Report | Sunderland U18s 2 Swansea City U18s 1

Swansea City Under-18s bowed out of the FA Youth Cup as a second-half comeback from Sunderland saw them defeated in their third-round tie at the Stadium of Light.

The Swans had led through a strike from midfielder Josh Carey, just moments after keeper Ewan Griffiths had prevented Mason Cotcher giving the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.

However, goals from Olivier Bainbridge and Ben Williams turned the tie in favour of the Black Cats, and they held on to advance to round four of the prestigious competition.

Ben Lloyd and Joel Cotterill were among those to travel for the Swans, with their status as under-21 regulars while still eligible to play in this tournament underlining the club’s promotion of young talent.

Meanwhile, there was a first involvement at under-18 level for Osian Williams as he stepped up from the under-16s.

The category one Black Cats had the first chance early on with Tom Watson firing over the bar after being released from Cotcher.

Moments later, Geoff Bony forced Sunderland keeper Dan Cameron into a fine save as he tipped over the Swansea striker’s powerful effort.

But the hosts looked set to take the lead when Ben Middlemas was brought down in the area, but Griffiths did superbly to keep out Cotcher’s spot-kick to keep the scores level.

And the visitors made the most of the heroics from the keeper by breaking the deadlock through Carey’s first goal of the season, the midfielder drilling the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Griffiths denied Watson and Bainbridge to ensure the visitors retained their lead at the break, but the home side were soon piling on the pressure after the restart.

Ethan Moore rattled the crossbar after good work by Middlesmas and Bainbridge eventually make the pressure pay when he found the net from close range shortly after the hour mark.

And 10 minutes later, full-back Williams completed the turnaround as he fired in an excellent free-kick.

Iwan Morgan looked to respond immediately, but he saw his effort blocked from close range after good work by Bony while, at the other end, Griffiths twice denied Sunderland substitute Will Dowling  

But the Swans could not find a leveller on Wearside.

Sunderland Under-18s: Daniel Cameron, Ben Williams, Henry Fieldson, Johnson, Olivier Bainbridge, Marshall Burke, Will Cain, Ethan Moore, Ben Middlemas, Tom Watson, Mason Cotcher.

Subs: Ben Metcalf, Louis Salkeld, Luke Bell, Jayden Jones, Thomas Lavery, Will Dowling, Jake Waters.

Swansea City Under-18s: Ewan Griffiths, Sam Parker, Richard Faakye, Arthur Parker, Jada Mawongo, Josh Carey, Ben Lloyd, Joel Cotterill (captain), Geoff Bony, Iwan Morgan, Zane Myers.

Subs: Rohan Davies, Aimar Govea, Jacob Cook, Cameron Llewellyn, Yori Griffith, Osian Williams.