Our U18s must be highly frustrated that QPR pinched the points today with a 1-0 win.
We created and passed up a multitude of clear chances. The inevitable happened on 75 minutes when QPR left winger Kennedy carved some room for himself on the edge of the box, we switched off and he struck a neat right foot shot past Sam Seager. That was QPR’s 2nd shot on target in the entire match.
Line-up: Sam Seager; Osian Williams, Kiel Higgjnson, Wahab Ojetero (s – Ben Phillips 46m), Callum Deacon; Harlan Perry (captain) (s – Alfie Jones 70m), Milo Robinson (s – Carter Heywood 80m); Aidan Higgjns, Bobo Evans, Callum Jones (s – Caio Ifans 46m); Morgan Bates (s – Harvey Gray 64m).
We mostly played 4-2-3-1, with Harlan Perry orchestrating and Aidan Higgjns and Callum Jones regularly joining Morgan Bates up top.
We took our time to make our possession play, taking quarter of an hour to fashion our first shot on goal from Higgjns after excellent work by Callum Deacon. Soon after, Bates flicked wide from setup play by Higgjns and Robinson.
Deacon and Callum Jones were enjoying some productive link work on the left, Jones in particular troubling the visitors’ defence with mazy runs.
Chances mounted up, Jones being denied a couple of times and Higgins striking the post on 42 minutes, with Bates and Jones unable to finish from the rebound.
QPR, who’d been under the cosh for much of the half, ominously broke away from our own corner in added time, Seager getting his hands to repel Coomes’s shot.
We made a couple of half-time changes and continued to dominate, Caio Ifans crafting a number of crosses from the left.
Chances came and went, the best going to Higgins who couldn’t get a firm purchase on another Ifans cross at short range. Harlan Perry, who’d tried to find his range with a couple of shots from distance, was rather harshly booked and subsequently substituted. Chances kept coming, Harvey Gray and Robinson unable to finish as we continued to dominate with what was otherwise really pleasing flowing football.
QPR’s pick pocketed goal set us back on our heels. The visitors, with their tails up, suddenly started to look alive and emboldened, and we looked vulnerable to breakaways as we desperately sought to get level.
Without Perry and Bates on the pitch , we understandably struggled to maintain the high pressing that had Rangers at sixes and sevens for much of the game.
Strong performances across the team today, notably from Harlan Perry, Callum Jones, Caio Ifans and Kiel Higginson. It just wasn’t to be.
Have a browse of images from the match in our Swansea City Under 18 v Queens Park Rangers Under 18 match gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media