A remarkable win today against visitors Charlton, who always provide a strong opposition and went into today’s game 4 points clear at the top of the U18s PDL South league. We were 4th in the table this morning but fielding a very young side today.
Bobo Evans was the only starter to be selected from the XI named in the FA Youth Cup tie against Blackburn 3 days ago. Brogan Popham featured among the substitutes. A maiden squad place was given to 14 year old Damian Dabrowski, Seb’s brother. We featured 3 further U16s in today’s squad. Among the players in the stand, Lukas Murphy and Isaac Dudding appeared on crutches, while Caio Ifans remains unavailable through injury.
We lined up 4-3-3: Jakub Nowak; Kaven Bloniarczyk, Archie Quick, Jack May, Wahab Ojetero (s – Brogan Popham 24m); Bobo Evans, Milo Robinson (captain) (s – Josiah Kallicharan 69m), Sol Baker (s – Damian Dabrowski 76m; Alex Godfrey, Harvey Gray, Elis Thomas (s – Ioan Johnston 76m).
Unused sub: Tom Wright (g/k).
On a cloudless, bright but cold day today at Landore, the game got off to a slow start. Charlton possessed a few players who looked sharp on their feet, giving our defenders plenty of early problems. Washington-Amoah and McMillan both delivered shots wide, signalling the visitors’ intent. On 16 minutes, Alex Godfrey’s break created a good chance for Elis Thomas that Charlton keeper Woodham pushed around the post.
Wideman Tagoe was causing us major problems on our left hand side: centre forward Burnham didn’t get a clean strike after Tagoe got to the byline on 21 minutes, but the ball still found the net to put Charlton a goal ahead. Wahab Ojetero, who seemed to have pulled a muscle, went off to be replaced by Brogan Popham, who joined Archie Quick in the back four, with Jack May switching to left back to try to quell the threat on that side.
We continued to look quite vulnerable at close quarters to Charlton’s clever footwork and couldn’t deal with Tagoe in particular.
Nevertheless, Bloniarczyk had 2 good chances on goal before half-time, the first being parried behind by Woodham, the second was a cracking first-time half-volley that struck the underside of the bar only to come out. In between Godfrey got on the end of a Thomas run and cross only to flick the ball to Woodham.
Brogan Popham stiffened our rearguard, but was booked as we approached half-time. We were still in it, though.
We continued to fashion occasional chances early in the second half, the best falling to Elis Thomas, who perhaps had too much time to act on a ball that found him in space, Woodham collecting his shot at the second attempt. Tagoe persisted in providing plenty of menace, although Jack May stuck to his task and got a tighter grip on him as the game progressed
Richman was sent free when Swansea lost possession cheaply just inside the Athletic half. Fortunately, Nowak was able to keep his shot out with his legs. Washington-Amoah got behind our defence immediately after and sent a dangerous ball right across the face of our goal with no Charlton player on hand to convert it. Richman blasted over again as things started to look ominous for our youngsters, who were struggling to keep possession.
Tagoe and Godfrey were booked for a spot of pushing and shoving. We prepared Kallicharan to come on to alter the dynamic on 69 minutes. As he was waiting, a pattern of play emerged on the right for Bloniarczyk to break into space and deliver a centre for Harvey Gray to strike home into the far corner of the visitors’ net. Kallicharan came into play and within 4 minutes intelligently stepped over another right-sided centre from Bloniarczyk, allowing a Gray a free strike at goal from around the penalty spot. 2-1 to the Swans.
Having lost McMillan at half-time to a knock, Charlton elected to immediately replace their most effective attacking players Tagoe, Washington-Amoah and Richman.
Burnham had the ball in the net within a minute or so but was clearly offside.
We made our own changes, giving Damian Dabrowski his debut in the centre of midfield to replace Sol Baker, while Ioan Johnston was a like-for-like replacement for Elis Thomas. Damian made an early impression by getting his body in the way of a fierce drive just outside the box from Charlton skipper Belton. Nowak then got a firm hand to a shot from Valentine, who was overlapping regularly in support of substitute Mylona.
We were coming under increasing pressure and our defence was having to perform some drastic measures to keep Charlton at bay. Burnham turned over a pass from Valentine when it looked easier to score. Archie Quick made a critical last-ditch tackle on Valentine as Charlton broke clear. Mylona tried a strike from distance that Nowak dealt with and the same player then wasted an opportunity from a free kick right on Swansea’s area as full-time approached.
As we tried to batten down the hatches in the face of some concerted late attacking, another hacked clearance found its way to Kallicharan inside our own half. He made strides forward and finely judged a pass to send Godfrey clear of the overcommitted Charlton defence to execute a decisive finish. 3-1 on 93 minutes.
A great – and what seemed at times quite unlikely – win for our young side over a high quality opposition. After a very jittery first half, the whole of our defence rose to the challenge really well and can be rightly pleased with their efforts. Alex Godfrey on the right wing also had an inspired game, always looking to create, he deserved the clinching goal.
Former Bournemouth, Leeds and Charlton centre half Jason Pearce coached Charlton.