Report | Bristol City U21s 2 Swansea City U21s 1
Swansea City Under-21s fell to defeat at Bristol City as Tarrelle Whittaker's strike was not enough to secure a share of the spoils in the Professional Development League.
Sam Bell opened the scoring early on for the Robins, and then doubled his and his team's tally early in the second half.
Whittaker responded for the visitors, who were without a number of players on international duty, but the development side could not find an equaliser despite having their fair share of chances to do so.
The young Robins broke the deadlock almost immediately, as Seb Palmer-Holden chipped the ball over the top to set up in-form striker Bell, who fired the ball into the top-left corner.
Whittaker then drove a through ball to Joe Thomas, who looked to advance one-on-one with the keeper, but his run was cut short as he was flagged offside.
Moments later, a lovely one-two play between Thomas and Whittaker found Nathanael Ogbeta in space, but his headed effort went just wide.
Bristol went close to doubling their advantage as Joe Porton beat his marker and headed towards goal, but Josh Carey produced an excellent challenge to clear the danger.
It was proving an end-to-end game and Ruben Davies surged down the right flank to deliver a cross into Ogbeta, who cut in on his right foot but saw his powerful effort saved by Stefan Bajic.
Five minutes before the break, the Swans should have been level. Ogbeta once again caused problems down the left side and delivered a brilliant ball into the area. Thomas was there but he was unable to convert from close range.
Corey Hurford fired over from distance as the Swans continued to press, but they fell further behind just past the hour mark as Bell bagged his second goal of the afternoon.
Omar Taylor-Clarke threaded the ball through the Swansea City defence to put Bell in on goal, who slotted home past Archie Matthews.
The visitors piled on the pressure and it eventually paid off through Whittaker, who pulled a goal back as he found space at the back post and smashed it past Bajic from the edge of the six-yard box.
The Swans continued to press but could not find another goal to secure a point on their travels.
Bristol City Under-21s: Stefan Bajic, Harry Leeson (Marley Rose 67), Taine Anderson, Jamie Knight-Bell, Raphael Araoye, Joe Low (captain), Omar Taylor-Clarke, Dylan Kadji, Sam Bell, Seb Palmer-Holden, Joe Porton (Ben Acey 45).
Unused subs: Mac Boyd, Elijah Morrison, Jed Meerholz.
Swansea City Under-21s: Archie Matthews, Harry Jones, Wasiri Williams (Seb Dabrowski 61), Filip Lissah, Brandon Cooper (captain), Joe Thomas, Tarrelle Whittaker, Josh Carey, Ruben Davies. (Iwan Morgan 80), Corey Hurford (Kyrell Wilson 78), Nathanael Ogbeta.
Unused subs: Kit Margetson, Kian Jenkins.
