Jamie Paterson Haverfordwest

Swansea City begin pre-season campaign with victory over Haverfordwest

1st July
First team

Swansea City defeated Cymru Premier side Havefordwest County 7-0 in their opening behind closed doors pre-season friendly.

A hat-trick from Joel Piroe and a brace from Liam Cullen - coupled with strikes from Kyle Naughton and Jamie Paterson made for a comprehensive victory for Russell Martin's men.

Naughton opened the scoring early in the first half when his effort from the edge of the box took a deflection which looped up over the keeper, before Piroe completed a 15-minute hat-trick to put the Swans 4-0 up at the break.

The first of the Dutchman's trio came after good work by Cameron Congreve, who caused the visiting defenders problems with his pace and tireless running. The academy product picked out Piroe who finished coolly inside the far post.

The second was a neat strike from the edge of the box while his third was a straight forward finish after tenacious work from Matt Grimes picked him out.

It could have been more before half-time as Nathan Wood had a headed effort from a corner cleared off the line, while a superb block denied Liam Walsh from close range after he was picked out smartly with a Piroe back heel.

The visitors created a flurry of chances late in the half as Jordon Davies’ effort from 20 yards was well blocked by Wood before a combination of Harry Darling and Andy Fisher kept out Jack Wilson.

Head coach Russell Martin made 11 changes at the break, with match minutes the main focus of the contest.

Swansea's dominance over an unchanged Haverfordwest soon told again as Jamie Paterson bent the ball around the goalkeeper just inside the box within six minutes of the restart.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure but they found Haverfordwest shot-stopper Zac Jones in inspired form.

Cullen – whose late runs to the edge of the box caused the visitors problems throughout the second half - saw his effort tipped around the post while Nathaniel Ogbeta’s fierce strike from distance was well saved by Jones.

Swansea finally found a way past the keeper when Cullen was quickest to react to tap in after Jones parried Morgan Whittaker’s effort from distance and Cullen got his second - and the Swans seventh - when he connected with a cut-back with 20 minutes of the match remaining.

Jordon Garrick and Kyle Joseph both had chances with Garrick heading Paterson’s corner against the upright, while he headed another narrowly wide and fired just over from distance, while Joseph's first time effort across the goal drew a good save from Jones, and his second effort was blocked by a defender.

Cullen very nearly completed his hat-trick in injury time - arriving late into the box again - but this time he was thwarted by the keeper.

Swansea City (first half): Andy Fisher, Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton, Matt Grimes, Flynn Downes, Liam Walsh (21’ Ben Lloyd; Lloyd replaced by Joel Cotterill 31’), Cameron Congreve, Joel Piroe, Matty Sorinola.

Swansea City (second half): Steven Benda, Azeem Abdulai, Brandon Cooper, Nathanael Ogbeta, Ollie Cooper, Jay Fulton, Morgan Whittaker, Jordon Garrick, Kyle Joseph, Jamie Paterson, Liam Cullen.