Report | Swansea City U21s 3 Hull City U21s 1
Swansea City Under-21s continued their excellent run of form as goals from Cameron Congreve, Ruben Davies and Azeem Abdulai sealed a fifth win in six Professional Development League games at the Swansea.com Stadium.
The hosts, cheered on by a healthy Easter holiday crowd, made an excellent start and surged into the lead as Congreve and Davies netted in quick succession.
Hull pulled a goal back via an opportunistic finish from Josh Hinds, but their hopes of a fightback were ended by Abdulai’s smart finish in the closing stages as Anthony Wright watched his Swans side make it three wins from three when playing at the stadium this season.
The result also keeps them third in the south section table and still within sight of the top two as the season nears its conclusion.
There were a number of impressive showings with head coach Russell Martin and assistant Matt Gill in attendance, with Congreve, Liam Smith and skipper Joel Cotterill among them.
The Swans had shown three changes from their win over Ipswich on Friday, with Lewis Webb, Congreve and Ben Lloyd coming in to the starting line-up.
The Swans started brightly, Congreve and Smith making some eye-catching forward runs and both being involved in a fine move that ended with the final pass for the former Manchester City youngster just been a little too heavy.
Smith was proving a handful down the right, and his pull-back just evaded Davies, fresh from his four-goal showing against Ipswich, on the edge of the six-yard box.
But the Swans did take the lead in the 13th minute. Smith won the ball back in the Hull area, and laid off for Abdulai and Congreve to exchange passes, with the latter finding the net as his low shot rolled into the bottom corner despite Hull keeper Dave Robson getting a hand to it.
Just seconds later and it was 2-0, with Smith again the main architect.
The Scot drove infield from the right, and his lay-off was dispatched into the top corner by Davies’ right foot.
The Swans kept coming, Tivonge Rushesha seeing a shot deflected wide from a Congreve lay-off.
Hull managed to take some of the sting out of the repeated Swansea attacks and threatened as Will Jarvis drove forward to send a low show wide of the target.
Tigers midfielder Harry Wood was then denied by a brilliant save from Webb, who tipped the midfielder's free-kick onto the crossbar when it had looked destined for the top corner.
The Swans were then forced into a change as injury saw Kai Ludvigsen replaced by Harry Jones in defence.
And Hull pulled a goal back when the Swans were robbed of possession and a ball forward fell for Hinds to control and take the ball round the onrushing Webb and volley into the unguarded net.
Swansea should have restored their two-goal lead immediately; Abdulai seizing on loose work by Wood on the end of his own box but his pass to give Lloyd a simple finish was over-hit and the chance was wasted.
The hosts retained the lead at the break but had a real let-off when Hakeem Sandah spooned over the bar after good work from Sincere Hall down the Hull right.
The visitors threatened again, Webb making a superb double save to deny Jarvis after the winger had got in down the left side of the area.
At the other end substitute Josh Thomas was denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle from Jack Leckie as he bore down on goal.
The Swans had control of proceedings but knew they needed another goal to put the game to bed.
Lloyd’s lovely dribble and cross ended with Robson pushing the ball away from the toes of Thomas, while Congreve sent an effort wide from distance inside the final 15 minutes.
But the Swans made sure of the three points when Sam Leverett advanced down the left and pulled back for Abdulai to steer the ball into the bottom corner.
The hosts had Corey Hurford sent off in stoppage time after a clash with Harry Wallis, but were able to see the game out.
Swansea City U21s: Lewis Webb; Tivonge Rushesha, Ben Blythe, Kai Ludvigsen (Harry Jones 37), Sam Leverett (Corey Hurfoed 83); Joel Cotterill (captain), Azeem Abdulai; Liam Smith, Cameron Congreve; Ben Lloyd (Kian Jenkins 83); Ruben Davies (Josh Thomas 46).
Unused Substitutes: Remy Mitchell.
Hull City U21s: Dave Robson, Duarte Furtado, Harry Wallis, Oliver Green, Jack Leckie, Alfie Taylor, Sincere Hall (Jake Brown 71), Harry Wood, Josh Hinds, Hakeem Sandah (Glen Sani 71), Will Jarvis.
Unused Substitutes: Harry Fish, Kyle Fanning, Louie Chorlton.
Referee: Daniel Lamport
Attendance: 456