Report | Colchester United U21s 3 Swansea City U21s 4

Cameron Congreve scored the winner in a seven-goal thriller as Swansea City Under-21s came from behind to claim the three points against Colchester United at the Maldon Stadium.

The Swans had taken the lead through Josh Thomas, who netted his third in as many games, and moments later doubled their lead through Corey Hurford. 

However, Colchester's Kaan Bennett and Brad Ihionvien had levelled matters before the interval, with the latter adding his second after the interval to fire the U's ahead.

But the Swans responded as Ruben Davies brought them level before Congreve struck as Swansea remained undefeated in 2023.

There had been four changes to the starting XI that beat Watford last time out, with Ben Lloyd and Thomas back in the starting line-up

Hurford came in for Liam Smith in midfield, while Remy Mitchell started between the sticks.

The Swans started brightly with Hurford going close, before Ben Blythe and Joe Thomas had to defend stoutly at the other end as Bennett threatened in the visitors area.

Hurford went close again, Lloyd playing him in on goal, only for keeper Harrison Chamberlain to make a sharp save.

But the Swans would soon find the opener as Thomas drilled home a strike from Lincoln McFayden's cross in the 24th minute. 

And they surged forward again from the restart to score again, Lloyd produced a lovely flick to send Hurford through to double the advantage.

However, the U’s were to halve the deficit through Bennett. The Colchester trialist’s header forced Remy Mitchell to palm away from close range, and the ball fell to Bennett to smash the ball into the net. 

The hosts then levelled on the stroke of half-time. Kennedy Mupompa's pass picked out Ihionvien at the near post for a simple finish.

All the momentum was with Colchester and Mitchell made a pair of excellent saves from Bennett early in the second period.

But he couldn't do anything when Ihionvien worked some space on the edge of the area to fire a thunderous strike into the top corner.

Swansea needed to respond, and they did so superbly and a forward ball picked out the run of Davies, and he made no mistake as he found the bottom corner.

Chances kept coming at both ends, Mitchell denying Bennett once again before the Swans landed the knock-out blow.

Substtitute's Smith and Tivonge Rushesha combined to find Congreve, who drove into the box to beat Chamberlain with a unerring right-footed strike to secure victory for the Swans.

Colchester United Under-21s: Harrison Chamberlain, Milton Oni, Trialist, Ryan Lowe (captain), Al-amin Kazeem, Trialist, Oscar Thorne, Marley Miranda, Brad Ihionvien, Kenny Mypomba, Kaan Bennett. 

Unused subs: Jaime Tedaldi, Frankie Edwards, Kai Redgrave, Freddie Price.  

Swansea City Under-21s: Remy Mitchell, Joe Thomas, Lincoln McFayden, Azeem Abdulai (Liam Smith 61'), Kai Ludvigsen, Ben Blythe, Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill (captain), Josh Thomas (Ruben Davies 61'), Ben Lloyd (Sam Leverett 72'), Corey Hurford. 

Unused subs: Ben Hughes.