Report | Carmarthen Town 1 Swansea City U21s 4

Swansea City Under-21s progressed to the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup with a comfortable victory over Cymru South side Carmarthen Town at Stadium LHP.

The Swans - finalists of this competition in the 2023-24 season - eased past their senior opponents at this stage of the competition for the second time in three years.

Morgan Bates opened the scoring in the first half from close range, but his goal was soon cancelled out by Liam Thomas and the sides remained level going into the break.

But the Swans enjoyed a fantastic second half, scoring three quality goals through a Caleb Demery brace and a Ramon Rees-Siso effort.

The under-21s' first competitive fixture of the new season saw first-year scholar Thomas Wright handed his first appearance for the development side in goal, whilst Kai Rhodes and Josiah Kallicharan were also introduced as substitutes for their bows.

The visitors made an energetic start, with Rees-Siso and Bates proving a threat in the final third, with the latter just unable to reach a Demery cross after a weaving run from Josh Pescatore.

The Swans looked comfortable, and Bates had two good chances in quick succession.

Firstly, he slid the ball just wide after Rees-Siso and Thomas Woodward had combined, and he then saw the Carmarthen keeper advance out of his goal smartly to prevent him reaching a through ball.

Swansea lost Woodward to injury, Yori Griffith his replacement, but they took a deserved lead not long after.

Rees-Siso was the instigator, feeding a lovely ball into the path of Bates, who kept his nerve to open the scoring.

However, the lead was shortlived as Carmarthen’s Thomas smashed home the equaliser from just outside of the box.

But the Swans made the perfect start to the second half as they restored their lead within minutes of the restart. 

Skipper Dan Watts controlled the ball well before laying it off for Rees-Siso. His initial shot was saved by the keeper, but he made no mistake to fire the follow-up effort into the net.

Another Swansea goal soon followed, and it came via a lovely team move which was finished off by Demery.

And the former Briton Ferry Llansawel youngster then showed outstanding control to bring down a high ball before cutting inside to drill home his second - and Swansea's fourth - goal of the afternoon.

Swansea had chances to further extend their lead, with Pescatore being denied twice in a matter of minutes, but they still eased into the second round and an away tie against Afan Lido.

Swansea City Under-21s: Thomas Wright, Josh Pescatore, Zac Jeanes, Jacob Cook, Ben Phillips, Iestyn Jones, Caleb Demery (Kai Rhodes 71), Dan Watts, Morgan Bates (Josiah Kallicharan 78), Thomas Woodward (Yori Griffith 20, Harlan Perry 45)), Ramon Rees-Siso (Callum Deacon 71).

Substitutes: Searle, Heywood.