Report | Swansea City U21s 4 Watford U21s 0
Swansea City Under 21s made it five home wins in a row as goals from Kian Jenkins, Tarrelle Whittaker, Cameron Congreve and Joe Thomas helped them to a handsome win over Watford.
There were two goals in each half with Jenkins and Whittaker putting the hosts in control at Landore, before Congreve and Thomas rounded off the scoring in the Professional Development League fixture.
Coaches Jon Grey and Anthony Wright made six changes to the side that had beaten Millwall earlier in the week as Geoff Bony, Whittaker, Nathanael Ogbeta, Ben Hughes, Corey Hurford and Jenkins all started.
The visitors had picked up a first win of the season against Reading on Monday, but it was the Swans team who started the brighter, fashioning the first opening as Congreve found Hurford free on the right, with the full back’s effort forcing visiting keeper Vincent Angelini into an early save.
The young Swans, who were brimming with confidence, took the lead moments later in just the second minute. Whittaker teeing up Jenkins from 20 yards to drill a right footed effort into the bottom corner of the net.
Whittaker went from provider to scorer as he doubled the lead five minutes later after being found by Hurford. The striker turned brilliantly to fire a low effort past the stranded Angelini from the edge of the area for his fifth goal of the season.
The young Swans domination almost turned into a third goal just after the quarter- hour mark. A deep corner found unmarked captain Brandon Cooper, whose spectacular volley was well saved.
Angelini was soon in action again, superbly denying Congreve’s curling shot after the midfielder had linked with Ogbeta to ensure the scoreline remained 2-0 as the half ended.
The Swans picked up where they left off. The impressive Hurford tested the visiting goalkeeper once more after Joel Cotterill's run had made space for the wide man to get an effort away.
Watford though would always be dangerous on the counter attack with the pace in their attack and nearly found a way through five minutes into the second half. Jack Grieves tested Hughes in the Swans goal for the first time after being released by Max Delyfer’s defence-splitting pass, but the keeper was equal to the task.
That opportunity started a better spell for the visitors but it was the Swans who would fashion the games next opening though. Ogbeta won the ball in midfield from a stray pass and released Bony. However, the striker was unable to hit the target, pulling his shot wide of the post.
But Congreve made no mistake five minutes from time. The Swansea playmaker driving towards goal before unleashing an unstoppable effort from 25-yards into the top corner.
There was still time for a fourth Swans goal to put additional gloss on the scoreline. Substitutes Ben Lloyd and Thomas combined for the latter to volley home from close range after a neat ball in from the left-hand side.
Swansea City Under-21s: Ben Hughes, Corey Hurford, Harry Jones, Azeem Abdulai, Brandon Cooper (captain), Kian Jenkins (Joe Thomas 81), Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill, Geoff Bony, Tarrelle Whittaker (Ben Lloyd 63), Nathanael Ogbeta (Lincoln McFayden 63 (Kai Ludvigsen 68).
Unused subs: Evan Watts.
Watford Under-21's: Vincent Angelini, Ryan Andrews, Christos Batzelis, George Abbott (captain), Harvey Peters, Max Delyfer (Aaron Benn 81), Jack Grieves, Aidan Manning, Trialist, Charlie Davis (Adrian Blake 45), Damani Hunter.
Unused subs: Ben Casey, Roraigh Browne, Andreas Aguilar.