We’ve been rather spoilt to date with the strength of the U21s playing squad. That all changed in Wednesday’s Nathaniel MG Cup 3rd Round tie with Cymru Premier Haverfordwest. With a number of players absent either on loan or international duty, coach Anthony Wright was reduced the bare bones of a squad that featured players out of position and a substitutes’ bench composed entirely of U18s, with no strikers among them.
The decision to concede home advantage seemed odd, although Bridge Meadow is a decent setup and with a 3G pitch that is fairly standard for many Welsh League grounds. County themselves have started the season slowly and were no doubt smarting from the 5-0 beating they took at the weekend at the hands of the formidable New Saints. They fielded a strong line-up, including ex-Swans Academy and Wales U21 striker Owain Jones. The influential Corey Shepherd – younger brother of former Swan Liam – was at the heart of the County midfield, alongside the imposing Greg Walters, who’d been sent off in the 2023 Swans encounter with Carmarthen in the same competition. County are managed by Tony Pennock and Gary Richards, both familiar figures in Swansea circles.
We fielded a makeshift back four, with keeper Evan Anderson being protected by Tom Seale and Zac Jeanes at full back and 2 left footers Seb Dabrowski and Blair McKenzie in the centre. Dan Watts captained the side from the centre of midfield with Tom Woodward and Yori Griffith either side of him. Josh Pescatore and Ramon Rees-Siso flanked centre forward Morgan Bates.
Line-up: Evan Anderson; Tom Searle (s – Brogan Popham 46m), Seb Dabrowski (s – Caio Ifans 84m), Blair McKenzie (s – Carter Heywood 84m), Zac Jeanes; Yori Griffith, Dan Watts (captain) (s – Callum Deacon 84m), Tom Woodward; Josh Pescatore (s – Billy Clarke 84m), Morgan Bates, Ramon Rees-Siso.
Our back four looked a little uncertain but, after some opening scares, we countered with off-target shots from distance by Pescatore and Woodward. County’s Hawkins hooked over from close range after getting away from his marker to meet a centre. We seemed to have settled into the game when, on 20 minutes, some naïve defending allowed big striker Ahmun to loft over a cross for the completely unmarked Owain Jones to loop a header into the far corner of the net beyond Anderson. Ahmun continued to give our defenders some nervous moments. Exchanges remained fairly equal to the interval – Rees-Siso was off target with an effort from outside the box and Bates headed over following good work by Griffith and Woodward. County went close through Shepherd and Ryan Abbruzzese.
We were still very much in the game at this stage, although it was notable that coach Anthony Wright applied interval changes to reshape our vulnerable looking back four. Dabrowski went to left back, Zeanes crossed to the right and Brogan Popham partnered McKenzie in the centre.
There was a key moment 2 minutes after half-time when Morgan Bates won possession in midfield and made a storming run forward, the ball making its way to Tom Woodward, who finished coolly inside the area, only to be denied an equaliser by the offside flag.
Haverfordwest responded by creating a number of clear chances – hitting the bar with a speculative deflected shot and Anderson almost being caught out by an impromptu lob from Langley who’d won possession off McKenzie competing for a long ball. County got a deserved second goal when Fawcett was allowed room on the right of the box to send in a tempting low ball deep into the danger area. Our defence failed to react and Walters diverted the ball home.
The next few minutes were quite frantic – Tom Woodward showed great skill to get a pass under control and to get a goal back on 71 minutes. The tackling got a bit more vigorous and a couple of bookings were followed by the referee deciding that Rees-Siso’s tough but seemingly fair looking coming together with Haverfordwest’s Humphreys warranted a second yellow and dismissal. County promptly got another 2 goals as we struggled to reorganise with ten men. To crown a miserable evening, the heavens opened and the players finished the game with rain belting down.
Coach Anthony Wright had very little to work with on the night. It’s important we take this competition seriously, but on this occasion he was obliged to operate with one hand tied behind his back. Few players were able to really shine. Despite the rush of 2nd half goals, Brogan Popham stabilised the back four. Tom Woodward and Morgan Bates kept plugging away and the unfortunate Ramon Rees-Siso was increasingly looking like a potent attacking threat until his untimely sending off. Our young substitutes offered a late fresh energy but the game was done at that point. A couple of our missing players could perhaps have made a difference in organising the defence and providing an anchor in midfield, but that’s academic now.
The only solace I could take from the evening was winning the programme raffle!
Scoring: Owain Jones 0-1 (20m); Greg Walters 0-2 68m; Tom Woodward 1-2 (71m); 1-3 Luc Owen 80m; 1-4 Ben Ahmun (81m).