Swansea City under-21s West Brom Premier League Division 2
10th August
Swansea City Under-21s fell to a narrow defeat in their first category one game at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night as a late goal from West Brom snatched a point from the young Swans after an entertaining end-to-end match.
A stunning West Brom free-kick from Adil Nabi was cancelled out by Ryan Hedges halfway through the first half in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.
Swansea should have taken the lead as a number of chances fell to impressive 17-year-old Daniel James while defender Stephen Kingsley saw his free-kick cannon off the post in the second half.
But it was Samir Nabi who capitalised for the visitors late on with his cool finish after a neat one-two ensuring West Brom took victory in SA1.
Swansea should have taken the lead as a number of chances fell to impressive 17-year-old Daniel James while defender Stephen Kingsley saw his free-kick cannon off the post in the second half.
But it was Samir Nabi who capitalised for the visitors late on with his cool finish after a neat one-two ensuring West Brom took victory in SA1.
SWANS U21s: Josh Vickers, Daniel Alfei, Stephen Kingsley, Jay Fulton, Joe Roden, Alex Gogic, Leon Britton (Tom Holland, 59), Josh Sheehan (c), Owain Jones (Alex Samuel, 84), Dan James (Stephen Fallon, 90), Ryan Hedges.
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Zabret, Keston Davies.
WEST BROM U21s: Ethan Ross, Josh Ezewele, Sebastian Pocognoli (c), Liam O'Neil, Jack Fitzwater, Shaun Donnellan, Jonathan Leko, Samir Nabi (Danny Barbir, 88), Tyler Roberts, Adil Nabi (Sam Field, 91), Kyle Edwards (Chay Scrivens, 77).
SUBS NOT USED: Matthew Hall, Robbie McCourt.
Swansea City Under-21s started brightly from the kick-off, an early chance for Owain Jones being well smothered by Ethan Ross in the West Brom goal.
The U21s continued to push with Daniel James shooting across the face of goal before he tested their keeper again minutes later after good link-up play with Stephen Kingsley down the left.
West Brom, however, took the lead after a stunning direct free-kick from Adil Nabi beat triallist keeper Josh Vickers from 20 yards.
Swansea continued to push and James struck the post from 20 yards after cutting in from the left. The hosts equalised on 21 minutes when a pass from Jay Fulton found midfielder Ryan Hedges inside the area to turn and slot under the West Brom keeper from just inside his area.
The visitors felt they should have regained their lead on 32 minutes when Kyle Edwards headed a corner goalwards at the far post only for Vickers to save down low off the line, with claims by the visitors it was over-the-line denied by the referee and linesman.
Swansea continued to pressurise West Brom's back four as both Josh Sheehan and James tested Ethan Ross with Vickers pulling off a double save for the Swans to keep the score level at the break.
The U21s continued to push with Daniel James shooting across the face of goal before he tested their keeper again minutes later after good link-up play with Stephen Kingsley down the left.
West Brom, however, took the lead after a stunning direct free-kick from Adil Nabi beat triallist keeper Josh Vickers from 20 yards.
Swansea continued to push and James struck the post from 20 yards after cutting in from the left. The hosts equalised on 21 minutes when a pass from Jay Fulton found midfielder Ryan Hedges inside the area to turn and slot under the West Brom keeper from just inside his area.
The visitors felt they should have regained their lead on 32 minutes when Kyle Edwards headed a corner goalwards at the far post only for Vickers to save down low off the line, with claims by the visitors it was over-the-line denied by the referee and linesman.
Swansea continued to pressurise West Brom's back four as both Josh Sheehan and James tested Ethan Ross with Vickers pulling off a double save for the Swans to keep the score level at the break.
HALF-TIME: Swans U21s 1West Brom U21s 1
Despite a slower start to the second half, the Swans soon had a chance through frontman Jones, but his chance was well saved by Ross.
The visitors' attack looked to get the lead back through Jonathan Leko - his shot from the right flank narrowly wide of the post - while striker Tyler Roberts saw his effort fly wide after bursting through the midfield on 70 minutes.
Stephen Kingsley went close to giving the Swans the lead on 76 minutes, but his effort cannoned back off the post from a free-kick 25 yards out after Dan Alfei was brought down.
The Baggies continued to push for the winner, and Vickers was again called on to claw the ball away inside the last ten minutes.
The Swans keeper however could not keep out the visitors' late winner, with Samir Nabi slotting home inside the area after a neat one-two.
The visitors' attack looked to get the lead back through Jonathan Leko - his shot from the right flank narrowly wide of the post - while striker Tyler Roberts saw his effort fly wide after bursting through the midfield on 70 minutes.
Stephen Kingsley went close to giving the Swans the lead on 76 minutes, but his effort cannoned back off the post from a free-kick 25 yards out after Dan Alfei was brought down.
The Baggies continued to push for the winner, and Vickers was again called on to claw the ball away inside the last ten minutes.
The Swans keeper however could not keep out the visitors' late winner, with Samir Nabi slotting home inside the area after a neat one-two.
