Our U18 gave it a good shot in the 2nd half, but couldn’t quite recover the damage done before the interval, ultimately losing 2-1 to an adventurous Wigan side.
We were missing a number of players and the opening formation had a very light look about it, particularly in midfield. We operated 4-5-1, with just Morgan Bates – now confirmed as a fully fledged Swan – leading the line: Sam Seager; Billy Clarke, Kiel Higginson (s – Caio Ifans 65m), Brogan Popham, Callum Deacon (captain); Josh Pescatore (s – Wahab Ojetero 46m), Aidan Higgins, Milo Robinson (s – Osian Williams 75m), Ramon Rees-Siso, Kai Rhodes; Morgan Bates (s – Harvey Gray 82m).
Unused sub: Isaac Dudding.
The opening exchanges were fairly even, although Wigan’s right winger Edwards gave us major problems. 2 goals ensued from his breaks, the first arriving on 13 minutes when he fed centre forward Harris in acres of space at the edge of our area. Harris had plenty of time to pick his spot to put the Latics ahead. Edwards succeeded in teasing his way through again 7 minutes later, this time his cross eluding Harris but reaching Bettoni at the far post to give Athletic a 2-0 lead.
At this point, we’d mounted a single response from Morgan Bates that was parried clear and overall looked a little dishevelled.
Wigan continued to craft chances, Sam Seager keeping a couple of decent attempts out. We stayed in the contest, although our passing was unusually wayward.
We adjusted to get more control in centre midfield, Pescatore and Higgins switching, and missed a timely opportunity to pull a goal back just before half-time when the trialist keeper kept out a shot from Ramon Rees-Siso.
Newcomer Wahab Ojetero replaced Josh Pescatore after the interval – Josh was due to leave with the U21 for tomorrow’s game at Fleetwood. Ojetero slotted in alongside Brogan Popham, with Kiel Higginson going to right back, Billy Clarke to left back and Callum Deacon into midfield.
Encouragingly, we got a better grip on affairs and started to create more openings. Rhodes and Bates harried Wigan defenders into what resulted in a comedy miskick allowing Higgins to convert on 53 minutes.
Bates was still largely isolated up front, although Higgins, Rees-Siso and Rhodes started to have more success in getting behind the visiting defence. Rees-Siso went very close to an equaliser with a peculiar low free-kick that crept past everybody but was hacked off the Wigan line with the keeper well-beaten.
Caio Ifans – in his first appearance this season – entered proceedings with 25 minutes to go and added greater urgency to our attacking intent, linking up forcefully with Rhodes on the left. We often got close, missed a couple of presentable opportunities. Wigan broke clear intermittently but the score remained 1-2 even with 5 frantic and tetchy minutes of added time.
The positional adjustments helped our cause, we were unlucky not to take something from the game. Wigan probably felt they did enough in the first half to warrant the win. Their huge trialist keeper did a lot to keep us at bay. The constant bawling from our bench wasn’t particularly positive or impressive encouragement for a group of youngsters still learning their fare in challenging circumstances.
Why not have a browse of the Swansea City Under 18 v Wigan Athletic Under 18 Professional Development League match image gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media