Swansea City Under-18s Sheffield Wednesday FA Youth Cup
11th December
Swansea City Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup on Friday afternoon thanks to a second-half goal from winger Daniel James.
The visitors made a better start to the game at Stebonheath Park and had their first chance on goal after five minutes when midfielder Matt Penney saw his free-kick sail wide of the post.
The Owls continued to press but failed to convert their chances, but midfielder Warren Clarke blazed over the bar before Swans keeper Lewis Thomas saved a testing free-kick after 15 minutes.
Swansea looked sharp on the counter attack but they could not capitalise when Liam Edwards pulled a ball back for Jack Watts in the box.
The best chance of the half was created by Sheffield Wednesday when Jake Nickolson's headed the ball inches wide five minute before the break.
HALF-TIME: Swans U18s 0 Sheffield Wednesday U18s 0
The game became stretched after the interval as both sides battled to deal with the difficult pitch conditions.
Each side worked the ball well in midfield but they could not find the finishing touch in the final third.
Daniel James fired a shot over the bar before Wednesday's Clarke saw his effort deflected wide.
Sheffield Wednesday did have the ball in the back of the net just after an hour when George Hirst fired home from close range, but his effort was ruled offside.
However, it was Swansea who would progress to the next round when James found space on the edge of the area to fire a low shot into the bottom corner past keeper Brad McDonagh.
Swansea could have had a second minutes before the full-time whistle when a Joe Rodon free-kick found Brandon Griffiths, but his effort looped over the bar.
The Under-18s, though, held on to secure a hard-fought win at Stebonheath Park and progress to round four of the competition where they face Arsenal.
SWANS U18s: Lewis Thomas (capt), Mael Davies (Brandon Cooper, 53), Aaron Lewis, Jack Evans, Conor Quigley, Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Tom Dyson, Liam Cullen, Jack Watts (Brandon Griffiths, 65), Liam Edwards
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Treacy, Jordan Jones, Kieran Evans
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY U18s: Brad McDonagh, Mickey Conneh, Josh Stachini, Connor Kirby, Connor O'Grady, Jack Lee, Jon Ceneteno (Mason Duffy, 79), Warren Clarke, George Hirst, Matt Penny, Jake Nicholson (Jordan Lonchar, 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Danny Wallis, Lewis Price, Fraser Preston
