Report | Swansea City U17s 0 Luton Town U17s 3
Swansea City Under-17s’ Professional Development League Cup campaign ended in defeat as Luton Town secured the trophy in the final at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The hosts, who had done superbly to reach the showpiece, had the better of large parts of the opening half, with striker Harvey Gray having their best chance.
But Alfie Shepherd fired the Hatters ahead six minutes before the break, and the visitors took control of the contest from that point.
Tate Xavier-Jones headed in their second just before the hour, and Benedict Benagr classily claimed their third.
It was a disappointing way to round off Swansea's run in the competition, but coach Joe Roberts and his players can be justifiably proud of the quality and resilience they have shown to get to this stage.
They certainly had their opportunities on the day particularly in a first half where, after an understandably cagey opening with a trophy on the line, there were a couple of chances in quick succession.
Tom Wright in the Swansea goal securely held Benagr’s strike after the Luton youngster had cut in from the left, before Kai Rhodes had a shot saved by Lucas Thomas at the other end, and then nodded the follow-up into the side-netting.
Swansea grew in confidence from that early chance, and a slick switch of play ended with Bobo Evans trying his luck from distance, but Thomas was equal to his right-footed effort.
The Hatters keeper then had a lot off when he advanced and failed to punch a free-kick into the box, but Ben Phillips was unable to adjust to send his header goalward.
Luton responded, with Christian Chigozie doing well to steal possession and head towards goal, but he dragged his effort wide of the target.
However, Swansea looked the more fluent side, and a lovely piece of footwork from Harlan Perry worked room for the captain to shoot, but he slipped at the vital moment and his strike lacked power as a result.
Rhodes sent a low effort wide of the near post after Alex Godfrey’s astute cutback had run through to him, but Luton’s more direct approach was given them opportunities of their own, and Wright did well to save with his feet after Harry Fox had been found in the box.
But Swansea missed the best chance yet just past the half-hour mark. Evans produced lovely footwork to beat a defender and round keeper Thomas before unselfishly squaring for Gray, but the striker was denied what looked a simple tap-in by a brilliant covering challenge.
And the missed opportunity was punished when Luton took the lead a few moments later.
The Hatters broke into space down the left and Benagr’s low cross was fired home emphatically by Shepherd.
The Swans had a good spell of pressure as the half-time whistle neared, but they returned to the dressing room a goal behind.
Their deficit nearly doubled early in the second half, goalscorer Shepherd heading wastefully over from a good delivery to the back post.
But it proved a brief let-off. Harry Fox swung in a corner which was nodded back across goal, and Xavier-Jones was on hand to head home from close range.
It left the hosts needing a quick response, and they nearly got one when substitute Callum Jones – the hat-trick hero the semi-final win over Cheltenham Town – brought down a bouncing ball and got away a low left-footed effort, but the keeper was able to save.
But Luton put the game to bed with 23 minutes to play when Benagr set off on a mazy run and exchanged passes with Dylan Stitt before firing home.
Swansea had a late chance to get on the scoresheet when Jones, who had been lively since his introduction, sent a low shot towards the bottom corner from a clever corner routine, but the strike was blocked as the academy side suffered defeat at the end of a memorable cup run.
Swansea City U17s: Tom Wright, Billy Clarke, Caio Ifans, Milo Robinson (Bobby Lewis 70), Ben Phillips, Carter Heywood (Brogan Popham 77), Bobo Evans (Kaven Bloniarczyk 70), Harlan Perry (captain), Harvey Gray (Alfie Jones 70), Alex Godfrey, Kai Rhodes (Callum Jones 57).
Luton Town U17s: Lucas Thomas, Kyron Roberts-Edema, Harry Fox, Zacharias Ioannides, Christian Chigozie (captain), Enoch Kwame Anson, Lloyd Asamoah Jr (Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso 84), Dylan Stitt, Tate Xavier-Jones (Finley Evans 77), Archie Shepherd (David Gawel 77), Benedict Benagr.
Unused Substitutes: Charlie Booth, Nassim El Gourja.
Referee: Adam Wilson
Attendance: 1,226