A comfortable victory over Category 3 visitors Swindon who took a surprise lead but soon capitulated to a convincing Swans performance in the constant drizzle here at Landore academy.
Although Jon Beale’s line-up featured a number of U-16s, the starting line-up otherwise had a degree of U-18 experience, with the exception of newcomer Cameron Williams, who joined in the summer and played in the opening U-17 squad that beat Oxford United 5-0 on Saturday. Last season’s U-18s regular Tom Wright appeared in goal. Rio Hassan partnered Jack May in the middle of defence, Williams filled in at right back and Dempsey Singer took the left back role. Skipper Bobby Lewis, Alffi Hughes and Sol Baker made up the midfield with wingers Alex Godfrey and another summer acquisition Kaleab Meron from Arsenal featuring either side of centre forward Ioan Johnston.
Team (4-3-3): Tom Wright; Cameron Williams (s – Buster Morgan 56m), Rio Hassan, Jack May (s – Archie Quick 46m), Dempsey Singer; Alffi Hughes (s – Llewellyn Gregson 69m), Bobby Lewis (captain), Sol Baker; Alex Godfrey (s – Ifan Harding 56m), Ioan Johnston, Kaleab Meron (s – Jacinto Merrony-Janota 76m).
There was no teamsheet.
Another summer signing Malakai Dalphy was in the stand with a hip injury, along with goalkeeper Jakub Nowak and strikers Lukas Murphy and Harvey Gray, all of whom are recovering fitness. There was also a good presence of overage academy colleagues in attendance, including Bobo Evans and Kaven Bloniarczyk.
Swindon haven’t much pedigree in this competition over the past couple of years, so it was something of a surprise when sleepy Swansea defending allowed a free header from close range that Wright pushed around the post. A further free header from the resulting corner put Swindon 1-0 up on 5 minutes.
Driven by Bobby Lewis, the Swans youngsters played their way into the game and got level on 17 minutes when Alex Godfrey equalised inside the 6 yard box after Lewis’s shot was parried across the Swindon goal. A minute later Johnston put Swansea ahead when Sol Baker found him in space to shoot home.
Swansea continued to live a little dangerously at the back, another free header going begging before Sol Baker struck home at the other end with a fine first-time shot when Meron’s effort rebounded to him at a nice height. Ioan Johnston, who was looking particularly sharp leading the line, was in the right place to head home from close range when Williams’s shot was deflected by Godfrey beyond the Swindon keeper. By half-time the Swans were totally dominant and were well worth the 4-1 lead.
Although the team had to adjust to scheduled 2nd half substitutions, the home side continued to dictate proceedings, Godfrey getting his second goal with a far post finish from neat build-up play on the other flank by Singer and Meron. That was Alex’s last contribution, as Ifan Harding took the centre forward position with Ioan Johnston moving to the right. Former Arsenal graduate Buster Morgan and 14 year old Llewellyn Gregson came into midfield, with Dempsey Singer switching flanks and Sol Baker dropping to left back. Baker, who’d been impressive throughout, had a snap volley pushed over by the Swindon keeper, who also had to furiously backpedal to scoop away an overhit backpass to avoid a further embarrassing goal. Baker, Lewis and Harding had further attempts denied before a sixth arrived when Quick’s header struck a Swindon hand, Johnson sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to seal his hat-trick.
Swindon continued to offer defensive resilience but next to nothing in terms of an attacking threat. The Swans youngsters finished the game with another U-16 age grade international and Pembroke product Jacinto Merrony-Janota joining the fray on the left of midfield.
We had a very good run in this competition a couple of years ago. There’s every reason to believe this season’s group of youngsters can make a further good impression.
Goalscoring: Swindon no 2 (0-1 5m); Godfrey (1-1 17m); Johnston (2-1 19m); Baker 3-1 27m); Johnston (4-1 39m); Godfrey (5-1 55m); Johnston (6-1 87m).