring when he attempted to nudge the ball over Charlton goalkeeper Dillion Phillips.

Rory Donnelly brought the ball down for Sielva to attempt to prod over the top of Phillips, but the goalkeeper did well to tip the ball wide of the post.

In the 17th minute, Diego Poyet should have put the visitors in front after a defensive error from the Swans saw the striker through on goal.

Poyet had a glorious opportunity one-on-one with Oliver Davies, but he was unable to take advantage of the mistake, lashing his shot wide.

Approaching the midway point of the first-half, the visitors found themselves in another precarious position when Josh Sheehan was fouled just outside the 18-yard box.

Donnelly fizzed the free-kick at goal, but his attempt flew inches over the bar. 

In the 26th minute, Charlton drew first blood when Michael Smith knocked home from close range.

The striker found himself in space at the far post and made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

HALF-TIME: Swansea City 0-1 Charlton Athletic

Ten minutes into the second-half, Kardez Daniels came close to doubling the visitors lead when he cut inside from the right before unleashing a shot, which flew just over the bar, from 20-yards. 

With 20 minutes left on the clock, substitute James Loveridge put the Swans back on terms with a wonder strike from 25-yards.

The young winger picked up possession on the edge of the box before hammering a strike into the top right-hand corner of the net, giving Phillips simply no chance.

And Loveridge nearly doubled his and Swansea's tally five minutes later when he burst down the left wing before crossing low across the edge of the 6-yard box. The ball rebounded back into the winger's path, but Loveridge could only slice his effort wide.