A couple of quick-fire goals late in the game provided a convincing win for a young Swans side here at sunny Landore.
Fleetwood had briefly threatened an unlikely late comeback when they took advantage of a soft penalty award to bring the score to 3-2 with just over 10 minutes remaining. A late resurgence by a Swans team bolstered by 20 minute cameos from Bobo Evans and Alfie Jones got the side over the line in what was otherwise a fairly flat second half.
With absences due to age grade international call-ups, the U18s fielded a youthful squad. U16s Rio Hassan, Llewelyn Grayson and Jacinto Merrony-Janota started and Archie Devine played the full second half. Goalkeeper Jakub Nowak was back in goal now that Tom Wright is on loan with Ammanford.
Line-up (4-3-3): Jakub Nowak; Kamron Williams, Rio Hassan, Jack May, Dempsey Singer (captain); Buster Morgan, Sol Baker, Llewelyn Gregson (s – Bobo Evans 72m); Jacinto Merrony-Janota (s – Alfie Jones 72m), Harvey Gray (s – Archie Devine 46m), Kaleab Meron.
Unused sub: Xavvie McIntosh-Wells
We hadn’t switched on when we went immediately behind to a gift that Fleetwood striker Robson converted from close range at the second attempt, a really poor goal to concede.
Other than a cross cum shot from Rochester that Nowak nursed over the bar shortly afterwards, that was the sum attacking effort from the visitors until a rally late in the match.
Meron was looking lively on the left wing, getting to the line to deliver a low cross that eluded everyone. Buster Morgan immediately struck the bar with a volley after Fleetwood’s keeper punched another cross clear. The Swans got level on 11 minutes when Gregson was on hand to send a cleanly struck shot home from just inside the area.
The Swans ran play for the remainder of the half, busy performances in the middle by Baker, Gregson and Morgan being complemented by calm central defending by Hassan and smart wing play from Meron.
The Swans got the reward for their dominance by going 3-1 up by the 30 minute mark with a thumping header from Hassan from Morgan’s corner and another Morgan run to the line and shot that was deflected by Minopoli to offer Merrony-Janota a simple tap-in in front of goal.
Fleetwood were reduced to increasingly tetchy fouls to break up play, constantly snapping at ankles finally resulting in a booking for striker Junaid on 39 minutes.
U16 Devine was a straight swop for Harvey Gray at the interval, reducing the average age of the side further.
Having just been booked for a foul on Morgan, Fleetwood’s Scarlett was lucky to escape further punishment on the half hour mark when he pulled back Gregson. Fleetwood coach Sam Redshaw notably immediately substituted Scarlett.
Although there were occasional bright spots, the half settled into a bit of a stalemate, Meron having less of an effect when switched to the right and young Archie Devine finding it difficult to make an impact against bigger defenders. The introduction of Evans and Jones slowly regalvanised the side, but we had to withstand the prospect of a late visitors’ comeback when Hassan was harshly penalised in the box, Kelly slotting home to penalty to bring the score to 3-2.
With just over 10 minutes left, there was a worry that we would let the match slip away. Fortunately 2 goals in as many minutes sealed the game.
Evans made a crucial intervention in his own half to win possession and send Morgan away at a retreating Fleetwood defence. Morgan intelligently found Meron on the edge of the area, the winger slipping inside to score the goal of the game into the far corner of the net. Soon after, Sol Baker – switched to the left wing to accommodate Evans and Jones – made a belligerent run into the box, regaining control of the ball at close range to blast Swansea’s 5th right through Minopoli.
Swansea played out the remaining minutes comfortably, although there was still enough time for English to attract a further Fleetwood booking with a petulant follow through on Bobo Evans.
Something of a low key second half, but full credit to a young squad that got the right result against physically bigger and determined – if technically limited – opponents.
Rio Hassan was a cool, commanding presence at the back. Llewelyn Gregson was always constructive in midfield. Although, like many wingers, he is striving for consistency, Kaleab Meron offers a real touch of class on the wing. His well timed goal today was top notch.
Scoring: Robson (0-1, 3m); Gregson (1-1, 11m); Hassan (2-1, 21m); Merrony-Janota (3-1, 29m); Kelly (3-2, pen 79m); Meron (4-2, 82m); Baker (5-2, 83m).