Report | Reading U21s 0 Swansea City U21s 3
Ten-man Swansea City Under-21s continued their good run of form and registered their first away win of the season as goals from Wasiri Williams, Joe Thomas and Ben Lloyd ensured they took all three points against Reading in the Professional Development League.
Williams was on target in the first half, before second-half goals from Thomas and Lloyd completed the scoring as the development side recorded a third clean sheet in a row, and they have now won four of their last six games.
It was also a third win in a row following success against Millwall and Watford, and they held their nerve after seeing Williams sent off with the score at 2-0.
Josh Thomas made his return following a three-game suspension after being dismissed against rivals Cardiff City. Meanwhile, Williams slotted back in after an ankle injury.
Scholars Evan Watts and Seb Dabrowski returned to Berkshire for the second time in three days, after featuring for the under-18s in their own win over the Royals on Saturday.
Lloyd had the first chance of the afternoon after being picked out by Joe Thomas from the right, but his powerful shot was palmed away for a corner by Coniah Boyce-Clark in the Reading goal.
But it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken, Brandon Cooper’s initial shot cannoned off the woodwork, but Williams was on hand just outside the six-yard box to slot home the opener.
The Royals pressed higher in search of an equaliser. Kai Ludvigsen produced a fine tackle in front of goal to deny David Nyarko, who was teed up by former Swan Adrian Akande on the edge of the area.
The aftermath saw Swans keeper Ben Hughes challenged for the first time, as Nyarko proved a real threat and got off a strong shot that was well saved.
Hughes was to produce yet another crucial save moments later; interplay between Mamadi Camara and Rashawn Scott, set the latter through one-on-one but the Swansea keeper was again equal to the task.
Nearing the interval, Williams came close to grabbing a second after leaping highest to get on the end of a Cameron Congreve free kick, but he failed to make a clean contact and the ball landed harmlessly in the keeper's arms.
Between the sticks, the Swans were forced into an early change as Nyarko and Williams collided with the advancing Hughes. After treatment Evan Watts was introduced in his place for his under-21s debut.
Nathanael Ogbeta did well to fend off his marker down the left to drive a forceful low ball into the box, but Josh Thomas just failed to get on the end of it.
However, on the hour mark, the Swans doubled their lead. Josh Thomas received Ogbeta’s throw-in and drove towards goal with purpose for Joe Thomas to find the back of the net for his second goal in as many games.
The Swans would soon be down a man, though, with Williams dismissed after receiving a red card for a foul on Camara.
Despite being a man down, the Swans went on to add to their tally. Seb Dabrowski did well to feed the ball to Josh Thomas, who was again provider as he picked out an unmarked Lloyd for the midfielder to volley home the clinching goal.
Reading Under-21s: Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Archie Walker 46'), Sam Paul, Hamid Abdel-Salam, Jay Senga, Louis Holzman, Kelvin Abrefa, Adrian Akande, Claudio Osorio, David Nyarko, Mamadi Camara, Rashawn Scott.
Swansea City Under-21s: Ben Hughes (Evan Watts 49'), Kai Ludvigsen (Harry Jones 46'), Wasiri Williams Azeem Abdulai, Brandon Cooper (captain); Joe Thomas, Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill, Liam Cullen (Josh Thomas 46',Tarrelle Whittaker 90'), Ben Lloyd, Nathanael Ogbeta (Seb Dabrowski 68').