Report | Swansea City U18s 4 AFC Bournemouth U18s 7

Swansea City-Under 18s fell to defeat in a high-scoring contest against AFC Bournemouth at the Joma High Performance Centre. 

The visitors raced into a 3-0 lead in 20 minutes, thanks to goals from George Chubinidze, Leyland Waite and Ethan Sills, before the Swans pulled one back through Harvey Gray.

A frantic final 15 minutes of the opening half produced four further goals - including one from Swans winger Billy Clarke as Dane Ndimukum (2) and Chubinidze added to Bournemouth's tally - and the hosts went into the break 6–2 down.

An improved second-half performance saw the Swans score goals through Gray and Solomon Baker, while limiting the Cherries to just one goal through Waite after the break, but they paid the price for a difficult first half.

The Swans made the worst possible start, falling behind after just two minutes when Chubinidze’s cross-cum-shot bounced past goalkeeper Thomas Wright and nestled in the bottom corner.

The Cherries doubled their lead eight minutes later. Waite collected the ball in the box, created space with some neat footwork, and curled a low effort into the bottom right corner.

The game was sweeping from end to end, with Waite striking the crossbar from a corner, before a swift Swans counter saw Clarke break into the area, only to be denied by Hayden McGhan in the Bournemouth goal.

The Cherries added a third just minutes later, a flowing team move ended with Sills sending a powerful strike beyond the grasp of Wright.

The Swans responded in the 25th minute, pulling one back through Gray after winning the ball high up the field. The forward rounded the keeper before his effort struck the inside of the left-hand post and crossed the line.

But hopes of getting back on terms were quickly dashed as Ndimukum capitalised on a loose pass to convert and, although Clarke soon replied, the visitors added a further goal with Ndimukum finding the net after a through ball had not been dealt with by the home defence.

And there was still time for the Cherries to further add to their tally as Chubinidze headed home Sills' set-piece delivery.

That left the Swans facing a mountain to climb after the break but they did get a goal back just before the hour mark as Jones won the ball and drove into the area to square for Gray to fire home. 

The three-goal deficit lasted only five minutes, however, as the Cherries struck for a seventh time. Benjamin Purches broke down the right and squared for Waite, who finished from inside the area.

The Swans had the final say five minutes from time when substitute Elis Thomas delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post for substitute Baker, who headed in from close range, but it was too little, too late.

Swansea City Under 18s: Thomas Wright, Kaven Bloniarczyk Wahab Ojetoro (Elis Thomas 45), Alex Godfrey, Brogan Popham (Jack May 56), Carter Heywood, Billy Clarke, Bobo Evans, Harvey Gray (Solomon Baker 82), Bobby Lewis (Ben Phillips 56), Callum Jones.

Bournemouth Under 18s: Hayden Mcghan, Benjamin Purches, Kelvin Arthur, Zac Christie, Ameer, Ali, Zhaviah Campbell (Jake Drewitt 66), Dane Ndimukum , Joe Spence (Thomas Stuckey 56), Leyland Waite, Ethan Sills (Eugene Gyedu 55), George Chubinidze (Zachary Sutton 66). 

Substitutes not used: Zachary Melin.