A welcome return to competitive academy action this evening with a convincing cup victory over Category One side Birmingham City.
The academy tectonic plates are still moving about and it’s fair to say that one or 2 of tonight’s squad may be moving on shortly, but coach Anthony Wright put out a balanced and competitive side. Still a few players to come back from injury: Ramon Rees-Siso, Callum Jones, Caio Ifans, Caleb Demery, Tom Searle in the stand. Dan Watts might also be out for a while. Josh Pescatore has moved out on loan.
We started with a 4-3-3 formation but adapted smartly during the game, mostly playing 3-4-3 after half-time to strengthen our overall advantage: Evan Watts; Billy Clarke, Arthur Parker (s – Jacob Cook 72m), Iestyn Jones, Jack Fanning; Milo Robinson (s – Harlan Perry 62m), Yori Griffith (captain), Joel Cotterill; Joe Davies, Tom Woodward, Florian Bianchini (s – Kai Rhodes 62m).
Unused substitutes: Joe Collins (g/k), Greg Asemokhai.
Woodward and Bianchini swopped shirt numbers, although the latter played on the left side of attack, with Woodward in the centre and Peterborough recruit Joe Davies starting on the right.
It was a fairly even opening half hour. Woodward’s headed goal on 8 minutes was disallowed as Bianchini was adjudged to have crossed from behind the byline. Birmingham’s McGreevy tried a shot from range that Evan Watts was equal to but it was otherwise a little cagey.
Matters changed on 29 minutes when Woodward robbed the ball off a complacent defender and unselfishly lined up Joe Davies to convert from close range to put the Swans one up.
Al Elmansuri tried another distance shot that Watts capably dealt with, Maddox was off target when Birmingham unexpectedly gained possession on the edge of the home area but the general complexion of play was turning in Swansea’s favour. Fanning, Davies and Bianchini each went close before Tom Woodward got a clear header to a corner to put the Swans 2 up deep into First Half added time.
Coach Anthony Wright varied the formation early after the interval to go to 3-4-3, with Billy Clarke pushed up to add pressure on a Birmingham side that looked uncertain under pressure.
A third goal eventually came after a lightning break from the break, starting with Iestyn Jones and ending with Tom Woodward bursting through the Birmingham defence to score convincingly.
The substitutions maintained tempo even as players adapted: Harlan Perry and Jacob Cook slotted seamlessly into midfield and we limited Birmingham to isolated attempts from distance as we continued to create opportunities for Woodward, who could so easily have clinched a hat-trick and looked hungry up front.
Our play, particularly in the Second Half, was assured and energetic. Yori Griffith’s selection as skipper is bringing him forward as a schemer of real influence. Arthur Parker and Iestyn Jones were powerful and constructive in the centre of defence and, when Arthur went off, Jack Fanning moved inward to maintain a totally resolute rearguard. Evan Watts was rock steady and commanding in goal. A word of praise as well for Billy Clarke, who played 4 different roles during the night and looked comfortable respectively at right back, right wing back, centre midfield and left sided defender. There’ll come a time when he has to settle (probably right wing back, I expect) but in Anthony Wright’s current set-up Billy’s a valuable, versatile and effective performer.
Birmingham didn’t enjoy a particularly successful season last year back at Category One and are now being overseen by former Leeds and Blackburn midfielder Scott Sellars. In truth, they didn’t look overly impressive this evening, faded after the interval and might be in for another difficult campaign as they get back up to scratch after 3 previous years at Category Two. Undoubtedly that’s something we should be anticipating and attending to in our own journey.
Overall, we were very good value this evening for the 3-0 – and, of course, it’s great to be back.
Goalscoring: Davies 1-0 (8m); Woodward 2-0 (45+6m); Woodward 3-0 (78m).