Report | Hull City U18s 2 Swansea City U18s 1
Thomas Woodward's first-half strike wasn't enough to claim three points as Swansea City Under-18s suffered defeat on the road against Hull City.
The Swans took the lead just before the break through Woodward, grabbing his second goal against the Tigers in the space of a week having netted for the under-21s earlier in the week.
But the Tigers came out fighting in the second half, with Lucas Dawson finding the net twice within three minutes of to claim the three points.
Aimar Govea, Harlan Perry and Yori Griffith returned to the squad after missing last week’s PDL Cup opener with Jack Fanning, Rohan Davies and Ramon Rees-Siso missing out.
Ben Phillips made his first start whilst his under-16s’ teammate Peter Coe would also make his debut as a substitute.
The Swans started brightly, Woodward and Govea making some eye-catching forward runs and being involved in a fine move that ended with the final pass for the Ecuador international heading straight into the Hull keeper’s hands.
Govea was proving a handful down the left, and his pull-back found Josh Pescatore - who skippered the Swans for the first time - on the edge of the six-yard box, before the former Tottenham man volleyed his effort over the bar.
The Tigers managed to respond and Swansea keeper Kit Margetson was called into action on multiple occasions.
Fresh from his hat-trick against Cardiff City, Sammy Henia-Kamau saw his strike from outside the area denied by the outstretched hands of home keeper George Wilson and, momwnts later, the 17-year-old saw a shot deflected wide from a Govea lay-off.
But the Swans did take the lead in the 44th minute. Woodward won the ball inside the Hull area before finding the net as his low shot flew into the bottom corner.
The visitors took the lead into the break, and they came out strong in the second period, creating chances inside the Hull box.
Woodward almost added a second to his tally, but before he could cut inside to drill home, the Tigers’ defence swept the ball to safety.
However, the home side would score two goals in quick succession to cancel out Woodward’s first-half strike through Dawson.
The Swans looked to respond. Seb Dabrowksi and Pescatore did well in the middle to pick out Henia-Kamau, but the skipper’s ball was just too strong for the former Jersey striker.
Govea unleashed a powerful strike from 20 yards in the final stages, but it was blocked as Hull held on to their one-goal lead.
Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Seb Dabrowski, Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Ben Phillips (Bobo Evans 75), Harlan Perry, Aimar Govea, Yori Griffith (Peter Coe 75), Sammy Henia-Kamau, Thomas Woodward, Josh Pescatore (Captain) (Billy Clarke 75).
Substitutes: Kiel Higginson, Ewan Griffiths.