Report | Swansea City U18s 3 Hull City City U18s 1
Goals from Iwan Morgan, Rohan Davies and Thomas Woodward saw Swansea City Under-18s get their rewards for a throughly dominant display against Hull City at Landore Training Ground.
Morgan drilled home from a Callum Deacon pass in the first half, before Davies added a second minutes after the break driving into the area and firing into the bottom corner.
Woodward would be the one to seal the three points just after the hour mark, bagging his second goal in two games after finishing off another Deacon delivery.
Hull pulled a goal back through substitute Ronnie Kelly with 10 minutes to go, coolly firing a low shot past the keeper, but there was to be no dramatic late comeback.
Evan Watts captained the Swans on his first start in over six months, whilst centre-back Filip Lissah started on the bench as is eased back into action after being sidelined since suffering a hip injury in October.
Four changes were made to the squad that had to settle for a draw against Crewe Alexandra last time out. Richard Faakye replaced Kiel Higginson, whilst Sam Knipe and Caio Ifans made way for Morgan and Deacon.
Morgan played his first game in a Swans shirt since returning from the international break, which saw he and team-mates Kit Margetson and Jacob Cook secure Wales’ qualification for the 2023 Uefa European Under-17 Championships.
Swansea saw plenty of the ball in the early stages, but the Tigers had the better chances in transition, with Jake Brown getting away a shot from distance which went over the bar.
The Swans patiently moved the visitors around, looking for an opening, and a prolonged period of possession from the hosts ended with Morgan breaking free before firing a shot well over the crossbar from an acute angle.
But the breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Slick build-up on the left flank gave Deacon room to cross, and his lovely pass found Morgan in stride to drill home his 20th goal in Swansea colours this season.
Swansea continued to press and the game was being played almost exclusively in the Hull half. Hull keeper Tom Macauley made an important save to keep his side’s half-time deficit at one as he denied Davies from Watts’ floated pass.
The Tigers had the first real chance of the second half, with seconds of the restart. Jaedyn Chibanga caused trouble at the near post as he attempted to take the ball round the keeper, but Margetson was on hand to gather.
Swansea's second goal soon followed. Morgan turning provider to allow Davies to break through a crowd of Hull defenders and dispatch the ball into the bottom corner.
The hosts then made two changes; Kyrell Wilson and Lissah replacing Davies and Searle just after the hour mark. Wilson made an impact on arrival, seeing two shots blocked by Tigers keeper Macauley.
But he could do nothing as Woodward made sure of the points with a close-range finish.
Morgan started the build-up with a lovely flick to Deacon who was able to steer the ball perfectly into the path of Woodward for an easy finish.
Margetson denied Hull a consolation as he brilliantly tipped Ralph Nkomba’s volley over the bar, but he could not prevent substitute Kelly finding the bottom corner with a firm strike late on.
Swansea City Under-18s: Evan Watts (captain) (Kit Margetson 45'), Arthur Parker, Richard Faakye, Jacob Cook (Sam Parker 73'), Jada Mawongo, Dan Watts, Thomas Searle (Filip Lissah 61'), Thomas Woodward (Ramon Rees-Siso 73'), Iwan Morgan, Rohan Davies (Kyrell Wilson 61'), Callum Deacon.
Hull City Under-18s: Tom Macauley, Sam Jackson, Trialist, Alfie Perry, Kyle Fanning (captain), Stan Ashbee, Ralph Nkomba, Sam Opoku, Glen Sani, Jaedyn Chibanga, Jake Brown (Ronnie Kelly 56').
Unused subs: Archie Howard, Lucas Dawson, Stan Hewitt.