Swansea City Under-18s Fulham Premier League South
22nd November
Two goals in the first-half condemned Swansea City Under-18s to defeat at home to Fulham in Barclays Premier League South on cold November afternoon on Saturday.
The scholars started brightly in the winter sunshine at Landore and could have taken an early lead through Keiran Evans only for the midfielder to see his first minute shot saved by Fulham's keeper.
A good save from Swans keeper Lewis Thomas kept out a chance from defender Ryan Sessegnon minutes later.
Despite those chances it was Fulham who took the lead on eleven minutes when Michael Kwietniewski turned his man on the edge of the area to fire home.
The visitors doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Sessegnon broke into the box to slot home.
The young Swans introduced changes from the bench and looked a different side in the second-half.
Liam Cullen, Keiran Evans and Jack Watts all saw their shots blocked off the line on the hour mark in what was the scholars' best attacking period of the game.
The U18s continued to push and eventually got their goal when defender Conor Quigley headed home a corner in the 89th minute - but it was too late in the game for the scholars to rally another attack for an equaliser.
Under-18s coach Eric Ramsay admitted the performance levels had not met the usual standards but was pleased with the fight the team showed in the second-half.
"We felt we were poor in the first-half," he said.
"Our performances have been very strong in the last few weeks but on Saturday our levels dripped below what we expect.
"We needed to be more aggressive in hunting for the ball, pressing their players and attacking from the kick-off.
"The changes we made allowed us to be far more dominant in the second-half where we looked more like ourselves and created good chances.
"Myself and Chris (Llewellyn) are pleased the way the players responded after half-time.
"Our goal was coming and I am pleased for Conor (Quigley) to score from a set-piece but overall we have been disappointing in front of goal."
SWANS U18s: Lewis Thomas (Capt), Mael Davies (Sean Hanbury, 83), Aaron Lewis, Jack Evans, Tom Dyson, Conor Quigley, Liam Cullen, Jordan Jones (Causso Darame, 60), Brandon Griffiths (Jack Watts, HT), Keiran Evans, Liam Edwards
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Morgan, Alex Lang
