Report | Swansea City U18s 1 Birmingham City U18s 3

Swansea City Under-18s fell to their first defeat in seven matches against league leaders Birmingham City in the Professional Development League at Landore. 

Goals from Ellis O’Shea, Cameron Eubank and Will Burrell were enough to defeat the young Swans, with Teo Minchev getting on the scoresheet for the hosts. 

The Blues took the lead early on through an O’Shea penalty, with Minchev equalising 15 minutes later.

Eubank then added a second for the Blues shortly after to restore their lead and, while the Swans had plenty of chances, a second-half header from Burrell secured all three points for the visitors.

The Swans had shown a number of changes from last week’s 1-1 draw with Watford, with Carter Heywood, Harvey Gray, Kai Rhodes and Elis Thomas all making their debuts at under-18 level.

Brogan Popham and Bobo Evans also stepped up from the younger age groups for Swansea.

O’Shea opened the scoring early on from the spot for the Blues after Ben Wodsjov was taken down in the box.

However, Swansea equalised in the 19 minute when a scramble from a corner fell to Minchev, and the Bulgarian tapped the ball into the net.

The back and forth nature of the contest continued as the Blues took the lead once more when Eubank released a thunderous effort from distance to find the top right-hand corner. 

The Swans had a fantastic to equalise again shortly after the half-hour mark when Aidan Higgins beat the offside trap and was one-on-one with Ty Warmington, but the keeper got down well to deny the Swan. 

The next opportunity fell to Evans, whose shot was parried by Warmington and Ramon Rees-Siso was unable to connect with the rebound. 

Another chance fell to Rees-Siso just before half-time, but he dragged his shot wide of the post. 

Down the other end, O’Shea had a chance to get his second goal of the game, but his shot was well saved by Ewan Griffiths as Birmingham held their one-goal lead at the break.

The first chance of the second half fell to Swansea when Josh Pescatore received the ball on the edge of the box, but his effort curling flew just over the bar.  

Another chance for the home side arrived minutes later when Cameron Llewelyn rounded Warmington, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by a red shirt. 

Instead of a Swansea equaliser, the Blues struck next to add their third goal of the contest through Burrell, who rose highest to meet an O’Shea free kick and plant his header past Griffiths. 

The Swans had a late chance to narrow the deficit when a fantastic ball from Pescatore played in substitute Harvey Gray, but his shot was well blocked by Godfred Boakye as the home side’s impressive unbeaten run came to an end.

Swansea City Under-18s: Ewan Griffiths, Brogan Popham, Carter Heywood (Elis Thomas 76’), Jacob Cook, Teo Minchev, Thomas Woodward, Cameron Llewellyn, Bobo Evans (Kai Rhodes 68’), Aidan Higgins (Harvey Gray 65’), Ramon Rees-Siso, Joshua Pescatore. 

Unused substitutes: Sebastian Dabrowski, Sammy Henia-Kamau.

Birmingham City Under-18s: Ty Warmington, Caleb Saunders, Stoyan Pergelov, Godfred Boakye, Will Burrell, Cameron Eubank, Zaid Betteka (Yusuf Ahmed 82’) , Ellis O’Shea (George Wynne 75’), Frank Tattum, Ben Wodsjov, Alvaro Ruiz Rente (Daniel Isichei 55’).

Unused substitutes: Szymon Terenowicz, Briar Bateman.