A disappointing return for our U18s today, we lost 4-2 at Landore to a limited Millwall team who seemed to be able to score anytime they got a shot on target.
We started well, got an early goal after good work by Aimar Govea on the left, couldn’t capitalise on further chances and remarkably found ourselves 3-1 down at half-time to a Millwall side that couldn’t quite believe their luck.
Our line-up was a standard 3-4-2-1 for this age level: Kit Margetson; Arthur Parker, Ben Phillips, Iestyn Jones; Josh Pescatore, Jacob Cook, Harlan Perry, Aimar Govea (s – Billy Clarke 90+6m); Thomas Woodward, Yori Griffith; Rohan Davies. Unused subs: Osian Williams, Ewan Griffiths, Teo Minchev, Aidan Higgins.
As has been the case in previous seasons, Millwall’s players seemed quite happy to go to ground quickly. Who says this dark art can’t be cunningly coached even at this age? Left sided midfielder Hamouchene launched himself to the floor with a yell and no contact, fellow midfielder Howland did the same a few minutes after that. The referee booked Howland for the theatrics, but we were rewarded by the same player equalising a minute later from outside the box and after we gifted possession from our own penalty area.
60 seconds later, the referee ignored what appeared to be a clear trip on Griffith in the visitors’ penalty box. Nothing was given. Almost immediately, Millwall went 2-1 up with a clever backward leaning header after more poor defending allowed a clear cross to come into our danger zone. We missed a similar chance of our own and there was still time before half-time for Millwall to go 3-1 up with another giveaway.
The 2nd half was pretty much more of the same: Swansea striving patiently to get back into the game, creating and failing to convert, only for Millwall to go further ahead with a low 30 yard daisycutter that somehow found the far corner.
Aimar Govea was finally compensated with a goal on 64 minutes after dribbling his way through Millwall defenders to get a clean shot on target. We continued to dominate the ball and threaten, had loads of corners, always looked slightly short on attacking thrust, and the game duly slipped away.
It’s true enough to note that if, you don’t take your chances and you concede cheaply, it makes it harder to get the desired results. We have some really promising young players operating at this level. Our style of play is really good to watch. Griffith and Govea were the standout players today, but often seemed to be ploughing lone furrows with little support. Iestyn Jones delivered another very encouraging performance on the left side of defence. Coach Oliver Jefferies will have no doubt seen and hopefully be able to act on the other weaknesses that were so apparent today.
It was a nice touch to see another one of our youngsters – right back Billy Clarke, who’d earlier been playing on the adjacent pitch for the U16s – get onto the pitch in the final moments.
Goalscoring: Davies 1-0 (15m), Howland 1-1 (35m), Baker 1-2 (40m), Massey 1-3 (44m), Stephenson 1-4 (59m), Govea 2-4 (64m).
Millwall’s coach was former Wimbledon and Spurs defender Chris Perry.
Have a browse of images from the match in our Swansea City Under 18 v Millwall Under 18 match gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media