Our very young U18 were comprehensively beaten 4-1 today by a far more powerful visiting Cardiff unit and on a bitterly cold day at Landore.
We lined up initially in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Ewan Griffiths; Sam Parker, Jada Mawongo, Arthur Parker; Aimar Govea, Richard Faakye, Josh Carey (captain), Zane Myers; Dan Watts, Yori Griffith; Geoff Bony.
We finished the game 3-5-2 with a defence of David Roberts, Mawongo, Faakye, a middle line of Cameron Llewellyn, Thomas Woodward, Carey, Govea, Myers and a front two of Rohan Davies and Bony.
We definitely missed the suspended Iwan Morgan. Geoff Bony had little change or service up front.
At the other end of the pitch, Cardiff’s tall attacking duo of Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Japhet Matondo gave our defence all sorts of problems. The latter is a younger brother of the Rangers and Wales winger.
Skipper Josh Carey was the pick of our players, always battling and tackling hard, plus making determined breaks forward. He scored a cracking goal from outside the area to put the Swans 1 up on 30 minutes after the ball had arrived to him off Govea’s shot came back off the crossbar. On the balance of play, that was probably a little fortunate. 7 minutes later Yori Griffith just missed Govea’s cross that would have given him an open goal. Cardiff immediately went up the other end, we defended poorly and Matondo drove a low shot through our keeper.
On 44 minutes, Nyakuhwa put Cardiff ahead with a very similar goal and another gift.
It took just 5 minutes of the 2nd half for us to get hunted down again right in front our own penalty area. Cardiff shots ping ponged off the line and the post before Nyakuhwa clinched his 2nd.
Our defence has a tough job in this setting. So much depends on them receiving the ball in close quarters and being able to distribute quickly and accurately. Too many times today we either conceded possession or were caught in possession. All of the first 3 Cardiff goals stemmed from our own errors. The 4th on 78 minutes was simply a case of Nyakuhwa breaking away at pace and finishing decisively.
We weren’t entirely without periods of ascendancy and chances. Too often though, we hesitated in front of goal and Cardiff defenders crowded our players out.
In fairness, the injury situation at the Academy is taking its toll – coach Darren Davies is having to look to a young squad of players to compete at this level. Griffith and Watt shone in patches, Govea also had his moments on both the right wing and left wing. There’s lots of promise in this side, but the benefits are more likely to accrue next season.
Even though their own form hasn’t been great recently, Cardiff looked like a proper combination and that front duo will trouble many defences.
The visibly weak referee let a lot go, but still managed to book Mawongo and Davies, as well as Cardiff’s Barton and Lawlor.
Former Swan Steve Jenkins coached the Cardiff team.
Have a browse of images from the match in this Swansea City Under 18 v Cardiff City Under 18 match gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media