Report | Crewe Alexandra U21s 2 Swansea City U21s 2
Swansea City Under-21s staged a dramatic late comeback to snatch a point against Crewe Alexandra at the Swansway Stadium.
The home side had looked to be on course for all three points after Matus Holicek tapped in the opener just minutes after coming on as a substitute, with Joel Tabiner slotting home the second at the back post.
However, the Swans showed great character to battle back and they struck twice inside the final four minutes. Josh Thomas pulled one back two minutes from time, with substitute Seb Dabrowski netting an equaliser in stoppage time.
It gave the visitors their first point of the season following defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in their Professional Development League opener.
Striker Thomas had returned to the side after making the bench for the senior side against Luton on the weekend..
On the bench, Dabrowski and Kyrell Wilson were included having been in under-18s' action on Saturday against Coventry City.
The Swans started brightly, Ben Lloyd looked to go through on goal as he made an impressive run down the left wing but lost possession just as he drove into the penalty area. The ball fell to Thomas, but he was then dispossessed before being able to get a shot away.
The Railwaymen went close twice just minutes later as Tabiner curled the ball in from the left, but his cross was too high for Charlie Finney to head home.
Swansea keeper Remy Mitchell then produced a fine save to deny Oli Finney as he clawed the ball off the goal-line with the home side appealing for a goal to be awarded.
Corey Hurford tried his luck but his powerful effort from distance was caught comfortably by David Richards in the Crewe goal before the hosts took the lead.
Tabiner and Finney worked together to pick out Holicek at the back post, and the Slovakian made no mistake to find the net for the opener.
The Swans came close to finding an equaliser just before the break as Zane Myers found himself through on goal. He drove a low effort towards the target, and Richards could not keep hold of the ball as it squirmed under his body. However, defender Billy Sass-Davies was alert and got back to clear off the line.
Minutes after the restart, Joel Cotterill looked to level for the visitors as he drove forward and got off a shot at goal, but Richards was able to keep it out.
And the home side responded by doubling their lead as Charlie Finney fired in a low cross for Tabiner to tap in to the back of the net to make it 2-0 for the young Railwaymen.
Swansea needed to find a way back into the game and substitute Tarrelle Whittaker had an effort tipped round the post by Richards, before Tabiner fired over the bar at the other end.
The Swans kept pushing forward; Wilson did well to leave his marker behind on the right, but his cross evaded Thomas in the area.
However, just moments later, Thomas finds himself in on goal and he made no mistake in drilling the ball beyond the grasp of Richards to set up a frantic finale.
And Dabrowski earned the visitors a share of the spoils with a fantastic strike which flew into the top corner with seconds remaining.
Crewe Alexandra Under-21s: David Richards, Sam Bhatti (Zak Kempster-Down 70), Lewis Billington, Billy Sass-Davies (captain), Charlie Finney, Khanya Leshabela (Owen Lunt 62), Regan Griffiths, Joel Tabiner, Oli Finney, Bassala Sambou, Connor Evans (Matus Holicek 34).
Unused subs: Tom Booth.
Swansea City Under-21s: Remy Mitchell, Kai Ludvigsen, Filip Lissah, Ben Blythe, Zane Myers (Seb Dabrowski 67), Corey Hurford (Tarrelle Whittaker, 54), Dan Williams (Kyrell Wilson 70), Sam Leverett (captain), Joel Cotterill, Ben Lloyd, Josh Thomas.
Unused subs: Ben Hughes, Ruben Davies.
