Report | Crewe Alexandra U18s 2 Swansea City U18s 0

Swansea City Under-18s fell to defeat against Crewe Alexandra in their first away fixture of the 2023-24 Professional Development League campaign.

The hosts scored goals either side of the break, courtesy of Luca Moore and Rhys Allport to claim all three points.

The Swans had plenty of chances to bring themselves back into the game, but some good defensive work from Crewe kept them at bay.

There were four changes to the Swansea side that had won the opening game of the season against Peterborough United last time out, with Thomas Searle, Rohan Davies, Ramon Rees-Siso and Seb Dabrowski coming in for Jack Cooper, Thomas Woodward, Sammy Henia-Kamau and Aimar Govea. 

It was Dabrowksi’s first competitive start since November, after picking up an ankle injury which sidelined him for seven months. 

Meanwhile, Josh Pescatore and Teo Minchev were among the substitutes and in line for their debuts following their arrival from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively. 

The Swans started with great intensity, controlling the game, and a half-chance soon arrived as Callum Deacon's long ball fed Dabrowski, who in turn found Davies, but the forward could not get a shot away.

But It was the home side who took an early lead. Crewe moved forward in attack down the left before Moore took a touch and firing beyond Kit Martgetson to open the scoring.

However, the Swans responded well and carved out a good chance of their own. A fine one-two between Rees-Siso and Yori Griffith down the right ended with the ball being cut back for Davies, who blazed his right-footed effort well wide. 

Davies would soon go close again in search of the equaliser. Dabrowski played the Welsh forward in on goal but the Crewe keeper was equal to his low shot.

The away side continued to press but were indebted to Margetson as he tipped over Callum Hardy's efforts. 

Following the restart, the young Railwaymen got in on goal immediately and a brilliant save from Margetson denied Allport, who then also put the rebound wide.

The visitors rallied as Davies fired over, but Crewe were to double their advantage just beyond the hour mark. 

Possession was given up in the Swans half, and Allport found space in the box to tap the ball through the legs of Margetson. 

The Swans didn't stop in the search of a goal. Woodward headed wide with 10 minutes to go before Rees-Siso's close-range chipped shot was blocked by the Crewe keeper.  

Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Jack Fanning (Bobo Evans), Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Callum Deacon (Captain), Thomas Searle, (Teo Minchev) Cameron Llewellyn (Josh Pescatore), Yori Griffith, Rohan Davies (Sammy Henia-Kamau. ), Ramon Rees-Siso, Seb Dabrowski (Thomas Woodward)

Substitutes: Ewan Griffiths.