Our youngsters went ahead after 19 minutes when Bradley Gibbings burst through the middle to beat Leicester’s enormous keeper. Leicester equalised within 4 minutes and quickly went 3-1 up, including a debatable penalty.
In truth, the visitors were far more incisive, their midfield captain, rangy early sub 14 & niggly centre forward cutting through our team with sharp one touch play. Our midfield was quite lightweight by comparison, chances few and far between and our defenders struggled to contain Leicester’s quicker players. We improved with half-time changes, with Morgan Clarke on & Will Rickard moved inside alongside Ali Al-Hamadi. The team created a few half-chances but contrived to ship another couple of goals before the end. Entertaining game. Leicester looked very slick, we struggled to get any time on the ball or a passing game together. Leicester coach was former Coventry FA Cup winner Trevor Peake.
Swans started 4-4-2 with Kenko & Bevan in midfield, Gibbings on the right, Rickard on the left, Al-Hamadi up top, with Moti behind him. Clarke replaced Kenko at half-time, Moti went left & Rickard played alongside Al-Hamadi. Clarke made a big difference in the middle, but my sense is he’d excel playing further forward. Good luck to the lad with the Under 23, but the u18 clearly miss Josh Thomas’s energy.
Right back. I’m afraid none of our defenders came through this game with flying colours. Jacob Edwards looks a decent prospect, but so obviously right footed it’s not helping playing him at left back.