Swansea City Under-18s Liam Cullen

20th August

A second-half equaliser denied Swansea City Under-18s their first win of their Premier League South season as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Landore.
The young Swans controlled much of the first half as winger Causso Darame's powerful 25-yard shot rattled the crossbar after three minutes. 
Minutes later Liam Cullen's dangerous cross from the right almost found Darame in the box, only for the delivery to be cleared by Arsenal's defence.
Swansea had another good chance to take the lead on the 20-minute mark when Cullen's header almost found Darame in the box only for the ball to be gathered by Arsenal keeper Joao Virginia.
Soon after, Cullen found space to race into the box, but his effort was denied once again by the gloves of Virginia.
Cullen's efforts in attack paid off in the 25th minute as the striker beat his marker into the box before firing the Swans into the lead from a tight angle.
The hosts could have doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when the ball broke to Matt Blake, but the winger's stinging shot flew inches wide.
Keeper Ross Tracey made sure the Swans' lead stayed intact just before half-time as he saved Eddie Nketiah's header before Cullen again saw his header saved on the stroke of half-time.
Cullen looked to add to the U18s' goal tally minutes into the second half while, at the other end, Arsenal's Trae Coyle fired an effort wide of Treacy's post.
A last-ditch tackle from Dan Jefferies denied Josh Benson before Nketiah fired the loose ball into the side-netting.
But the Arsenal strikers' powerful header levelled the score in the 68th minute before Darame - looking to regain the home side's lead - saw his free-kick palmed away by the Arsenal keeper.
Both sides battled for the remainder of the match while some stern defensive work by the Swans denied Arsenal taking all three points.

SWANS U18s: Ross Treacy, Rhydian Williams, Mael Davies, Jordan Jones, Dan Jefferies, Brandon Cooper, Causso Darame, Marco Dulca (Tom Price, 80), Liam Cullen (Capt), Keiran Evans (Liam Edwards, 64), Matt Blake (Oliver Cooper, 78).
SUBS NOT USED: Ben Cabango, Alex Lang.

ARSENAL U18s: Joao Virginia, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Tobi Olowu, Josh Benson, Jopseph Olowu, Danny Ballard, Joe Willock, Josh Da Silva (Capt), Eddie Nketiah, Trae Coyle, Emile Smith-Rowe (Robbie Burton, 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Daniel Barden, Jay Beckford, Vonte Daley-Campbell, James Olayinka.