An exciting end to a keen encounter with Peterborough at Landore today, our U18 snatching a 3-3 draw at the death.
Peterborough gave our youngsters a tough game, very quick to pin down our midfield and press high up the pitch.
We operated 4-3-3: Sam Seager; Billy Clarke, Osian Williams (s – Kaven Bloniarczyk 89m), Brogan Popham, Callum Deacon (captain); Milo Robinson (s – Cater Heywood 89m), Alex Godfrey (s – Alfie Jones 61m), Ramon Rees-Siso; Aidan Higgins, Harvey Gray (s – Bobo Evans 61m), Kai Rhodes.
Unused sub: Ellis Thomas
We didn’t field a goalkeeper on the bench. New scholar Isaac Dudding was present in the warm-up but perhaps isn’t match ready yet. A home debut at this level for 14 year old Alex Godfrey who was the most forward of our midfielders.
Godfrey was able to crown his debut with an opening goal on 17 minutes (I believe the OS report has credited this to Harvey Gray, pretty sure it was Godfrey who got the touch though). Brogan Popham met a deep corner, Higgins flicked the ball on in the box and Godfrey finished from close range to put the Swans 1 up.
Fellow U16 player Kai Rhodes looked very lively on the left wing, quick to take on his opponent and forming good links with left back Callum Deacon.
The game was very even – Peterborough raiding through the bustling centre forward Shofuwoke, who was giving our defenders a tough morning.
It wasn’t entirely surprising when, on 35 minutes, Davies got on the end of a pass that opened up the Swans rearguard to allow the Posh winger to convert wide of Sam Seager. Fortunately, the Swans quickly responded just 3 minutes later with a sweet goal by Ramon Rees-Siso from the edge of the area after Godfrey had robbed a hesitant Peterborough midfielder.
In first half added time, Changunda shot quickly and low from outside the area, but Seager managed to punch clear to maintain the 2-1 lead at the interval.
Peterborough came out of the dressing room sharper after half-time, struck a post, then took advantage of some sloppy defending to allow Davies to get his 2nd on 49 minutes.
Our youngsters couldn’t get a grip on the game, were frequently under pressure in their own half and Peterborough sensed the opportunity to create more chances, not least for the busy Shofuwoke.
Changes were made after the hour – and for both sides – and it’s fair to say that the home changes bore most fruit.
Higgins went to centre forward, Rhodes switched to the right wing and Bobo Evans took up the left wing position. Alfie Jones gave new energy to midfield, and we started to look more in control of matters.
We were though limited to long range efforts from Evans and Rhodes, while the opportunist Shofuwoke snapped up a loose deflection to go racing away into the Swans penalty area only for Seager to pull off a tremendous parry.
The visitors visibly tired, a number of players going down with cramp as the game drew to a nip and tuck close. A couple of defensive substitutions later, we got ourselves into bother at the back and the ball somehow ended up on a plate for Changunda to tap into the empty net. This was on 90 minutes, which seemed desperately tough to take.
Remarkably, Ramon Rees-Siso lined up a long range free kick 4 minutes into added time and his long range daisycutter crept past everybody and into the far corner of the net to rescue a deserved point.
Highly entertaining fare in blazing sunshine and another great learning lesson for our kids.
Kai Rhodes was always dangerous for us, Sam Seager has a safe pair of hands and there were influential performances from Deacon, Billy Clarke and Milo Robinson.