Swansea City U17s | Road to the PDL Cup Final
As Swansea City Under-17s get set to take on Luton Town in the Professional Development League Cup Final on Sunday, we take a look at their journey to the final at the Swansea.com Stadium.
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September 19, 2024 - Swansea City U17s 3 Newport County U17s 2
Swansea City Under-17s kicked off the group stage with victory over Welsh counterparts Newport County at the Joma High Performance Centre.
Goals from Brogan Popham, Harvey Gray and Ben Phillips claimed victory over the Exiles.
October 23, 2024 - Forest Green Rovers U17s 2 Swansea City U17s 1
The Swans fell to defeat in their second group-stage outing away from home, Billy Clarke got the only goal for the visitors.
December 3, 2024 - Swansea City U17s 5 Bristol Rovers U17s 0
In their final group-stage fixture, the young Swans claimed their place in the knock-out stages with a convincing win over Bristol Rovers.
Milo Robinson (x2), Harvey Gray, Alex Godfrey and Kai Rhodes got the goals.
January 29, 2025 - Oxford United U17s 2 Swansea City U17s 2 (4-5 AET)
In the round of 16, it was an entertaining encounter at the RAW Charging Stadium in Oxford.
Oxford had the lead through Leo Snowden before the Swans drew level Harvey Gray. The hosts then took the lead through Leo Snowden again, but Callum Jones struck in the closing stages to take the game to extra-time and penalties.
And the Swans were victorious in the shootout, winning 5-4 with keeper Thomas Wright saving a spot-kick.
Swansea City U17s 4 Crewe Alexandra U17s 2
Swansea City Under-17s progressed to the semi-finals of the Professional Development League Cup with a 4-2 victory over Crewe Alexandra after extra-time.
Carter Heywood, Harlan Perry, Milo Robinson and Harvey Gray were on the scoresheet at the Joma High Performance Centre.
The first half had ended goalless, with the Swans creating chances through Robinson and Gray.
But Heywood broke the deadlock with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box, after Kai Rhodes had played the ball across the defence to tee up his teammate.
However, the visitors responded well, and they were rewarded with two quick-fire goals to claim a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute.
Swansea quickly got themselves back on terms. Substitute Callum Jones made an immediate impact upon his introduction, laying off a pass for Perry to send a fine strike into the back of the net.
The clash ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, meaning an additional half-hour was required.
The Swans took control of the extra period and deservedly took the lead when Perry's free-kick was only cleared as far as Robinson, was kept his nerve to slot home.
Then, just a minute into the second half of extra-time, the young Swans had a fourth goal and put the tie to bed.
Jones was the provider as his run down the left ended with him finding Gray inside the box, and the striker found the back of the net at the second attempt, after the Crewe keeper had denied his initial effort.
Swansea City Under-17s: Sam Seager; Kaven Bloniarczyk, Carter Heywood, Ben Phillips; Harlan Perry (captain), Milo Robinson; Kai Rhodes (Callum Jones 60), Alfie Jones (Bobby Lewis 90+15), Caio Ifans (Elis Thomas 90), Bobo Evans; Harvey Gray.
Substitutes: Wahab Ojetero, D Singer.
Swansea City U17s 4 Cheltenham Town U17s 2 (AET)
Callum Jones’ extra-time hat-trick saw Swansea City Under-17s reach the Professional Development League Cup final with a thrilling win over Cheltenham Town.
Kaven Bloniarczyk gave the Swans the lead after just seven minutes, before Cheltenham Town missed a chance to equalise when goalkeeper Tom Wright saved a penalty.
But Cameron Walters headed in an equaliser five minutes from time, and it proved enough to send the tie to an additional half-hour when Harvey Gray was denied from the spot deep into stoppage time.
Charlie Croose put Cheltenham ahead in extra-time, but Jones struck twice in the space of barely a minute to turn the tie on its head.
The drama was not done. Cheltenham were awarded another penalty, but Tom King struck the outside of the post, and Swansea swept up the other end for Jones to complete his treble and book their place in the final.
Swansea City Under-17s: Tom Wright, Kaven Bloniarczyk, Caio Ifans (Wahab Ojetoro 113), Harlan Perry (captain), Carter Heywood, Ben Phillips, Bobo Evans, Alfie Jones (Ioan Johnston 74), Harvey Gray (Bobby Lewis 105), Alex Godfrey, Elis Thomas (Callum Jones 45).
Unused subs: Sol Baker.