U21 PLAY-OFF FINAL: Swans 3 Huddersfield 2
13th May
The Under-21s were crowned Development League Two champions following a hard-fought victory over Huddersfield at the Liberty Stadium.
Huddersfield took the lead when Flo Bojaj headed home from a free kick before Alex Samuel equalised with a close-range header before the break.
The Swans then took the lead when top scorer Kenji Gorre produced a calm finish inside the box, with the winger grabbing his second with six minutes to play after good work from Josh Sheehan.
The visitors pulled a goal back through Bojaj to set up a grandstand finish, but the hosts held firm to be crowned champions after an excellent season.
SWANS U21s: Oliver Davies, Connor Roberts, Raheem Hanley, Alex Gogic, Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes, Adam King, Josh Sheehan (capt), Kenji Gorre (Dan James, 87), Alex Samuel (Owain Jones, 85).
SUBS: Gregor Zabret, Joe Rodon, Tom Holland.
HUDDERSFIELD U21s: Lloyd Allinson, Joe Wilkinson (capt), Jack Senior, Duane Holmes, Will Boyle, Joe Wright, Sondre Tronstad, Jack Boyle (Ronan Coughlan, 81), Rekeil Pyke, Flo Bojaj, Phillip Billing (Jake Charles, 75).
SUBS: Ed Wilczynski, Regan Booty, Ronan Coughlane.
The Swans booked their place in the final following a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Nottingham Forest, while Huddersfield had already recorded a 3-1 win over the hosts in a league fixture back in March.
The Terriers, meanwhile, hit five past Crystal Palace en route to the final and they started the brighter of the two teams in front of a good crowd at the Liberty Stadium.
Both Jack Boyle and Jack Senior went close with early efforts on goal, while Jay Fulton went close for the hosts as he saw a shot blocked inside the box after an intricate passing move.
The home side's best chance then fell to top scorer Kenji Gorre as he was picked out by a fine Matt Grimes pass, but his low strike was well saved by the legs of Lloyd Allinson.
At the other end, Davies - who saved two spot-kicks in the penalty shootout win over Nottingham Forest - parried away a fierce drive from Sondre Tronstad before the visitors broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.
Jack Senior's superb delivery from the right was met by Flo Bojaj and the winger planted a firm header into the roof of the net.
However, the Swans were behind for just seven minutes as Alex Samuel - scorer of two goals in the semi-final - reacted quickest when a cross from the right came back off the far post to head into an empty net.
Half-time: Swans 1-1 Huddersfield
Neither side made any changes at the break, but it was Swansea who began the half on the front foot as Kenji Gorre saw a curling effort tipped away by Allinson before Duane Holmes was denied by a fine stop from Oliver Davies at the other end.
But the Swans completed their turnaround shortly past the hour mark as Gorre beat two defenders before hitting a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Flo Bojaj - scorer of the game's opening goal - then beat Oliver Davies to an inswinging corner but his header was a fraction too high as it flew over the crossbar.
The Swans began to dominate possession as the second half progressed; Josh Sheehan drawing another save from Allinson before Giancarlo Gallifuoco saw a low shot cleared off the line.
But they didn't have to wait long to grab a third as Gorre helped himself to his second goal of the evening.
After Huddersfield conceded possession inside their own half, Sheehan released the winger and he cut inside the box before shooting past Allinson once more.
However, the Terriers pulled a goal back with three minutes to play as Bojaj struck a low shot into the net off the far post to set up a nervy finale.
But the home side held on to complete the win and be crowned Development League Two South winners.
