Report | Swansea City U21s 4 AFC Bournemouth U21s 2

Swansea City Under-21s were rewarded for a dominant performance as they claimed a 4-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth at the Joma High Performance Centre on Tuesday evening.

Morgan Bates opened the scoring from close range with just over 60 seconds played, before Josh Pescatore made it two on the half-hour mark with a fine solo finish.

Michael Dacosta-Gonzalez's strike shortly after the restart from Pescatore's goal halved the deficit, but Thomas Woodward made an immediate impact from the bench as the midfielder made it 3-1 just a few minutes after coming on in the second half.

Pescatore then rounded off a fantastic individual performance as he completed his brace in the closing stages. Remy Rees-Dottin pulled a goal back for the Cherries late on, but the  Swans prevailed to claim the three points.

Ollie Cooper was named in the starting XI to get some minutes under his belt, whilst new arrival Joe Collins made his debut in between the sticks.

And a fast, pacy start from Sam Parker and Pescatore ensured the Swans were ahead with barely one minute on the clock. 

Pescatore’s curling effort was parried away by Danny Dixon and the on-rushing Bates was on hand to direct the ball in to the back of the net for an early opener.

From then on Swansea dominated possession and controlled the game, preventing any real threat from the visitors, but neither side created any further clear chances with 20 minutes played.

Parker looked to create another opening on goal as his curling cross looked to find Bates, but the striker arrived just too late to meet it.

Debutant Collins was called into a crucial save moments later as the Irishman palmed away a tight-angled effort from Jonny Day.

But the Swans went straight up the other end, and it was another goal involvement for Pescatore as the 19-year-old took on two defenders before curling a lovely strike in to the top corner.

However, the Swans' lead was halved almost immediately, as Dacosta's well-worked strike from outside of the area smashed in to the bottom corner.

Swansea had the first opening of the second period. Cooper held off his man down the right before the ball came out to Harlan Perry, and the second-year scholar unleashed a thunderous strike that was deflected wide.

But Swansea did add to their tally when Woodward replaced Kai Rhodes and the attacking midfielder went on to make an instant impact from the bench. 

A neat one-two between Woodward and Pescatore on the edge of the area had the former set up nicely to strike from range, and in-form Woodward made no mistake to find the back of the net with a low shot.

Bates would be frustrated when his close-range header was directed just wide from a Billy Clarke delivery.

But the Swans continued their dominance and were rewarded with a fourth goal, and it was Pescatore as he completed his brace with a low finish from Milo Robinson's lay-off.

Bournemouth rounded off the scoring when Day's bobbling effort tumbled over the line, but it was only a consolation.

Swansea City Under-21s: Joe Collins, Sam Parker (Billy Clarke 65), Callum Deacon, Harlan Perry, Iestyn Jones, Blair McKenzie, Josh Pescatore, Dan Watts (captain), Morgan Bates (Brogan Popham 77), Ollie Cooper (Milo Robinson 77), Kai Rhodes (Thomas Woodward 57).

Substitutes: Thomas Wright. 

AFC Bournemouth: Danny Dixon, Kendra Mottoh, Noa Boutin, Zac Christie, Harold William, Alfie Merritt, Remy Rees-Dottin, Charlie Stevens (captain), Jonny Day, Michael Dacosta, Eugene Gyedu.

Substitutes: Joseph Solanke, Finn Tonks, Ethan Sills, Charlie Osborne.