A burst of 2nd half scoring gave our U21 a convincing and deserved 4-0 win over a battling Crewe Alexandra side at a sun drenched Landore this afternoon.
All credit to Glory Nzingo for a varied hat-trick – he could have realistically got even more – and Tom Woodward was rewarded with a 4th for a lively display supporting the front line.
No new players – and none of the preseason trialists in today’s squad. The substitutes comprised 3 17 year olds and 2 16 year old first year scholars. A creditable performance, although we are stretching ourselves rather thin and perhaps vulnerable to the standard academy injury malaise when that inevitably strikes. Returns to U21 action for Arthur Parker, after being injured at Trefelin, and Filip Lissah (hopefully a try-out before tomorrow’s cup game?).
We started out as an adventurous 3-2-4-1, with Harry Jones and Seb Dabrowski pushed high up the flanks: Evan Watts; Iestyn Jones, Filip Lissah (s – Callum Deacon 46m), Arthur Parker; Jacob Cook (s – Milo Robinson 70m), Mitchell Bates (captain); Harry Jones (s – Billy Clarke 70m), Tom Woodward, Liam Smith, Seb Dabrowski (s – Ramon Rees-Siso 70m); Glory Nzingo.
Unused sub: Sam Seager.
Harry Jones was seeing a lot of the ball in the first half and got in a number of dangerous crosses which we somehow couldn’t capitalise on. We created numerous chances – and across the player selection – and narrowly avoided being caught on the break on 19 minutes when Lissah had to recover to tackle cleanly in his own area. Lissah had something of a battle on his hands against a very physical trialist centre forward. They gave as good as they got – the Crewe man being booked for a petulant off the ball challenge and Filip’s last act being cautioned for kicking the ball away on half-time.
The chances piled up – Nzingo, Woodward, Dabrowski, Smith all being denied before Woodward struck the upright just before half-time from another opportunity generated by smart Harry Jones play.
Callum Deacon stepped into the back 3 for the 2nd half, with Arthur Parker moving into the centre to deal with the robust opponent. In truth, the trialist had run himself out in the first half – possibly through lack of full-time training – and barely posed a threat after half-time.
We eventually went one up when Nzingo got to a through ball ahead of Crewe’s Sant, dashed clear, seemed to have lost control, but still finished well with a left foot strike to the goalkeeper’s right.
Evan Watts immediately made a brilliant one handed save to keep us in front from an excellent turn and shot by Ashe after an uncleared corner.
Shortly after, Nzingo got his 2nd from a Bates and Cook corner routine that enabled him to strike home low from outside the area.
Arthur Parker did well to block another visitors’ counter punch before Nzingo clinched his hat-trick with a cleverly worked 1-2 with Bates to send him clear to convert.
More chances followed for Smith and Woodward. Nzingo had a tap-in ruled out for offside after another lightning break by Smith and Woodward. Woodward finally got on the scoresheet with a further close range finish after fine work by Bates and Nzingo.
Coach Anthony Wright gave further U21 debuts to Ramon Rees-Siso and Milo Robinson as we closed the game down.
A very pleasing display, with very good interplay across the park. Iestyn Jones is calmness personified at the back. Mitch Bates controlled midfield and it was encouraging to see Liam Smith back to his best – it just needed a goal to top it off for him.
Crewe’s manager was former Welsh international midfielder David Vaughan. They played a tidy game today. Although the Swans warranted the goals they got, Crewe kept going throughout.
A word of praise also for referee Stacey Pearson. She always seemed well positioned, let play flow and dealt with incidents – like the Lissah / trialist tussle – very sensibly.
Goalscoring: Nzingo 1-0 49m; Nzingo 2-0 53m; Nzingo 3-0 63m; Woodward 4-0 70m.
There were a number of 2nd year scholars in Crewe’s squad. The keeper’s name appears to be Lenarcik rather than the published Cenarcik.
Agius captained the team and supported the trialist centre forward. He didn’t particularly stand out on this occasion, if I’m honest, and was substituted with quarter of an hour to go.
The visiting substitutes all appeared very young and coped well, even though the game was well lost at the point they joined the action.
Another age grade capped Welsh player, 17 year old Callum Hardy, didn’t get onto the pitch for Crewe today.