FULL-TIME: Swans U21s 3-1 Bristol City

7th October
Three first-half goals from Ryan Hedges, Rory Donnelly and Lee Lucas helped Swansea City Under-21s to win their first three points of the season against Bristol City.

Hedges got the Swans off to a flyer after reacting quickly to Kris Scott's blocked effort before hitting home from six yards.

But the visiting side hit back only moments later as Ryan Taylor converted from the spot, after Kevin Krans was brought down inside the area by Oliver Davies.

However, the quick equaliser didn't knock the home side out of their stride as they reacted positively through a headed goal by Donnelly, who then went on to win a penalty after being brought down by Bristol City goalkeeper Dylan Castenheira.

Lee Lucas made no mistake from the spot by launching his shot into the left-hand top corner of the goal.

SWANSEA CITY U21s: Oliver Davies, Connor Roberts, Jernade Meade, Josh Sheehan (Henry Jones, 90), Liam Sheppard, Scott Tancock (C), Alex Bray (James Loveridge, 69), Lee Lucas, Kris Scott, Rory Donnelly, Ryan Hedges (Kenji Gorre, 81). 
SUBS: Alex Gogic, Lewis Thomas.

BRISTOL CITY U21s: Dylan Castenheira, Ben Withey, Tom King, Jordan Wynter, Jack Batten, Gus Mufata (C), Toby Asala, Lewis Hall, Aaron Holloway, Ryan Taylor, Keiran Krans.
SUBS: Tom Fry, Scott Bevan, Ben Last, Max O'Leary.

The Swans began the game emphatically as Ryan Hedges gave the home side the lead inside two minutes, after latching on to Kris Scott's blocked effort. 

Hedges was first to react to Scott's deflected shot, poking the ball past Dylan Castenheira.

But Bristol City found the equaliser only four minutes later through a Ryan Taylor penalty, after Oliver Davies brought down Kevin Krans inside the box. 

There was no hesitation from Taylor as he calmly converted from 12 yards, hitting the ball into the left-hand bottom corner.

The game continued at a frenetic pace with both sides putting in some tough challenges, and Bristol City striker Taylor had a half-chance to grab the visitors' second as he found himself in space on the edge of the 18-yard box, but he sliced his effort wide.

Then, at the other end, Rory Donnelly punished the away side for the missed opportunity by nodding home Lee Lucas' free-kick cross. 

Donnelly, who won the free-kick on the left-hand side of the area, found himself unmarked at the back post and headed home Lucas' drilled ball in.

And the opening goalscorer Hedges nearly notched the home side's third after Alex Bray's cross found him in the box, but just as he pulled the trigger, his strike was terrifically blocked.

However, it didn't take long for the Swans to find their third - this time through a penalty of their own. 

Very much like Taylor, Lucas showed no sign of any nerves as he converted from the spot, launching his shot into the left-hand top corner, after Donnelly was brought down by Castenheira in the box.

Right on the cusp of half-time, Swans goalkeeper Davies pulled off a sublime save to deny Bristol City their second, somehow diving across to tip Toby Asala's 20-yard swerving shot around the post. 

The Bristol City midfielder's shot looked destined for the top corner, but Davies' save was truly exceptional.

Half-time: Swansea City 3-1 Bristol City

After the interval, Donnelly nearly doubled his tally by attempting an audacious chip over Castenheira, but the Bristol City goalkeeper read the situation well and caught the ball comfortably.

The Swans did well to dictate the tempo of the game by controlling possession, preventing the visitors from making any real threat to the Swansea goal.

However, Aaron Holloway looked like he was straight through on goal after latching onto a chipped through ball, but his first touch let him down and the ball ran through for Davies to collect.

With just over ten minutes left on the clock, Kris Scott came close to scoring against his hometown club, but his header flew just over the bar, before Swans substitute Kenji Gorre had an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the game, himself. 

Gorre did well to follow-up Donnelly's rebounding shot, but his driven effort was parried by Castenheira.

Despite some late pressure from the visitors, the Swans remained solid at the back to win their first three points of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS