Report | Birmingham City U21s 1 Swansea City U21s 5

A Morgan Bates hat-trick and a Thomas Woodward brace ensured Swansea City Under-21s claimed an emphatic victory in their final away fixture of the season against Birmingham City at St. Andrew's.

The Swans surged into the lead as Woodward netted twice inside the first 25 minutes, with Ramon Rees-Siso playing a key role in both goals.

The Blues pulled one back not long after through a powerful Kurtis Havenhand strike approaching the half-hour mark.

But Bates sealed the win with his second-half treble, his second as a Swans player since joining in September as the visitors romped to victory.

There was also the welcome sight of Filip Lissah making his first start in almost eight months following injury, while the bench consisted of only second and first-year scholars.

The opening stages proved cagey, although Arthur Parker and Iestyn Jones made a couple of important blocks to prevent Birmingham attacks posing a real threat.

But the breakthrough soon arrived for the visitors as the in-form Woodward directed his header into the roof of the net following good work by Rees-Siso down the right.

Aimar Govea dragged an effort wide moments later, and Woodward headed a Rees-Siso delivery over the bar, but the Swans did not have to wait much longer for their second 

Rees-Siso's shot forced a good save from Birmingham keeper Brad Mayo, but he could do nothing as Woodward lofted the rebound over him and into the net.

However, the hosts brought themselves back within one goal as Havenhand scored with his first touch with a fine strike from outside the 18-yard-box.

The Blues also applied pressure early in the second half, and Kit Margetson was grateful to be able to comfortably gather Daniel Isichei's mistimed shot following a Birmingham free-kick.

Lissah then put his body on the line to make a big block from a close-range strike while, at the other end, Mayo held Bat'es shot from Seb Dabrowski's fine cross.

But Bates would get his goal when a flowing attack ending with Govea laying a simple finish on a plate for the forward.

Margetson kept the lead at two goals, making a superb stop to prevent a trialist finding the top corner with a powerful header.

And Swansea made the most of his acrobatics by putting the result beyond doubt.

Woodward teed up Bates to fire home Swansea's fourth with a low drive from the edge of the area.

And the same combination brought up the fifth and final goal as Woodward's through ball picked out the run of Bates, who coolly finished to round off his hat-trick and cap an excellent performance.

Swansea City Under-21s: Kit Margetson, Arthur Parker, Sebastian Dabrowski (captain) (Callum Deacon 15), Jacob Cook, Filip Lissah (Ben Phillips 65), Iestyn Jones, Aimar Govea (Billy Clarke 75), Dan Watts (Harlan Perry 75), Morgan Bates, Thomas Woodward, Ramon Rees-Siso (Callum Jones 65).