Report | Ipswich Town U18s 1 Swansea City U18s 2

First-half goals from Thomas Woodward and Rohan Davies sent Swansea City Under-18s through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

The opening half was an entertaining affair with chances for both sides, but the Swans were the ones to break the deadlock after Thomas Woodward finished calmly from Aimar Govea's delivery.

The visitors would double their lead minutes later with Davies chesting home after Govea had struck the woodwork.

The Tractor Boys pulled a goal back on the brink of half-time as Steven Turner converted a penalty, but there were no further goals in the second half as the Swans reached the fourth round for the first time since the 2020-2021 campaign.

The Swans had travelled with Callum Jones in the under-18 squad for the first time after the 15-year-old impressed during Wales’ recent Victory Shield campaign.

The game started at a frantic pace. From the first whistle Woodward launched an attack that saw the home defence scramble to clear while, at the other end, Swansea captain Jack Fanning saw yellow for a foul which brought an end to an Ipswich counter-attack.

Chuks Uzor thought he had put the hosts ahead when his close-range shot was superbly saved by Kit Margetson as it threatened to find its way into the net.

Margetson was forced to make another save after blocking Ashton Boswell’s effort after the Ipswich man had been played in on goal.

The Swans were looking comfortable in possession, but the home side were seeing the better of the chances. Alex Graham’s slide-rule pass down the right found Boswell’s run before the forward struck a shot wide of the far post.

In-form striker Davies looked to respond for the Swans, sending a thunderous effort goalward after Dan Watts had won possession, but keeper Woody Williamson punched the strike away.

But he could not prevent Swansea opening the scoring when Govea stormed down the left wing before flicking a cross into the area for Woodward to slot home his 10th goal of the season.

And the age-grade side soon doubled their lead. Govea got involved again down the left before seeing his shot from a tight angle ricochet off the crossbar.

And Davies was on hand to fire the rebound into the net. 

But the deficit was quickly halved when the referee pointed to the spot following a foul on Jacob Mazionis in the box, with Turner converting on the stroke of the interval.

Having got themselves back in the game, the hosts started the second half strongly but the Swans regained control and reasserted themselves.

Sam Parker and Woodward combined superbly but were crowded out by a host of Ipswich defenders.

Davies’ pass then sent Woodward clean through on goal; the 16-year-old was sent tumbling in the area but no penalty was given.

Challenges in the area on Jacob Cook and Davies also yielded no spot-kick, to Swansea frustrations.

But the visitors came through six minutes of stoppage time to prevail and reach the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2020.

Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Jack Fanning (captain), Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Iestyn Jones (Ben Phillips 60), Dan Watts, Sam Parker, Yori Griffith (Harlan Perry 78), Rohan Davies, Tom Woodward, Aimar Govea.

Unused substitutes: Ewan Griffiths, Teo Minchev, Tom Searle, Josh Pescatore, Callum Jones.