A spirited and deserved comeback to clinch a 2-2 draw with Brum when we looked to be drifting listlessly to defeat. Strangely, it appeared as though we had an inept refereeing performance to thank for galvanising our disgruntled players to a late resurgence. Even then, the man with the whistle managed to rule out both a goal and a 2nd penalty that would have won the match for our battling U18.
We lined up 3-4-1-2: Kit Margetson; David Roberts, Jada Mawongo (sub Jack Fanning 46m), Arthur Parker; Thomas Woodward, Jacob Cook, Richard Faakye, Callum Deacon; Dan Watts (sub Caio Ifans 86m); Iwan Jenkins (sub Thomas Searle 46m), Rohan Davies (sub Yori Griffith 84m).
The game kicked off in bucketing rain, Birmingham looked a much bigger, physical side and it was some surprise when we went 1 up on 10 minutes with a free kick from Dan Watts that the visitors seemed to be completely in the wrong position to defend. Birmingham looked the more likely team to get the next goal, Ellis and Eubank causing us all sorts of problems. After a couple of scares, Birmingham got level on 28 minutes when Ellis took advantage of poor Swans defending to beat Margetson with a neat strike from outside the area.
Iwan Morgan, one of the few to shine in the first half, went off at the interval and we seemed to lose any sense of focus up front, getting caught offside continuously. Newcomer Jack Fanning came on at the same time, slotted alongside Roberts and Parker, looked confident in possession and brave in the air. A left footer as well.
Birmingham’s inevitable 2nd goal came on 54 minutes when adventurous full back Eubank broke down the right to hit a post, Ruiz Rente slotting the rebound into an empty net.
At this point, it looked as though we had lost hope – the weather was miserable and some players couldn’t put a foot right. As luck would have it, the referee made his grand entry. He’d already displayed signs of fussiness, but then decided to book Richard Faakye on 59 minutes for a perfectly clean tackle. Faakye was then immediately on the receiving end of a dangerous lunge by Birmingham’s Boakye which the match official ostentatiously let go unpunished. This seemed to spur our team to greater efforts. Faakye, who started to play like a man possessed, had a header disallowed on 68 minutes and was then bundled over in the box by Boakye with 15 minutes remaining. The referee seemed to resort to natural justice and promptly awarded a soft penalty, which Faakye converted emphatically.
We created numerous chances after this. Woodward – who’d moved into the centre – had shots scrambled off the line and deflected wide. Sub Caio Ifans got through on goal and was bundled over by Birmingham’s Willis. It was probably inside the area, but the match official meekly awarded a free kick outside and dismissed Willis, who’d already been booked for dissent and had a lot more to say for himself as he left the pitch.
A really encouraging comeback and in quite unlikely circumstances.
Once our subs were all utilised, we had 5 of our U16s squad in play. One of the boys, Caio Ifans, came on with muddy shorts having featured earlier on the pitch next door for the U16s. These lads are gaining great exposure and experience – Thomas Woodward in particular has come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks. Bracing stuff.
Caio Ifans is a Carmarthenshire schools product who’s been capped for Wales U15 last season and Wales U16 this season. A left back or left winger, still very slight and has some growing to come, but not afraid to get fully involved in higher age grade football.
Richard Faakye is one of the summer 2021 intake from Premier clubs, he arrived from Crystal Palace. He’s mostly been used in central defence but more recently in central midfield. Richard skippered the U18 on Saturday. He’s turned 18 in the past fortnight, so it’s an important time for him now.
Have a browse of images from the match in this Swansea City Under 18 v Birmingham City Under 18 match gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media