Report | Merthyr Town 3 Swansea City U21s 0
Swansea City Under-21s were defeated at Penydarren Park in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday evening against National League North side Merthyr Town.
Jacob Maddox had his side ahead early on, while the Swans created good chances through Dan Watts and Ben Lloyd.
Merthyr's Charlie Caswell doubled their lead in the 70th minute before Morgan Wigley struck from the left and his curling effort soared in to the net to make it three for the home team.
The Swans came into the fixture on the back of a 4-4 draw against Briton Ferry Llansawel last Saturday, after the age-grade side won 2-1 against another Cymru leagues team, Trefelin, in midweek.
Watts, Arthur Parker and Bobby Wales all featured at Penydarren following their trip to Austria as the trio featured in all three fixtures on the senior side’s pre-season camp.
Despite a strong press from the Swans at the start, the hosts would break the deadlock with four minutes on the clock.
Merthyr capitalised on a Swans defensive mistake and forward Maddox broke through one-on-one with Joe Collins, slotting the ball past the Irishman in the visiting goal.
Collins was called into action to make a save as Will Spiers' tight-angle shot proved no bother for the Swans stopper.
The Swans registered their first real chances with 20 minutes on the clock, both falling to Watts.
Lloyd's delivery proved just too high for the midfielder as he headed over the goal, before he saw his volley from distance bounce wide.
There were then big chances for either side in the space of two minutes. Collins made a big save to deny Wigley from close range before Merthyr stopper Miles Thomas tipped away a low effort from the Swans skipper Yori Griffith.
Five changes were made around the break with Kyrell Wilson, Gregory Asemokhai, Josiah Kallicharan, Milo Robinson and a trialist all introduced.
Merthyr Town doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining of normal time, substitute Caswell's clipped finish finding the bottom corner.
It was soon three goals to the good for the home side, as Wigley's run down the left allowed him to get free of the backline before sending a strike past the Swans stopper.
Swansea City Under-21s: Joe Collins (Trialist 81), Billy Clarke (Trialist HT), Iestyn Jones, Dan Watts (Kyrell Wilson HT), Arthur Parker (Harlan Perry 70) Jack Fanning (Gregory Asemokhai 56), Joel Cotterill (Staitham Bowen 56), Josh Pescatore, Bobby Wales (Milo Robinson 56), Yori Griffith, Ben Lloyd (Josiah Kallicharan 70)