Report: Swans U23s 1 Everton U23s 2

A late strike saw Swansea City Under-23s suffer heartbreak in Premier League 2 with a 2-1 defeat against Everton at Landore.

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Jordon Garrick’s deflected strike broke the deadlock just before the hour-mark, but Luke Garbutt equalised from the penalty spot and substitute Shayne Lavery struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner for the visitors.

It was a second straight defeat for the young Swans inside a week as the side finished the game with ten men after Brandon Cooper received his marching orders for a challenge on Jose Baxter in the latter stages.

The under-18s captain was one of four changes for the hosts following the defeat at Leicester City on Monday, with Jay Fulton, Jordon Garrick and Liam Cullen returning to the side.

They started well as a slip in the Everton defence opened up an opportunity for striker Courtney Baker-Richardson to fire at goal inside ten minutes, but his shot was well-blocked by skipper Morgan Feeney.

Two minutes later, Cullen unleashed a vicious volley following a Swans free-kick that was beaten away by goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt, and Garrick was unable to get enough power on his header to turn the rebound home.

At the other end Gregor Zabret did well to hold on to Jose Baxter’s drilled effort from just outside the box.

The young Swans keeper also beat away a fierce Josh Bowler strike early in the second half, but the hosts took the lead in the 59th minute.

A sweeping move saw Tyler Reid burst forward from right-back and the ball broke kindly for Garrick in the box, before his shot deflected off Feeney and beyond the dive of Hewelt.

The visitors were looking to end a three-game losing run in all competitions and responded immediately with Feeney’s header drawing a wonderful save out of Zabret while, at the other end, Reid’s cross narrowly evaded the run of Adam King.

However, Everton were handed a way back into the contest 16 minutes from time when substitute Lavery was felled in the area, and Garbutt made no mistake in slotting the spot-kick away.

The Swans pressed for the winner as the clock ticked down with Kenji Gorre’s shot well saved by Hewelt, while Cooper headed inches wide for Swansea minutes later.

However, they were reduced to 10 men two minutes from time when Cooper received a straight red card for fouling Baxter. 

Everton capitalised on their advantage in stoppage time as the substitution pair of Fraser Hornby and Shayne Lavery combined for the latter to fire into the roof of the net to secure all three points for Everton.

Swans U23s: Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid, Aaron Lewis, Jack Evans (Adnan Maric, 62), Cian Harries, Brandon Cooper, Liam Cullen, Jay Fulton, Courtney Baker-Richardson (Kenji Gorre, 72), Adam King (capt), Jordon Garrick.

Subs not used: Lewis Thomas, Ryan Blair, Joe Lewis.

Everton U23s: Mateusz Hewelt, Harry Charsley, Luke Garbutt, Dennis Adeniran, Morgan Feeney (capt), Matthew Foulds, Antony Evans, Jose Baxter, Bassala Sambou (Fraser Hornby, 72), Nathan Broadhead (Shayne Lavery, 71), Josh Bowler (Anton Donkor, 76).

Subs not used: Joe Hilton, Nathangelo Markelo.