Report | Swansea City U18s 1 Coventry City U18s 2
Swansea City conceded a late winner as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Coventry City at the Joma High Performance Centre.
A stoppage-time strike from Matthew Taylor secured all three points for the Sky Blues in what was ultimately a deserved result, with the visitors creating a number of chances throughout the contest.
It was an entertaining first half, with the Swans forced to respond after conceding inside the opening minute. However, Jon Beale’s side grew into the game and, after chances for Josiah Kallicharan, found an equaliser through Bobo Evans 11 minutes before the break.
Coventry came out strongly in the second half and, despite creating several chances to take the lead, had to wait until added time to find their goal, with the Swans having been unable to convert from the penalty spot not long before.
The Swans made the worst possible start as Coventry broke forward to open the scoring with seconds of the opening whistle. Alfie Smith was played in down the left before his low strike took a deflection and found its way past Tom Wright into the Swansea net.
Smith nearly turned provider soon after, teeing up Rio Richards-Dore just outside the area, but the midfielder’s effort on the run drifted wide of the post.
Swansea responded well to the early setback, with Kallicharan forcing Eliot Meredith into a fine save before another opportunity followed shortly after.
Bobby Lewis sent the forward through on goal, but his toe-poked effort was denied by the goalkeeper, who reacted quickly to smother.
The Swans’ pressure eventually told as a pass from Alex Godfrey released Evans down the left, and he calmly slotted past Meredith to bring the hosts level.
The hosts continued to grow into the game and nearly took the lead when Kaven Bloniarczyk met a Robinson free-kick at the back post, but the defender was unable to guide his header on target.
Elis Thomas then went close five minutes before the break, finding space 25 yards out and sending a strike towards the bottom corner, but his effort took a deflection and went wide.
There was a lengthy stoppage in the closing stages of the half after Godfrey raced onto a loose ball and looked to deliver a cross, but was caught by a Coventry defender and appeared to injure his ankle. The winger was stretchered off in a blow for Beale’s side just before half-time.
Coventry started the second half strongly, with Kah’Vanni Lincoln creating the first opportunity as he held off Jack May before firing straight at Wright.
Swansea soon settled, and a fizzing delivery from Thomas found Lewis, only for his first-time volley to rise over the bar.
The visitors continued to look dangerous down the flanks, with substitute Lucas Osborne racing down the wing before cutting inside and sending an effort over the bar, wit the sae player then scuffing his final shot after good link-up play with Richards-Dore.
Osborne then set up Taylor for the midfielder to drill wide of the post, and Coventry looked as though they would pay for those missed chances when the Swans responded with a flurry of opportunities of their own.
A delivery from Thomas found Harvey Gray, but his header was comfortably gathered by Meredith, before Thomas himself fired over after a quick one-two with Lewis.
A golden opportunity then fell to the hosts when Lewis was brought down in the area and a penalty was awarded. Milo Robinson stepped up from the penalty spot, but Meredith guessed correctly and made the save.
And Coventry went on to net the winner in added time. The ball fell to Taylor on the edge of the area, and the midfielder guided his effort into the corner to secure victory for the visitors.
Swansea City Under-18s:Tom Wright, Kaven Bloniarczyk (Dempsey Singer 67), Elis Thomas, Milo Robinson (captain), Carter Heywood, Jack May, Alex Godfrey (Ioan Johnston 45), Alfie Jones (Alffi Hughes 61), Josiah Kallicharan (Harvey Gray 61), Bobby Lewis, Bobo Evans.
Substitutes not used: Jakub Nowak.
Coventry City Under-18s: Eliot Meredith, Alexander-Jermaine Odei-Wontumi, Tyler Brophy, Cosar Bengi (Brody Clarke 80), Chukwu Uzochukwu, Caleb McBride (captain), Alfie Smith (Billy Petty 90), Matthew Taylor, Kah'Vanni Lincoln, Rio Richards-Dore (Marcel Vassell 80), Success Nidjebu (Lucas Osborne 46).
Substitutes not used: Finley Jones