Under-19s begin MPC campaign with victory

3rd April

The Under-19s kicked off their Metropolitan Premier Cup campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Battswood.
In blustery conditions at Erica Park, there was overwhelming interest in the fortunes of Swansea City as supporters flocked to the main pitch to get a glimpse of the action.
The group stage matches consist of two halves of 30 minutes, and the Swans started well as they swiftly got into the passing rhythm.
Liam Cullen - starting as the lone striker - was quickly involved as he saw a goal disallowed for offside after just seven minutes.
However, the Swans didn't have to wait long to break the deadlock as the impressive Dan James beat three players in the centre of the Battswood half before finding Tom Dyson on the right hand side. The winger than played a neat one-two with James before slotting past the goalkeeper at his near post.
Dan James also saw a shot deflect wide before the Swans experienced a let-off at the other end as Battswood struck the post from 12 yards out.

Half-time: Swansea City 1 Battswood 0 

The young Swans stepped up the tempo straight from the restart and came close to doubling their lead after just three minutes as Dan James saw a left-foot shot tipped over by the goalkeeper.
But the Welsh side did grab a second just two minutes later as Kyle Copp's left-foot shot went across the face of goal which allowed Liam Cullen to slide in and tap home from six yards out.
Dan James then helped himself to a deserved third goal as the winger cut in from the left hand side before hitting a right-foot shot that flew past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
And Copp got himself on the scoresheet shortly after as his 25-yard free kick hit both posts before the linesman on the far side raised his flag to signal that the ball had crossed the line.
The Swans now had full command of the contest and made three second-half changes as Kyle Copp, Cai Owens and Dan James were replaced by Connor Quigley, Kieran Evans and Ashleigh Harries.

SWANS U19s: Gareth Owen, Aaron Lewis, Cameron Gilchrist, Jordan Sherman (capt), Cai Owens (Connor Quigley), Jamie Latham, Dylan Thomas, Kyle Copp (Kieran Evans), Tom Dyson, Dan James (Ashleigh Harries), Liam Cullen.