Our U18s went down rather meekly today, losing 2-0 to a more committed Cardiff side in the sun at Landore.
We were missing a number of key players, including Jack Fanning, Iestyn Jones, Yori Griffith and of course Aimar Govea (who was there today in the stand with Filip Lissah). Our U15 / U16 contingent all showed up well. We lacked punch up front though and Cardiff were far more clinical and also controlled possession intelligently when they needed to stop the Swans from getting on top. The visitors desrved the win.
We operated 3-4-2-1: Sam Seager; Teo Minchev, Callum Deacon (s – Carter Heywood 68m), Brogan Popham; Cam Llewellyn (s – Bobo Evans 88m), Harlan Perry (captain), Jacob Cook, Seb Dabrowski (s – Billy Clarke 46m); Tom Woodward, Josh Pescatore (s – Milo Robinson 88m), Sammy Henia-Kamau.
Unused sub: Tom Wright.
Cardiff fielded 2 sons of former Swans players. Cody Twose is the son of Geraint Twose, a one-time youth team trainee colleague of Jason Bowen at the Vetch and now coach with Welsh Women. Troy Perrett is the son of Darren Perrett who played for us under Frank Burrows. Both excelled today.
Twose worked his way into the Swans box and finished well to put Cardiff 1 up 10 minutes after half-time. Right winger Talbot seized a loose ball in the Swansea box 5 minutes later to give Cardiff what would prove an unassailable lead.
We had our chances, mostly falling to Henia-Kamau, Llewellyn and Pescatore. Nothing really clicked. The closest we got was a diving header from Callum Deacon that was ruled out by the referee for an infringement at a corner.
Some positives from the match.
That’s the first time I’ve seen Sam Seager play – he’s a first year scholar but has been out of action for 16 months with injury. The good news is that he played the full 90 minutes and looked very convincing in taking responsibility and claiming high balls, seemingly an Achilles Heel for our keepers.
Defenders Minchev and Popham were kept busy, coped reasonably well and also looked adventurous in possession. Cardiff-born Harlan Perry tried to rally his team, Jacob Cook worked tirelessly alongside him. Bobo Evans had a very lively cameo on the left side of midfield. A bit worryingly, Seb Dabrowski took a knock before half-time and didn’t reappear after the interval.
The Cardiff coach today was Tom Hutton.
Cardiff side featured 17 year old midfielder Dakarai Mafico, who was named in their first team squad at Rotherham last weekend.
Have a browse of images from the match in our Swansea City Under 18 v Cardiff City Under 18 match gallery.