Swansea City Under-21s Fulham Premier League Division Two

30th October

A stoppage-time winner from Fulham's Joshua Smile ended Swansea City Under-21s' unbeaten run at Motspur Park on Friday night.
The Swans had a number of chances with Oliver McBurnie, Daniel James, Raheem Hanley and Liam Shephard all going close to giving the development squad the lead.
The Fulham defence continued to keep Swansea's efforts out before Smile fired home from the edge of the area to condemn the visitors to their first defeat since September.

The Swans made just one change to the side that thrashed Aston Villa 5-0 last Monday with Owain Jones replacing the injured Ryan Hedges on the wing while defender Liam Shephard continued as captain.
Fulham made two changes to the team that won at West Ham with trialist Ian Pino Soler back in Fulham's defence. Irish midfielder Sean Kavanagh, who has experience playing for Fulham's first team, was also included in home sides starting XI.

FULHAM U21s: Marek Rodak, Rayheem Sheckleford, Jordan Evans, Joshua Smile, Ian Pino Soler (Liam Donnelly, 70), Shane Elworthy, Dean O'Halloran (Joshua Walker, 67), Emerson Eyndman, Sean Kavanagh, Mattias Kait, George Williams (Aaron Redford, 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Andrew Dawber.

SWANS U21s: Josh Vickers, Liam Shephard (capt) (Kyle Copp, 86), Raheem Hanley, Tom Holland, Keston Davies, Alex Gogic, Daniel James, Adnan Maric, Ollie McBurnie, Henry Jones, Owain Jones (Daniel Alfei, 63).
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Zabret, Botti Biabi, Joe Rodon.

Swansea pressured the home side early at Motspur Park, Henry Jones and Liam Shephard linked up down the right flank with an attack into the box after just three minutes.
Seconds later Fulham could have taken the lead when frontman Mattias Kait teed-up a ball into the box for Joshua Smile to run onto for a shot, his effort sailing to the right of Josh Vickers' post.
The Swans continued to look for the first goal, midfielder Adnan Maric headed over inside the area before Owain Jones saw his shot blocked for a corner.
The home side had a few chances with Vickers equal to a header from Kait before punching clear a corner minutes later.
The midfield battle continued with a Henry Jones free-kick narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time keeping the score goalless.

HALF-TIME: Fulham U21s 0 Swans U21s 0

Both sides made a slow start to the second half, with Josh Vickers comfortably saving a Sean Kavanagh free-kick from 20 yards out.
The Swans looked to move up the gears in search of their first goal and great link-up play from Daniel James and Owain Jones found Oliver McBurnie in the box, but Fulham's keeper Marek Rodak punched the ball away before the striker could turn and shoot.
Minutes later, James raced through midfield to fire a low stinging shot that was saved by the fingertips of Rodak.
The best chance of the game came on 66 minutes when full-back Raheem Hanley latched onto a loose ball to rifle a shot which beat Fulham's keeper only to cannon back off the post.
Fulham's defence continued to frustrate the visitors with Liam Shephard, Oliver McBurnie and Daniel James all testing Rodak but no-one could find the finish to break the deadlock.
The development squad looked to be heading towards a draw only for a last-gasp stoppage-time winner from Josh Smile to give the home side a smash-and-grab win.