Report | Briton Ferry Llansawel 0 Swansea City Under-21s 6
Braces from Kian Jenkins, Ruben Davies and Kristian Fletcher helped Swansea City Under-21s book their place in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup with an emphatic victory against 10-man Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road.
The Swans took an early lead through Jenkins, and were then handed a man advantage when Morgan Hutin was sent off with just 26 minutes played for an awful challenge on Mitchell Bates, who was skippering the visitors against his old club.
Swansea profited with striker Davies netting and Jenkins adding his second in the final minutes of the first half.
Anthony Wright’s team controlled the second half to seal progress with a minimum of fuss; Davies adding his second and Kristian Fletcher also on the scoresheet with two goals of his own as the coach enjoyed a winning return to a grassroots club he has close ties to.
The game started scrappily, with plenty of midfield tussling but little in the way of a pattern.
Joe Thomas sliced his effort on goal from an early Swansea corner, but the visitors would soon lead.
Ferry were unable to fully clear a cross into the box and, when a Davies strike rebounded to Jenkins, he made no mistake to calmly steer the ball into the bottom corner.
It was the ideal start for Wright’s side, and it took a good block to prevent Fletcher making more of a loose pass he was able to pick off deep in opposition territory.
Ferry responded by forcing a series of corners, but the Swans dealt with the aerial challenge and keeper Evan Watts made a good claim to help them clear their lines.
The JD Cymru South outfit’s task got more difficult when a poor challenge from Hutin on Swansea skipper Bates saw the referee immediately produce a red card.
The Swans looked to press home the numerical advantage, pinning the home side deep in their own half.
They lost Kai Ludvigsen to injury – Filip Lissah replacing him – but shook off the enforced change to double their lead five minutes before half-time.
Davies was the scorer, firing across the keeper into the bottom corner after being found in space by Liam Smith.
And Swansea would further extend their lead right on the stroke of half-time, Jenkins getting Lissah’s pass out of his feet before once again applying a calm finishing touch with the final kick of the opening 45 minutes.
Davies took aim from the edge of the area early in the second half, but saw his effort roll into the gloves of Ferry keeper Rhys Wilson, while Maliq Cadogan fired over from the edge of the area.
Cadogan lifted a curling strike over the crossbar as the Swans dictated play, while Fletcher sent a shot on the angle straight at Wilson after being freed by good build-up down the left.
Cadogan was again off target with an angled volley, while substitute Ben Lloyd was denied at the near post by Wilson.
But the fourth Swansea goal would arrive with 15 minutes left as Davies got his second by converting from Sam Parker's measured ball across the box.
The fifth followed hot on its heels, Davies was denied by a superb save but Fletcher was on hand to put away the rebound for his seventh goal in seven games.
Swansea continued to turn the screw and Fletcher added further gloss to the scoreline when he raced through on goal and rounded the keeper to get his second in quick succession.
Briton Ferry Llansawel: Rhys Wilson, Declan Evans (Morgan Wright 60), Kris Evans (Thomas Walters 60), McKenzie Ace (Tyler Brock 70), Connor Goldsworthy, Joseph Jones (Alex Gammond 46), Ryan George, Caleb Demery (Luis Bates 28), Morgan Hutin, Josh Bull, Kori Parker.
Unused Substitutes: Jasper Payne, Cameron Berry.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Harry Jones, Kian Jenkins (Sam Parker 60), Mitchell Bates (captain), Jack Stafford (Richard Faakye 60), Kai Ludvigsen (Filip Lissah 37), Joe Thomas (Zane Myers 60), Liam Smith (Ben Lloyd 60), Ruben Davies, Kristian Fletcher, Maliq Cadogan.
Unused Substitutes: Remy Mitchell, Charlie Veevers.
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones
Attendance: 1,028