A bright game on a bright day but, over the course of the 90 minutes, our young U18s squad fell short and lost 2-1 to Brentford. We deserved better, had the best of the play and chances, we rather ran out of steam and Brentford clinically took the few opportunities they had to seize the win.
Head coach Mason McClelland retained a 4-4-2 set-up, although there was some experimentation with Billy Clarke and Caio Ifans switching flanks: Sam Seager; Osian Williams, Kiel Higginson, Carter Heywood (s – Brogan Popham 60m), Callum Deacon (captain) (s – Wahab Ojetero 60m); Caio Ifans (s – Thomas Searle 76m), Milo Robinson, Ben Phillips (s – Alfie Jones 60m), Billy Clarke; Bobo Evans, Aidan Higgins.
Unused sub: Tom Wright (g/k).
For Brentford, there were a couple of late changes that evaded the teamsheet: trialist Jaye Long played 10 on the right middle of midfield, Emeka Peters played 11 up front. Jaye Long is formerly with Fulham and Sheffield United, having been let go by the latter at the end of his scholarship. Brentford were a big, athletic side, but we had the edge over them for the majority of today’s match.
We’d already created and missed reasonable chances in the first 10 minutes: Bobo Evans had a shot tipped wide after good work by Higgins and Ifans; Callum Deacon shot at the keeper after being sent through; Caio Ifans was narrowly wide with a first time effort after a long clearance put him in the clear.
Brentford seemed content to contain our team moving the ball around.
Milo Robinson beat the wall with a 27th minute free kick that keeper Anderson punched clear.
Peters offered Brentford’s limited threat with a couple of speculative efforts. It was largely one way though until poor loss of control in our midfield 5 minutes before half-time allowed right winger Giscombe to get released for a low cross that Peters converted on the far post from Sam Seager’s parry.
The typically combative Caio Ifans was booked soon afterwards – but quickly made amends with a sweeping first time right footed shot to equalise from within the area when Osian Williams found him in space. 1-1 half-time.
We survived a bit of a self-inflicted panic just after the interval but essentially dominated the 2nd half.
Billy Clarke struck wide after being set up by Aidan Higgins. We still had the majority of the play but players operating in unusual positions were often inadvertently getting in one another’s way.
A series of substitutions disrupted our pattern, although it was very encouraging to see Tom Searle back on grass after missing the entire season through injury. Brogan Popham also had 30 competitive minutes back in the team and ideally readying himself for next week’s U17s Cup Final.
Billy Clarke was close again with a flying first time shot wide from a Higgins cross. Bobo Evans saw a close range shot hacked away off the line. Rather fatefully, Brentford immediately went right up the other end, capitalised on some uncertain defending and Owusu was presented a clear route to goal, which he took to put Brentford 2-1 up with their only effort of the half.
We had a few more openings to get back on terms but, in truth, looked increasingly indecisive with lower quality deliveries and not much to work with in a spirited but light forward line. Today’s positional switches didn’t really succeed, although today was absolutely the right opportunity to give them a trial. The contest petered out to an unlikely and frankly fortunate Brentford win.
Our U18s are in 5th position in the PDL2 South division after today’s results, although a couple of teams have games in hand. Overall, it’s been a really productive and entertaining season:
- More often than not, the football’s been great to watch. There’s been yet another disruptive in-season coaching change, the players have though continued to be encouraged to play a pleasing pass and move game. Our tactics and adaptations have frequently been flexible and imaginative.
- A number of our 1st and 2nd year scholars have advanced to the extent that they’re now well tested and proven at age grade level and are likely to form the basis of next year’s U21s.
- Some players have had to come through difficult injury periods and hopefully will be ready to go again next season.
- Lots of younger age grade players have been given opportunities, which bodes well for the future, assuming a number of these are awarded scholarships. Go get that U17s Cup Final win next Sunday!
In the cyclical way of these things, today was undoubtedly the last time a few of the 2nd year scholars will be seen in Swans’ colours. For those that are leaving, genuine thanks for your contributions & hopefully the spell here with the Academy provides the platform for a productive career elsewhere.