Report | Swansea City U18s 3 Charlton Athletic U18s 6

Swansea City Under-18s fell to defeat against reigning Professional Development League South champions Charlton Athletic in a nine-goal thriller at Landore.

The first half saw five goals, two of which were set pieces for the visitors, both converted by Patrick Casey.

Jack Fanning’s header drew the Swans level at 1-1, before Thomas Woodword put the home side ahead.

The Swans rallied after Casey's second had levelled the scores again, and netted a third before the break as Josh Pescatore finished well after good work from Rohan Davies.

However, Casey completed his hat-trick to equalise again on the hour mark, before Alan Mwamba added a fourth for Charlton three minutes later.

But Charlton found the net again with 10 minutes remaining as Jadon Yamoah found the net from the edge of the penalty area, before Casey slid in at the back of the post to score his fourth and the visitors' sixth in stoppage time.

Ewan Griffiths had his first start between the sticks this season after Kit Margetson missed out due to a slight knock. 

There were three more changes to the side that beat Coventry City 1-0 last time out as Jack Fanning, Iestyn Jones and Josh Pescatore came into the squad for Harlan Perry, Cameron Llewellyn and Teo Minchev.

The opening exchanges were cagey but it was Jack Fanning and Kit Margetson who linked up to deny Charlton’s attack. However, the referee controversially gave the visitors an indirect free-kick for a back pass.

And despite the masses of Swans shirts in the penalty area, Casey fired it through the wall to put his side ahead early on.

But the Swans got an immediate response as Fanning rose highest to a free header, guiding it wonderfully into the top of the net. 

The Swans were pressing and the second came just minutes later. Nice build-up involving Iestyn Jones gave Woodward room to cut inside the penalty area to steer the ball into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season. 

It could have been three for the Swans moments later. Arthur Parker nodding the ball down from Aimar Govea’s corner-kick, but it clipped off the far post before Sadler would collect.

Swansea saw plenty of the ball from then on, and a prolonged period of possession ended with a sweeping attack, before Woodward and Davies combined down the centre of the pitch.

Griffiths did well to keep out Casey’s free-kick from distance. But the leveller for the reigning PDL South champions soon came from another set-piece.

And they were rewarded a penalty after an alleged push in the box from a corner, and Casey made sure to convert to complete his brace.

The drama didn’t stop there, and the Swans made sure to be on the front foot going into half time.

Davies played in Pescatore and the former Tottenham man showed his strength to fend off the Charlton defender before slotting it into the far corner for his first goal in Swans colours.

Straight from the restart, the hosts came forward with Yori Griffith and Davies both unleashing powerful efforts from 25-yards.

But the visitors were not going to let their unbeaten form come to and end, and they drew level on the hour mark. Casey drilling it home after he was left unmarked, completing his hat-trick

The ball, however, was in the back of the net again for the Addicks shortly after. Possession was given up in the Swans’ half, and Mwamba took a touch before flashing it beyond Griffiths. 

Charlton continued to press through the introduction of fresh legs, and they hit back once again after Yamoah capitalised on a loose ball to tap it into the net for the visitor’s fifth.

In dying seconds of stoppage time, the visitors extended their goal advantage to three. Casey got his fourth of the afternoon after chipping it in at the near post, colliding with Griffiths in the process. But the Swans stopper walked away unharmed.

Swansea City Under-18s: Ewan Griffiths (captain), Jack Fanning (Osian Williams 61), Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Ben Phillips, Iestyn Jones, Aimar Govea (Teo Minchev 80), Yori Griffith, Rohan Davies (Sammy Henia-Kamau 61), Thomas Woodward, Josh Pescatore.

Substitutes: Tom Wright, Kiel Higginson.

Charlton Athletic Under-18s: Jude Sadler, Ethan Brown, Luke Ashburn, Mikey Berry, Mason Hunter, David Danso, Kai Enslin, Alan Mwamba, Patrick Casey, Ibrahim Fullah, Micah Black. 

Substitutes: Harmony Okwumo, James Batt, Brook Myers.