On a day when Coventry competed on 3 different pitches in Swansea, our young U18s side fell short at the death in this encounter at Landore. The club administration seems quite unable to perform more than one task at any one time, so there was no teamsheet today. The visitors haven’t reported the game on their own website or published a line-up, so it was guesswork as to the team they fielded. The Coventry coach was Josh Gowling, the keeper was Welsh U18s squad member Elliot Meredith. For the Swans, no Harlan Perry or Brogan Popham and the injured Callum Jones, Kai Rhodes, Lukas Murphy and Isaac Dudding were in the stands. Some of our younger substitutes started the U16 game against the same opponents on the pitch next door.
We lined up 4-3-3 with no specialist left back: Tom Wright; Kaven Bloniarczyk (s – Dempsey Singer 68m), Carter Heywood, Jack May, Elis Thomas; Milo Robinson (captain), Alfie Jones (s – Alffi Hughes 63m), Bobby Lewus; Alex Godfrey (s – Ioan Johnston 45+10m), Josiah Kallicharan (s – Harvey Gray 63m), Bobo Evans.
Unused sub: Jakub Nowak (g/k).
We got off to the worst possible start, sleepily conceding a simple goal within 30 seconds when right winger Alfie Wright, who gave impromptu left back Elis Thomas a tough examination throughout the first half, found space to put the Coventry one up. The club’s X account credits the goal to Smith.
Coventry created a couple more chances in the opening quarter of an hour and the Swans weren’t really helping themselves by getting continually caught out at the back with poor distribution or careless positioning. By way of response, Milo Robinson was unlucky with a snap volley that Coventry keeper Meredith parried around the post. Bobby Lewis and Josiah Kallicharan had opportunities as the Swans worked a foothold into the game.
Bobo Evans, starting in a more advanced role, collected a pass from Lewis and finished clinically to put the Swans level on 33 minutes. Kaven Bloniarczyk had 2 headers wide from set-pieces and Alfie Jones took a shot from distance off target, but the momentum of the game was halted by what seemed at the time an innocuous injury to right winger Alex Godfrey. It was serious enough to warrant a buggy stretcher and Ioan Johnston was called over from the partnering pitch to enter the fray. Although we’d shown some threatening attacking intent, we continued to look vulnerable to breaks but made it through to half-time level. Coventry’s big centre forward, who I believe was Success Nidjebu (that’s a name to live up to), was sent through in added time but shot straight at Tom Wright.
Nidjebu was frustrated again early in the second half, although the Swans were now creating far more, helped by Elis Thomas moving to a more natural position and getting some decent crosses in. Johnson volleyed wide from one and keeper Meredith looked distinctly unsteady with balls in the air. Bobo Evans just couldn’t get enough on a chipped effort when he realised that an otherwise tame looking pass down the left wing allowed him to get to possession ahead of Meredith, who was way outside the Coventry area. Ominously, though, we kept getting stretched and caught on the break and rode our luck quite a few times – Dempsey Singer blocking a Nidjebu shot on the line with Wright beaten. Coventry must have missed half a dozen clear chances before Harvey Gray was given a gilt-edged header at the other end, once again from a delightful Thomas cross, only to direct the ball straight to Meredith
Swansea had an unexpected opportunity to clinch the game when Bobby Lewis broke into the area, only to be tripped for a penalty on 86 minutes. Sadly, Milo Robinson – who’d had an excellent match – hesitantly stepped up, Meredith guessed correctly and pushed the softly struck shot to the post and back into his arms.
As the minutes ticked down, the Swansea goal continued to lead a charmed life, with a Coventry striker choosing to chest in a loose ball from short range, only to see Tom Wright rush back from behind the line to catch it.
Coventry duly got the winner on 93 minutes when a further break down our right worked the ball across to Taylor to shoot cleanly home from the edge of the box.
It was disappointing to give up the points at the last, although Coventry worked hard for their win.
For the Swans, Milo Robinson rose to the occasion, with a commanding, responsible captain’s performance in midfield, guiding his comparatively younger colleagues on. Decent outings for Bobo Evans and Carter Heywood.