Report | Swansea City U18s 2 Fleetwood Town U18s 3
Swansea City Under-18s were defeated in a hard-fought performance following their Professional Development League encounter at the Joma High Performance Centre.
Matty English struck home the opener for the visitors with 20 minutes played, the Swans had plenty of chances in the first period, but the Fleetwood keeper pulled out a series of crucial saves to keep his side's advantage at bay.
Fleetwood doubled their lead with 70 minutes played, their substitute trialist making an immediate impact to slot home from inside the box. But Swansea subsitute Harvey Gray would make an impact of his own, scoring with his first touch within seconds of being introduced.
But the visitor's two-goal swing was restored moments later, after a high-ball over the top lobbed the Swans keeper.
Skipper Harlan Perry struck home from outside of the box with a fine effort, but Fleetwood remained victorious.
There were two changes from the side's one-all draw against Millwall in mid-week. Thomas Wright replaced Sam Seager between the sticks whilst Wahab Ojetoro came in for ---
It was a strong start for the young Swans, who placed themselves comfortably within the Cod's half. Ten minutes in, the hosts had two clear-cut chances.
Kaven Bloniarczyk's high ball proved too much to meet the trialist within the box, and the trialist almost made up for it moments later from a Swans corner, but he chipped his ball off target.
A nice one-two between Ojetoro and the trialist down the middle carved an opening in the 20th minute, but the former's low strike sailed wide of the far post.
And despite the Swans control of the opening stages, a quick counter from the visitors would see them break the deadlock with a fine strike from English into the top right-hand corner.
Fleetwood's stopper was called into action when Callum Jones struck well from outside the box, but a fine diving save denied the in-form Welsh youth international.
Harlan Perry was next to strike well from distance and the Cods' stopper, a trialist, pulled out a second strong save to prevent an equaliser.
The Swans were well on top approaching the break, with Billy Clarke and trialist both seeing promising shots pushed away by the visiting goalkeeper.
The hosts started the second period brightly, Ojetoro was key down the left providing crosses into the area, only for the Fleetwood defence to gather in numbers and clear.
On the hour mark, Swansea almost had the leveller when Ben Phillips' header bounced off the crossbar, however, the linesman had already raised the offside flag.
But Fleetwood would add a second through a smooth team move which allowed trialist B to smash home from close range.
Swansea reacted immediately and brought on Gray, and he would score with his first touch in minutes of being introduced after a fine assist from Perry.
However, the one-goal deficit lasted a matter of minutes as the trialist bagged a brace, lobbing the ball over Wright from just inside his own half.
The goals kept coming, and the skipper Perry showed some lovely skill to cut inside and send a curling strike into the top corner.
Swansea prevailed, and were in control until the final whistle creating more chances, but Fleetwood would claim the three points.
Swansea City Under-18s: Thomas Wright,
Substitutes: