Report | Swansea City U18s 3 Reading U18s 1

Swansea City Under-18s produced an emphatic second-half comeback as goals from Yori Griffith, Josh Carey and Geoff Bony ensured they took all three points against Reading in their Professional Development League clash.

The Swans trailed early on as Taylan Harris opened the scoring with 10 minutes played, and the Royals held on to their advantage going into the break. 

However, substitute Griffith levelled almost immediately following the restart, and the Swans went on to dominate the remainder of the contest, with fantastic goals from Carey and Bony completing another fine fightback to underlining the fighting spirit of a young home side. 

There has been just the one change to the Swans’ starting line-up following their 2-2 draw with Millwall last time out; Ewan Griffiths returning between the sticks in the starting 11 in place of Kit Margetson.

It proved an entertaining opening with chances at both ends during the opening 15 minutes. The Royals came closest with Zion Nditi firing at goal from a tight angle, but Griffiths was present to collect safely.  

But the visitors would not miss out when another big opportunity came their way just 10 minutes in.

Reading forward Harris was the scorer, firing a rising shot from the left side of the penalty box which soared into the top corner.

The Royals striker went close again a few minutes later, seizing on a defensive error but being denied by the alertness of Griffiths in the Swansea goal. 

The closest the Swans came to levelling matters was through Richard Faakye, whose excellent volley from a corner was denied by Royals keeper Tom Norcott. 

Faakye was then needed at the other end of the field, clearing the ball of his own line after Harris and Ryley Campbell had combined to set up the latter.

Given the chances the visitors had enjoyed, the hosts would not have been too unhappy just to be the solitary goal down at the interval, and they would produced a superb second-half response.

Half-time substitute Griffith made an immediate impact, being introduced having just played 45 minutes for the under-16s on an adjacent pitch.

The 15-year-old levelled proceedings for the home side after being picked out from the left and drilling the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net for the youngster’s second goal in three games.  

The home side went on to dominate possession in the aftermath. Carey’s cross found Bony, who was in a perfect position to tee up Zane Myers, but his half-shot, half-cross evaded the Swansea shirts in the six-yard box. 

Skipper Carey would then prove the key figure in Swansea taking the lead. Dusting himself off after being fouled outside the area to dispatch a brilliant set-piece into the Reading net.

But there was more drama to come, as Bony extended the Swans' advantage just five minutes later. The in-form striker was on target following good work from Myers and Iwan Morgan, and the striker getting just enough power on his effort to beat the keeper and seal victory.

Swansea City Under-18s: Ewan Griffiths, Sam Parker, Arthur Parker (David Roberts 79'), Richard Faakye, Jada Mawongo, Josh Carey, Thomas Woodward (Yori Griffith 46'), Aimar Govea (Cam Llewellyn 85'), Geoff Bony, Iwan Morgan, Zane Myers (Jacob Cook 87').

Unused subs: Kit Margetson.

Reading Under-18s: Tom Norcott (Toby Mawer 55'), Zion Nditi (captain), Kyle Daniel-Spray, Tyler Sackey, Boyd Beacroft, Matthew Goulding, Harrison Furlong (Ayuuba Jambang 60'), Louis Hutchings (Shay Spencer 59'), Joe Borough, Ryley Campbell, Taylor Harris.

Unused subs: Ayuuba Jambang, Tyler Field.