With a side packed full of attacking intent, our U21 got a deserved 3-1 win today over a capable Sheffield Wednesday.
Wednesday got something of a 2nd wind in the last quarter of an hour of the game. We defended our 2-0 lead well though and a late exchange of goals completed the contest.
Adapting to Richard Faakye’s suspension, coach Anthony Wright made an aggressive 4 4 2 selection, with Josh Pescatore and Aimar Govea frequently supplementing our front duo of Kyrell Wilson and Glory Nzingo.
Line-up: Evan Watts; Zac Jeanes (s – Callum Deacon 84m), Arthur Parker (s – Brogan Popham 69m), Iestyn Jones, Seb Dabrowski,); Josh Pescatore, Mitchell Bates (captain) (s – Jacob Cook 46m), Ben Lloyd, Aimar Govea; Glory Nzingo, Kyrell Wilson (s – Sammy Henia-Kamau 60m).
Unused sub: Ben Hughes.
We went 1-0 up after just 7 minutes – Kyrell Wilson dispossessing Otegbayo in the area and on the byline, the Owls defender impetuously bringing Wilson down as he moved in on goal. Wilson took the resulting penalty himself and just about got it past keeper Barrett who got hands to the ball but saw it spin up and over him into the net.
Chances came and went for both sides in a high paced opening. A typical exchange saw Iestyn Jones burst confidently forward from halfway and into the Wednesday area, only to lose possession at the last. Wednesday immediately broke into space at the other end, with Kamwa’s shot being blocked by Evan Watts.
Wednesday were quick to break, but it’s fair to say that we were also creating quite a few serious attacking moments of our own. Pescatore and Jeanes in particular were linking well on the right hand side and Wilson was looking eager and persistent in the middle.
8 minutes before half-time, Wednesday’s Shipston passed a loose ball that Govea snapped up inside the Swans half. Govea took the ball forward quickly, releasing Ben Lloyd in a dangerous advanced position. Lloyd’s shot was close to the keeper but its power got it through Barrett’s legs to extend Swansea’s lead. In the remaining minutes to the interval, both sides continued to exchange presentable opportunities in what had been a fairly even affair played at high tempo.
Ben Lloyd assumed the captaincy in the 2nd half when Mitch Bates left the fray at half-time.
We dominated the initial 2nd half proceedings, Nzingo having a number of efforts on target.
Wednesday winger Phuthi, who was something of a handful for Seb Dabrowski, got away again in the closing stages, struck a post, then set up Fernandes in added time to pull a goal back. Any sense of a late return for the visitors was immediately killed off when Ben Lloyd regained the 2 goal advantage with a deflected effort that wrongfooted the Owls goalie.
U18 defenders Brogan Popham and Callum Deacon enjoyed late match minutes at this level. Zac Jeanes, who came off in the closing stages, looks so much more comfortable at full back. Arthur Parker took a knock and was taken off as a precaution. Jacob Cook replaced Mitch Bates like for like and delivered a gritty 2nd half display. Josh Pescatore had another encouraging outing – and another assist, his cross being converted by Ben Lloyd.
It was a shame not to keep a clean sheet. 3-1 felt about right, though.
Scoring: Wilson (pen) 1-0 7m; Lloyd 2-0 37m; Fernandes 2-1 92m; Lloyd 3-1 93m.
Worth adding that the 19 year old Wednesday winger Joey Phuthi has already won 2 full international caps for his native Zimbabwe.
Definitely a talent & Seb Dabrowski did well to contain him for the most part today.