After we reacted positively to an unexpected equaliser, our U21s completed a comfortable 4-1 victory over Carmarthen in Round 1 of this season’s Nathaniel MG Cup. There was a crowd of 572 at Richmond Park for a pleasant day in the sun. Carmarthen play one division below the Cymru Premier and finished 7th in Cymru South last season. Former Welsh international midfielder Mark Aizlewood is head coach, former Swans Tom Dyson, Will Rickard, Cole Gibbings featured in the Old Gold squad today.
Our U21s seem to have settled on a 4-3-3 formation, Tom Wright coming into goals today as a fresh 1st year scholar who’s played U18s football in the last season or so. Zac Jeanes moved across to left back to accommodate new pro Josh Pescatore in a right back role. Ben Phillips partnered Iestyn Jones in a more familiar central position in defence. The remainder of the team picked itself with Tom Woodward being the most advanced midfielder with skipper Dan Watts and Jacob Cook acting as the midfield lynchpins, Ramon Rees-Siso and Caleb Demery provided wing support to centre forward Morgan Bates. 17 year old newcomer Josiah Kallicharan and 1st year scholar winger Kai Rhodes also made the U21 squad for the first time.
Tom Wright; Josh Pescatore, Iestyn Jones, Ben Phillips, Zac Jeanes; Dan Watts (captain), Jacob Cook, Thomas Woodward (s – Yori Griffith 20m) (s – Harlan Perry 46m); Ramon Rees-Siso (s – Callum Deacon 71m), Morgan Bates (s – Josiah Kallicharan 80m), Caleb Demery (s – Kai Rhodes 71m).
Unused subs: Tom Searle, Carter Heywood.
Before the game there was a minute’s silence for Dudley Lewis, who had played for both teams.
In glorious sunshine, the encounter started slowly, the Swans taking time to put together their passing game. It took 16 minutes before we had the first scent of goal – a fine move started by Iestyn Jones and continued by Rees-Siso, Pescatore and Woodward brought an opening for Morgan Bates who was blocked at the near post. On the other flank, Caleb Demery tricked his way into the box to set up Rees-Siso but he too couldn’t get a clean shot away.
Further good buildup work by Cook and Rees-Siso gave Bates a close range opportunity which he finished to put the Swans 1 up on 26 minutes. This was no less than we deserved and it was quite a surprise when Carmarthen fashioned an equaliser shortly after – Liam Thomas being left unattended to collect and slam home a high ball into the Swansea danger zone. We escaped a further scare a couple of minutes later when Reed headed a corner to the crossbar. Although shaken by the setback, we made it to half-time without further damage.
An already competitive match got feistier with an agricultural tackle by Dyson on Yori Griffith that meant the Swans midfielder didn’t reappear after the break. It’s fair to say though that the young Swans didn’t get intimidated and rose gamely throughout to the physical challenge presented.
2 goals immediately after the interval put the Swans back in control. Rees-Siso bundled the ball home after Dan Watts found him clear in the area. Soon afterward, Demery got a 3rd with a sizzling finish after a series of smart 1-2s created space and a clear sight of goal.
This gave the team the headroom to dominate the ball, half-time substitute Harlan Perry playing a full part. It was Perry’s lofted pass to Demery on 69 minutes that gave the left winger the occasion to bring the ball down expertly and to execute another fine finish.
That was the last of the scoring, although the Swans crafted a number of further opportunities in the remainder of the game – Bates, Pescatore, Phillips and new boy Kallicharan all going close before the end. Kai Rhodes also contributed a promising cameo, linking particularly well with Perry and Deacon. Overall, it was a comfortable and well-earned 4-1 win.
U21s coach Anthony Wright has frequently had to fashion a side with the hand he’s been dealt and it appears that he’s applying resources intelligently and effectively once more. The fluid 4-3-3 setup seems to be coming together: key players such as Iestyn Jones, Dan Watts and Jacob Cook give us the foundation to both protect the ball and permit creativity from the likes of Ramon Rees-Siso, Caleb Demery and Josh Pescatore. Up front, Morgan Bates is quite capable of profiting from the chances these players generate. It won’t always succeed – we saw that at Merthyr earlier in the week – but when the side is on song, it’s entertaining fare.
Afan Lido next.
Goalscoring: Morgan Bates (0-1 26m); Liam Thomas (1-1 37m); Rees-Siso (1-2 47m); Demery (1-3 49m); Demery (1-4 69m).
Feature Image Credit: FAW