Report | AFC Bournemouth U21s 4 Swansea City U21s 1

Swansea City Under-21s missed the chance to go top of the Professional Development League table as AFC Bournemouth came from behind to secure victory at the Vitality Stadium. 

Morgan Bates headed home his sixth goal in five games from a Dan Watts cross inside the opening 10 minutes to give the visitors the lead on the south coast.

But quickfire goals from Dacosta Gonzalez and Ash Clarke had the Cherries 2-1 up, before Koby Mottoh added a third on the cusp of half-time. 

Thomas Wright made some crucial saves after the restart, but Bournemouth would go on the seal the three points as substitute Balraj Landa tapped home the fourth and final goal. 

Swansea still remain in the top half of the table, having now won four of their six Professional Development League fixtures.

The Swans had the first meaningful effort on goal, with Bates heading over the bar from a Kai Rhodes cross.

Down the other end, keeper Wright produced a fine diving save to deny a powerful strike from Gonzalez.

Swansea then rattled the crossbar when Josh Pescatore's curving delivery found the feet of Sebastian Dabrowski, with the latter's effort cannoning off the woodwork. 

But the Swans did take the lead when the in-form Bates headed home the opener after good work by Watts.

However, the Cherries would rapidly hit back as Clarke's thunderous strike flew past Wright and into the top corner, before Gonzalez saw his left-footed effort take a deflection and find the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

The visitors were dealt further blows when Bates and Harlan Perry were forced off with head injuries; Callum Jones and Ramon Rees-Siso were summoned in their place.

And in eight minutes of stoppage time, Bournemouth went on to add a third as Mottoh's close-range volley was dispatched beyond Wright.

The visitors went closest early in the second half. Watts' strike from 25 yards was tipped over for a Swans corner, with Blair McKenzie heading the ball over the bar from the resulting set piece. 

Despite a promising spell from the Swans, the Cherries would net a fourth with substitute Landa tapping home from inside the box on the hour mark. 

Callum Jones went close twice in quick succession for the Swans as they sought a way back into the game in the closing stages while, at the other end, Wright was called into action to make his first save of note in the second half with a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Gonzalez once again. 

Swansea City Under-21s: Thomas Wright, Josh Pescatore, Sebastian Dabrowski, Harlan Perry (Ramon Rees-Siso 38), Blair McKenzie, Iestyn Jones, Dan Watts (captain), Thomas Woodward, Morgan Bates (Callum Jones 40), Yori Griffith, Kai Rhodes.

Substitutes: Callum Deacon, Zac Jeanes, Thomas Searle.