Report | Swansea City U21s 2 Barnsley U21s 3

Swansea City Under-21s suffered their first home league defeat since December, as a stoppage-time goal gave Barnsley a 3-2 victory at the Joma High Performance Centre.

Goals from Morgan Bates and Josh Pescatore gave the Swans an early two-goal cushion, but a Stanley Holder penalty late in the first half, followed by a second-half strike from substitute Max Rayner, looked to have ensured the teams would share the spoils.

However, a late goal from Lewis Gould ensured Barnsley took all three points back to Yorkshire.

Anthony Wright’s side produced a dominant first-half display, taking the lead inside seven minutes. Further chances fell to Bates and Griffith before Pescatore added a second, but the Swans were left frustrated after conceding late on, with Holder converting Barnsley’s first shot on target from the penalty spot.

The second half proved to be a more open contest, with Barnsley’s aggressive press causing problems for Swansea. The visitors scored a deserved equaliser with 13 minutes remaining, as Rayner fired home a half-volley from just outside the area before Gould added the third in added time.

The young Swans had started brightly and opened the scoring inside seven minutes. Goalkeeper Joe Collins played out to the right to Pescatore, and the winger delivered a superb cross — just as he had against Hull last Tuesday — for Bates, who arrived at the back post to tap home from close range.

Bates went close again minutes later after a great turn from Yori Griffith created space before sending the Swans number nine through on goal, with his effort well saved by Ashton Wilson.

Moments later, the Barnsley goalkeeper was called into action again. Pescatore continued his lively start by picking out Griffith, whose effort towards the bottom corner was parried away by Wilson.

Pescatore then went from provider to scorer, bringing down a long ball from Blair McKenzie before driving towards goal and firing a low strike through the legs of Wilson to make it four goals in three matches for the 19-year-old.

The visitors first real chance of the half came in the closing stages, when left-back Robson Woodcock delivered a cross onto the head of captain Luke Alker, but his glancing effort drifted wide. 

However, Barnsley were awarded a penalty in added time after Caio Ifans brought down Holder. The midfielder stepped up and fired his spot-kick straight down the middle to halve the away side's deficit going into the break.

A quick corner routine provided the Swans’ first chance of the second half, as Aimar Govea played the ball to the edge of the area for Pescatore, whose low effort towards the bottom-left corner was well saved by Wilson.

Swansea continued to enjoy more of the ball heading into the final 15 minutes, and a slick move saw Griffith combine with Billy Clarke before firing at Wilson.

But Barnsley found an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining after a ball down the right was delivered into the box. The Swans failed to clear their lines, and the ball fell to substitute Rayner, who fired a half-volley into the bottom corner.

The visitors looked to build on that momentum, with Rayner cutting inside and finding Alker, but the forward’s curling effort from distance drifted well wide of the post.

A golden opportunity then fell to the Tykes in the final minute of normal time. Noah Town delivered a superb ball across goal that just evaded Gould at the back post, meaning the scores remained level heading into added time.

However, Barnsley would snatch the win in stoppage time, as Gould reacted quickest at the back post to guide the ball home and seal all three points.

Swansea City Under-21s: Joe Collins, Billy Clarke, Caio Ifans, Bobo Evans, Blair McKenzie, Callum Deacon, Josh Pescatore, Bobby Lewis (Alfie Jones 58), Morgan Bates (Josiah Kallicharan 31), Yori Griffith (captain), Aimar Govea (Caleb Demery 58).

Substitutes not used: Thomas Wright, Jack May.

Barnsley: Aston Wilson, Idreess Namisi (Max Rayner 66), Robson Woodcock (Kalaaab Daniel 57), Arley Kay (Kingston Simbai 57), Isaac Smith, Ben Jordison, Kieran Graham (Noah Town 66), Stanley Holder, Luke Alker (captain), Franklin Middleton, Santino Ohanaka (Lewis Gould 57).