U18s draw PL Cup opener

18th September

Swansea City under-18s started their Premier League Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Derby County.

The young Swans were under pressure in the early stages of the game as Derby won a succession of corners forcing keeper Alex Lang into action. 

The Rams took the lead midway through the first half as Jayden Mitchell-Lawson put Jack Stretton through on goal to slot home from close range.

Derby almost added another five minutes later only to be denied by a last-ditch clearance from Swans captain Joe Lewis. 

But Swansea found an equaliser before half-time as Dutch midfielder Kees De Boer fired home Matthew Blake’s well-placed cross from close range. 

Marc Walsh and then Dan Williams went close to giving the Swans the lead in the second half while Derby almost netted the winner as Jayden Bogle rattled the crossbar with a free-kick in the closing minutes. 

Swans U18s: Alex Lang, Rhydian Williams, Matthew Blake, Dan Williams, Ben Cabango, Joe Lewis (capt), Mason Jones-Thomas (Craig Davies, 59), Kees De Boer (Jack Fox, 74), Matthew Roberts, Oliver Cooper, Marc Walsh (Arnor Gudjohnsen, 67).

Derby County U18s: Matthew Yates, Jayden Bogle, Jordan Mills, Jordan Brown, Fuseine Rashid (capt), Russell Carter-Thompson, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Jayson Knight, Jack Stretton (Adam Davie, 72), Jack Haywood (Louie Sibley, 73), Morgan Whittaker.