Report | Swansea City U18s 2 Colchester United U18s 3

Nine-man Swansea City Under-18s produced a hardworking and spirited display despite suffering a 3-2 defeat to Colchester United in the Professional Development League.

It was an impressive effort from a youthful Swans side that included under-14, under-15 and under-16 players, who battled admirably despite playing with a two-man disadvantage for over 60 minutes.

Jon Beale’s side made a perfect start, taking the lead inside four minutes through Ifan Harding. However, the Swans were soon reduced to ten men and Colchester equalised through Istan Henry before Archie Quick was dismissed, leaving Swansea with nine men. Joshua Adesanya then put the visitors ahead ten minutes before half-time.

Swansea came out fighting in the second half and drew level in the 70th minute, but as fatigue began to set in during the closing stages, Colchester found a late winner to secure the points.

There was also a special moment in the second half as under-15s player Jacinto Merrony-Janota made his debut for the age group, highlighting the pathway through the club’s academy system.

The young Swans made a fantastic start as Alfie Jones played Ioan Johnston down the right flank. The winger delivered a superb ball across goal to Harding, who finished smartly first time into the top corner to open the scoring.

Jack May went close just minutes later after an initial corner was cleared to the edge of the area, but his first-time volley flashed narrowly wide of the post.

Jones continued to cause problems, winning the ball inside the box before squaring it to Harding, but this time his effort was well saved by Colchester goalkeeper Oscar Parker.

Swansea were then reduced to ten men in the 18th minute when May was shown a straight red card for bringing down Istan Henry in what the referee deemed a last-man challenge - a decision that looked harsh from the Swans’ bench.

The visitors quickly used their numerical advantage to draw level. A through ball from the left was chased down by Henry, who calmly slotted past Jakub Nowak.

Things went from bad to worse for Swansea shortly after as they were reduced to nine men, with Archie Quick shown a straight red card for another last-man challenge on Adesanya.

The Swans were handed a let-off moments later when a loose pass in defence fell to Dwayne Campina Do Vale, who drove through on goal, but Dempsey Singer did brilliantly to narrow the angle and deny him.

Colchester did eventually take the lead nine minutes before half-time when a delivery from the left found Adesanya inside the area, and he converted from close range past Nowak.

The visitors continued to threaten down the flanks, with Brume Okuku delivering a dangerous ball into the near post for Adesanya, whose flick drifted just over the crossbar.

The Swans started the second half brightly and had a great opportunity to level the scores in the opening minutes. A superb touch and pass from substitute Harvey Gray sent Ifan Harding through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the forward was unable to keep his effort down as it flew over the bar.

Colchester enjoyed the majority of possession with their numerical advantage and looked to threaten through deliveries into the box, but a superb block from Elis Thomas denied Adesanya what looked a certain effort on goal.

Swansea continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack, with a chipped ball from Gray finding Johnston down the right, but his strike was straight into the hands of Oscar Parker.

Nowak was then forced into an excellent save just after the hour mark when Dwayne Campina Do Vale struck a low effort inside the area, but the Swansea goalkeeper reacted quickly to turn the ball around the post.

Swansea eventually found a deserved equaliser when a pinpoint pass from Johnston released Lewis, who beat his defender before calmly placing his shot into the bottom corner to spark celebrations on the Swans bench.

However, Colchester regained the lead in the 80th minute when a ball into the box was spilled by Nowak, allowing a United player to react first and tap the ball into an empty net.

Nowak kept the deficit to one in the closing stages, producing another excellent stop after a deep delivery from Adesanya found Riley Hughes at the back post, but his first-time effort was denied by the outstretched leg of the goalkeeper.

Lewis had a late opportunity to grab an equaliser in added time, controlling a deep set-piece delivery well, but his effort was straight at Parker, who gathered comfortably to secure the three points for the visitors.

Swansea City Under-18s: Jakub Nowak, Dempsey Singer(Harvey Gray 46'), Elis Thomas, Alffi Hughes(Damian Dabrowski 81'), Jack May, Archie Quick, Bobo Evans, Alfie Jones (C), Ifan Harding(Bobby Lewis 61'), Sol Baker, Ioan Johnston(Jacinto Merrony-Janota 81').

Substitutes: Tom Wright.