Report | Swansea City U18s 2 Bristol City U18s 3
Swansea City Under-18s suffered defeat against top-of-the-table Bristol City in an entertaining Professional Development League clash at the Joma High Performance Centre.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, all five goals came during an absorbing second half.
There was a brace a-piece for Bristol City's Romelle Jackson and Swansea's Kiel Higginson, but Robins' forward Ruebin Sheppard got what proved to be the decisive goal for the visitors.
The Swans had made the brighter start, with Aidan Higgins and Caio Ifans causing problems down the flanks without being able to pick out fellow white shirts with their final deliveries.
Harvey Gray fashioned the first clear chance for the hosts, meeting a brilliant delivery from Osian Williams inside the six-yard box, but Freddie Godden produced a fine save to keep out his header.
Swansea soon came forward again through Higgins, and the youngster cut inside before curling a right-footed strike into the outstretched arms of Godden.
The Robins keeper was soon in action again, Harlan Perry got into space and pulled the ball back towards Higgins, whose strike forced Godden to make another good stop.
At the other end, the hosts were nearly caught out by a sharp counter-attack, with Tom Wright racing off his line to deny Victor Akimbo.
Approaching the half-hour mark, Ifans battled to win possession from Ashton Williams and took off towards goal, only to be denied by a fine covering tackle.
Gray then had the ball in the net as he raced through to fire past Godden, but the offside flag quickly ended any Swansea celebrations as the first half ended in stalemate on the scoresheet.
But the visitors made a purposeful start to the second period, and Jackson had them in the lead within two minutes of the restart as he finished from a tight angle.
Less than 10 minutes later, the visitors would double their lead from a corner. Wright saved an initial effort, but Jackson was on hand to slot home the rebound for his second goal of the evening.
Swansea needed a response, and they got one when Perry's free-kick picked out Higginson, who rose highest to head home and get his side back into the game.
Goalscorer Higginson then did well to chase down a low strike from Jackson, managing to clear the ball off of the line at the last second with Wright beaten to deny the Robins forward a hat-trick.
However, Sheppard would add a third for Bristol following a sharp counter, converting from close range after a scramble in the area.
The topsy-turvy nature of the contest continued when Swansea substitute Callum Jones weaved through a crowd of defenders before bring brought down in the area.
The referee pointed to the spot, but Jones sent the spot-kick wide of the target.
However, the Swans did reduce their deficit when Higginson finished after a deflection had taken Perry's strike into his path.
The hosts did not give up in search of the equaliser, and 15-year-old Gray struck a powerful shot that Godden did superbly to tip away for a corner, before Jones sent an effort wide from the resulting set-piece.
But those proved to be Swansea's last opportunities as they suffered a narrow defeat.
Swansea City Under-18s: Thomas Wright, Osian Williams, Callum Deacon, Harlan Perry (captain), Carter Heywood, Ben Phillips, Aidan Higgins, Milo Robinson, Harvey Gray, Bobo Evans, Caio Ifans.