A very young U18s squad played out a 3-1 defeat to a comparatively more experienced Wigan Athletic team at Landore. Still missing a number of otherwise eligible players through international duties, coach Joe Roberts picked a side that included 4 Under 16 players plus a further 3 among the substitutes. Close season signing centre half Jack May made his first home appearance from the bench. Fresh from the U21s game at Haverfordwest in the week, Evan Anderson was one of the more experienced selections in the starting line-up.
Team: Evan Anderson; Carter Heywood (s – Dempsey Singer 86m), Brogan Popham, Wahab Ojetero (s – Jack May 66m), Caio Ifans; Alex Godfrey (s – Alffi Hughes 86m), Harlan Perry (captain), Bobby Lewis; Billy Clarke, Harvey Gray, Elis Thomas (s – Ioan Johnston 66m).
Skipper Harlan Perry got a couple of shots away in the opening minutes as we worked our way into the game. Wigan threatened with a couple of sorties, strikers Hughes and Gelhardt giving our defenders some pace to contend with. Gelhardt had a headed goal ruled out for offside on 12 minutes. Left back Caio Ifans was linking up well with Elis Thomas and Alex Godfrey and we were crafting some neat football, although not creating much in the way of penetration or chances.
Still, it was something of a surprise when the visitors broke clear on 28 minutes with Gelhardt having an open run on goal to put Wigan ahead. 8 minutes later Gelhardt broke again to set up Hughes for a close range second goal. Both goals had strong hints of offside about them, but equally came from poor loss of our own possession in vulnerable areas.
Five minutes before the interval, Harvey Gray was quick to fire home a Perry free kick to get the young Swans back in the match. Bobby Lewis glanced a header wide just before half-time. Brogan Popham had an earlier clear header just off target from a corner.
We continued to press in the early stages of the second half, Harlan Perry being released by Ifans to make a belligerent run into the penalty area, only to see his shot parried and scuffled off the line. On 74 minutes, another determined burst and cross from Perry made its way across the face of goal to substitute Ioan Johnston, but a Wigan defender crucially intervened. Harvey Gray, often isolated in the centre, had a rare chance from a Bobby Lewis cross but couldn’t find the target. We had plenty of possession but Wigan held out resolutely and always looked to break as we went to 3 at the back with substitutions. We were predictably caught out on 85 minutes when Wigan’s Reci was on the end of an unclaimed centre to shoot home.
The average age of the team got even lower with the introduction of Dempsey Singer at right back and Alffi Hughes in midfield as we battled out the last few minutes in a rainstorm.
Brogan Popham and Harlan Perry had to do a lot of the heavy lifting today to carry a very young side through the game. Caio Ifans also had a highly influential and involved performance. New boy Jack May looks a very competitive and able centre half. Bobby Lewis and Alex Godfrey naturally still have some development to do, but show a great deal of promise.
Why not have a browse of the Swansea City Under 18 v Wigan Athletic Under 18 Professional Development League match image gallery.
Feature Image Credit: Majestic Media