Report | Swansea City U23s 5 Middlesbrough U23s 1

Kristoffer Peterson scored twice and claimed an assist while Liam Cullen struck a hat-trick as Swansea City Under-23s beat Middlesbrough 5-1 at Landore in Premier League 2 Division Two.

The Swedish winger opened the scoring before setting up Cullen for the Swans' second.

Peterson then played a part in the third, with his mazy run seeing the ball deflected to Cullen, who superbly curled his effort into the top corner.

After the visitors pulled one back just before the hour mark from the penalty spot via Stephen Walker, the Swans regained their three-goal advantage when Peterson neatly found the bottom corner from Kees de Boer's cross.

And the last word was left for hat-trick hero Cullen, who nodded home his 11th goal of the campaign after Peterson's effort was parried into his path.
This victory extended the under-23s' unbeaten league run to five games, while they also climbed above Boro in the table into sixth place.

The Swans made four changes to the starting XI.

Peterson was joined by fellow first-teamers Barrie McKay and Declan John, with the trio given an opportunity to top up their game-time.

Meanwhile, Brandon Cooper also returned to the starting line-up in the other change from last week’s win over Stoke, in which Cullen scored the only goal from the penalty spot.

Cooper replaced Jake Thomas in the heart of defence and was partnered by Cameron Evans, who continued his impressive run in the side that has seen him miss just one league game this season.

Elsewhere, Josh Gould and Tivonge Rushesha started afresh from signing two-year contract extensions with the club.

It was Boro who mader the first threat as Tyrone O'Neil saw his clse-range shot deflected wide for a corner, before the striker's shot from the resulting delivery was blocked by opposite number Cullen.

Cullen then got into the act himself, with the forward's effort in the box kept out by keeper Sol Brynn.

But the opener did come shortly after as Cullen's cross from the right found Peterson, who tapped home from close range in the 19th minute.

Boro went in immediate search of an equaliser and they went within inches of doing so a minute later as Conor Malley saw his powerful drive strike the post after he was set up by Isaiah Jones.

The hosts wasted a decent chance to double the lead when Cullen's header from Oli Cooper's cross floated over the crossbar.

But there was no stopping the Swans as Peterson turned provider and set up Cullen, who hammered home with 37 minutes on the clock.

Cullen was proving a constant menace to the Boro defence, and he went close to adding another following some fine link-up play with McKay in the box.
The pair combined again, only for McKay to see his low shot fizz just wide.

But Cullen had the final word of the half as the ball made its way into his path following Peterson's mazy run, and the young striker curled a brilliant shot into the top corner with a minute left.

After the break, Boro reduced the deficit when Walker fired home from the penalty spot after Brandan Cooper was adjudged to have handled in the box.

But the hosts regained their three-goal advantage as Peterson tapped home de Boer's cross, before Cullen headed home after keeper Brynn parried Peterson's shot into his path.

Swans U23s: Josh Gould; Tivonge Rushesha, Cameron Evans, Brandon Cooper, Declan John; Jack Evans (captain), Kees de Boer; Oli Cooper (Mason Jones-Thomas, 70), Barrie McKay, Kristoffer Peterson; Liam Cullen.

Subs: Lewis Webb, Jake Thomas, Ryan Bevan, Keiran Evans.

Boro U23s: Sol Brynn, Daniel Dodds, Paddy Reading (capt), Hayden Hackney, Nick Hood, Nathan Dale, Isaiah Jones (Jack Robinson, 76), Stephen Wearne, Tyrone O'Neil (Rumarn Burrell, 62), Conor Malley (Sam Foralin, 70), Stephen Walker.

Subs: Harry Flatters, Harry Green.