Report | Swansea City U21s 1 Millwall U21s 1

A late goal from Sam Parker saw Swansea City Under-21s secure a point against Millwall Under-21s, and extend their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions, at the Joma High Performance Centre.

Millwall took the lead late in the first half through Elias Mansor, but Parker’s composed finish in the final minute of normal time earned the Swans a deserved share of the spoils.

The Swans created plenty of chances throughout the contest and will have good cause to feel this was two points dropped.

The opening stages were cagey, with the visitors enjoying more possession without creating much in the way of clear chances. 

The first effort on goal fell to Mansor, but his tame strike from just outside the area was comfortably saved by Tom Wright in the Swansea goal.

Swansea began to grow into the contest, looking dangerous down the flanks through Callum Jones and Josh Pescatore, though forwards Tom Woodward and Morgan Bates were unable to apply the finishing touch to a series of dangerous deliveries from out wide.

A slick move midway through the half saw Woodward play Jones through on goal with support up with him, but the winger’s low effort was denied by the outstretched leg of Millwall goalkeeper Casper Linder. 

Jones continued to be Swansea’s main threat, later producing a superb touch from a crossfield pass before curling an effort towards the far corner, forcing Linder into a full-stretch save to turn the ball behind.

From the resulting corner, Pescatore delivered onto the head of Woodward, whose initial header was blocked before his follow-up was cleared by the Millwall defence.

The closing moments of the half were action-packed, with Wright producing a superb double save to deny Caleb Redhead, before making another crucial stop to keep out Rafiq Lamptey seconds later.

However, Millwall broke the deadlock shortly afterwards when Benicio Baker-Boaitey lifted a precise pass over the defence for Mansor, who took the ball down before drilling a fine finish into the bottom corner.

Woodward had a chance to respond before the interval after being teed up by Bates, but his effort flew over the bar as the home side headed back to the dressing rooms a goal down.

Swansea came out strongly after the break, determined to respond. Woodward drove into the area early on but fired into the side-netting from 12 yards.

The hosts thought they had equalised with 25 minutes remaining when Parker’s fizzing delivery found Woodward, whose shot was blocked before Bates’ follow-up was cleared off the line by Tristan Parkes.

Sustained pressure followed, with Woodward again going close after driving through midfield, but his placed effort drifted narrowly wide of the target. Parker also threatened, cutting inside before firing into the side-netting as Millwall continued to sit deep and protect their lead.

The Swans finally found their breakthrough in the final minute of normal time. A quick move down the left saw Josiah Kallicharan deliver into the area, with Bates showing good composure to hold the ball up, before Parker arrived to slot calmly past Linder and spark jubilant celebrations.

Swansea pushed for a late winner, with Linder forced into another save from Woodward before being replaced, while Kai Rhodes curled an effort narrowly wide as the points were shared in south Wales.

Swansea City Under-21s: Tom Wright, Sam Parker, Callum Deacon (Blair Mckenzie 74), Bobo Evans (Alfie Jones 60), Brogan Popham, Ben Phillips, Josh Pescatore (Kai Rhodes 74), Dan Watts, Morgan Bates, Tom Woodward, Callum Jones (Josiah Kallicharan 64). 

Substitutes not used: Evan Anderson. 

Millwall Under-21s: Caspar Linder (Justin Ndikum 90), Sacha Viera, Daniel Emuze, Oliver Whitby, Dean Forbes (William Wright 46), Tristan Parkes, Benicio Baker-Boaitey (Tristan Hamann-Chanes 75), Rafiq Lamptey (captain) (Edward Payton 62), Caleb Redhead, Elias Mansor, Sheldon Kendall.

Substitutes not used: Louis Rogers.