Report | Swansea City U18s 3 AFC Bournemouth U18s 1

Goals from Rohan Davies, Jacob Cook and Thomas Woodward ensured Swansea City Under-18s finished 2023 on a high by sealing victory over AFC Bournemouth at Landore.

The Swans were 1-0 inside three minutes with Davies converting from the spot after Woodward was fouled in the area.

The visitors netted an equaliser when Josh Salmon drilled the ball into an open net.

But Cook would put the Swans back in front before the hour-mark after sending a wonderful strike into the top corner, with Woodward sealing all three points by turning in Aimar Govea's cross in the final quarter.

There had been just the two changes to the starting XI that faced Bristol City last time out. Brogan Popham made his first start for the under-18s as he came in for Jack Fanning, who misses out due to illness.

Meanwhile, Thomas Searle returned to the starting line-up following injury, replacing Josh Pescatore - who was named on the bench. 

It was a lively start from the hosts, and with just two over minutes on the clock, the Swans found themselves in the lead.

Lovely interplay from Harlan Perry and Govea worked Woodward into space, before the referee awarded the Swans a penalty for a foul on the forward.

And it was in-form Davies who stepped up to convert from the spot for his 10th goal of the season.

The duo of Perry and Govea were key in soon setting up another Swans attack, this time Govea sending in a dangerous ball in from the left, but Searle slid in just too late to connect.

Moments later, Iestyn Jones made a crucial block as Salmon took aim from a Jonny Stuttle cutback.

Swansea continued to look sharper. Searle met Davies’ slide-rule ball before seeing his deflected shot ruffle the side netting, with Woodward heading the resulting corner straight into the hands of Mack Allan.

Yori Griffith then had a low shot saved from distance after Arthur Parker’s solo run in the middle of the park, with the Swans firmly on the front foot.

The chances kept coming for the young Swans. Woodward twice had shots blocked before sending one over the bar after Griffith picked him out in the six-yard box.

But, instead, the Cherries would find an equaliser not long before the break. Salmon capitalising on a defensive mistake before drilling home into an empty net.

Perry then made a crucial sliding tackle in the box to prevent Charlie Osborne from snatching the lead for the visitors going into half-time.

It was an even start to the second period with the sides exchanging half-chances, but the Swans would soon get themselves on the front foot again.

Perry appealed for another penalty in the area, but the referee waved play on, which allowed Cook to work space and fire the ball into the top corner.

The afternoon got even better for the Swans. Govea racing down to the byline before sending a delivery in across goal, where Woodward was on hand to turn in and give the hosts some breathing space.

Kit Margetson did well to hold Ashley Clarke's powerful free-kick from distance, before denying the Cherries' striker once again from close range moments later.

The combination of Parker and Jones at the back kept the Cherries at bay in the closing stages, with the latter twice clearing away danger twice to deny Clarke.

Govea looked to get on the scoresheet in stoppage time after a mazy run through a sea of red and black shirts, but his chipped effort was palmed away by the Bournemouth stopper as the Swans ended the calendar year with a three-point haul.

Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Iestyn Jones, Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Brogan Popham (Teo Minchev 85), Harlan Perry (Cameron Llewellyn 67), Thomas Searle (Josh Pescatore 46), Yori Griffith, Rohan Davies, Thomas Woodward, Aimar Govea.

Substitutes: Ewan Griffiths, Milo Robinson.