Report | Millwall U18s 3 Swansea City U18s 0
Ten-man Swansea City Under-18s suffered defeat as three first-half goals from Millwall ensured they extended their lead at the top of the Professional Development League table.
The Lions opened the scoring with seconds of the kick-off, Jack Howland heading home, and two further two goals followed in quick succession as Frankie Baker and Joshua Stephenson also found the net.
The Swans battled gamely after the break, but there was to be no way back into the contest for the visitors.
There had been two changes from the win over Reading as 15-year-old Yori Griffith was handed a start with Kit Margetson in between the sticks.
The Swans had faced the Lions a little over two weeks ago when they played out a draw, but they trailed early here as they latched onto a loose ball and a lofted forward pass was headed home by Howland.
It was a nightmare start but the Swans had the next chance as Zane Myers had a shot blocked at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Skipper Josh Carey then saw his free-kick parried away by the Millwall keeper, before Myers could not quite reach a ball across the six-yard box.
The Swans kept plugging for an equaliser and another decent phase of passing started by Myers looked promising for the visitors. Myers’ inviting cross into the area found Goeff Bony’s head, but the Ivorian striker couldn't direct it on target.
Out of the blue, the Lions pounced for their second against the run of play; Baker raced into the box beating his marker to drill home from close range.
Just moments later, and with barely half an hour on the clock, Millwall were celebrating a third.
Howland stormed down the left to pick out Stephenson after the Swans lost possession in midfield, and he made no mistake in the six-yard box to slot it past Margetson.
The Swans needed a fast start to the second half, and Aimar Govea got his head to a Iwan Morgan delivery, but his header was parried away by George Evans.
Morgan and Griffith then combined on the right to set up Richard Faakye, but he saw his shot blocked by Evans at the near post.
Faakye got involved once again as he saw his low effort slide just wide, before Dan Watts’ volley was blocked on the edge of the area.
And there was more frustrated from Swans when Morgan saw red 10 minutes from time after an altercation.
Next up for the Swans is a home fixture with Cardiff City at Landore Training Ground on Saturday, February 25. (11am kick-off).
Millwall Under-18s: Goerge Evans, Kyron Horsely-Mckay (Abdulchai Abduleez 45'), Joshua Stephenson, Alfie Massey, Ernie Cheeseman (captain), Adebapo Olugbodi, Oliver Whitby, Frankie Baker, Kawali Heywood, Jack Howland.
Unused subs: Elidon O’Doyle, Dean Forbes.
Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Sam Parker (David Roberts 38’), Arthur Parker (Thomas Woodward 87'), Richard Faakye, Jada Mawongo, Josh Carey (captain), Aimar Govea (Dan Watts 60'), Yori Griffith (Cam Llewellyn 87'), Geoff Bony, Iwan Morgan, Zane Myers.
Unused subs: Ewan Griffiths.