Report | Swansea City U18s 1 v Sheffield Wednesday U18s 3

Thomas Woodward’s second-half goal wasn’t enough as a Devlan Moses brace and a stunning strike from Jarvis Thornton spelled defeat for Swansea City Under-18s in their Professional Development League fixture against Sheffield Wednesday.

After a subdued first half with very few chances for either side, the second half saw two goals in five minutes with Woodward’s finish from close range cancelling out Moses’ opener just minutes earlier.

Both sides had chances, but when the ball skipped up off the wet turf to hit Woodward in the arm inside his own box, Moses was able to convert from the spot to give the visitors the lead for a second time.

And the three points were sealed for the Owls when Thornton arrowed a superb effort into the net from 25 yards with just minutes left to play.

It was an even first half of few opportunities but arguably the best of those came almost straight from kick-off with the visitors getting in behind the Swans defence.

Moses shrugged off the challenge of Arthur Parker and picked out Bruno Fernandes in the centre of the goal, but the midfielder scooped the ball over the crossbar from close range.

The Swans’ best chance of the half came minutes later. Ramon Rees-Siso’s free-kick delivery was nodded down by Jack Fanning, but Woodward wasn’t able to find the target from close range.

The first-half’s only shot on target came on the half-hour mark. Seb Dabrowski did brilliantly to get back and block Caiden Remy-Dee’s left-footed effort at the expense of a corner. The corner delivery was eventually worked to Joseph Emery in the Swans' box. He swung his right foot at it, but Kit Margetson was in the right place to make a comfortable stop.

At the other end, the Swans looked a threat from set-pieces without really troubling visiting stopper Jack Philips.

Rees-Siso did wriggle free just before half-time and was taken out by Philips after pushing the ball around the onrushing keeper, but the assistant referee had his flag up for offside, denying the Swans an opportunity from the spot.

The match exploded into life in the second half and Moses put the visitors ahead within a minute of the restart. Wednesday were able to get down the Swans left and the ball across the box was turned in by the visiting number nine.

But Woodward drew the Swans level just five minutes later when he got the final touch after a scramble in the Wednesday box.

Between those two chances Moses and Woodward both forced saves, with Woodward in particular drawing a fine stop from visiting keeper Philips after his chop inside took out three defenders.

The Swans kept the pressure on. Substitute Sammy Henia-Kamau and Jacob Cook put dangerous crosses into the box and Cook had an effort from the edge of the box blocked, while Caio Ifans’ side-footed attempt at the near post was saved.

But Wednesday continued to carry a threat. Margetson had to be alert when Fernades got through. His effort took a deflection which brought a good save from the man in the Swans’ goal.

But it was Wednesday who got the next goal. The visitors retook the lead with 15 minutes left to play. Moses sent Margetson the wrong way to coolly dispatch a spot-kick after the ball struck Woodward on the arm in the Swans’ box. 

The Swans searched for an equaliser, but any hope of a comeback was ended when Wednesday skipper Thornton met the ball 25 yards out from goal and arrowed it beyond the outstretched arm of Margetson.

Swansea City: Kit Margetson, Jack Fanning, Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Seb Dabrowski, Callum Deacon, Josh Pescatore (Thomas Searle 78’), Thomas Woodward, Rohan Davies (Sammy Henia-Kamau 62’), Ramon Rees-Siso (Bobo Evans 89’), Caio Ifans.

Unused subs: Ewan Griffiths, Teodor Minchev.

Sheffield Wednesday: Jack Philips, Carlos Rodrigues, Reece Johson, Tyrell Dawes (Ari-Jae-Shaw 70’), Ernie Weaver, Joseph Emery, Jarvis Thorton, Fin Hunt (Voldi Mbaya 90’), Devlan Moses, Bruno Fernandes, Caiden Remy-Dee (Dominic Weston 59’).

 Unused subs: Logan Stretch.