Report | Swansea City U18s 4 Ipswich Town U18s 2
A Thomas Woodward hat-trick and a Josh Pescatore strike got 2024 off to a winning start for Swansea City Under-18s as they came from behind to beat Ipswich Town at Landore in the Professional Development League.
Afi Adebayo had given the Tractor Boys the ideal start inside three minutes when he finished off a solo run.
Woodward would draw the Swans level from a tight angle not long after, before putting the hosts ahead from Aimar Govea's delivery.
The visitors drew level shortly after the break, Luke Towler tapping home from a set-piece, but former Tottenham man Pescatore fashioned a brilliant strike within four minutes of his introduction to restore Swansea’s lead.
And 17-year-old Woodward then completed his treble in stoppage time, showing brilliant skill to fend off his man and slot home the hosts’ fourth goal of the contest.
The Swans had shown just the one change to the side that beat AFC Bournemouth before Christmas, as Jack Fanning returned from illness to captain the side, replacing Brogan Popham.
The game got off to a fast start as Govea flashed an effort wide of goal inside 60 seconds, but minutes later the visitors would find the breakthrough.
Ipswich piled on the pressure in the middle of the park, pinching the ball before sending Adebayo free down the left. He then bent the ball past the outstretched arms of Kit Margetson to find the net.
But the Swans were looking comfortable on the ball and posing a threat, and they responded to the early setback by levelling proceedings in the 10th minute.
Woodward took a touch inside and worked his way into space on the left to curl a superb effort into bottom corner from a narrow angle for his ninth goal in the league this season.
The visitors looked to quickly reclaim the lead, but fine defending from Arthur Parker prevented Adeybayo and Ashton Boswell from combining to fashion a chance.
But Swansea were firmly on top and Woodward’s goal tally would soon rise to 10 as he smashed the ball home from six yards after Govea curled a beautiful cross in from the right, after his pace has tormented the Ipswich defence.
Margetson then had to tip over Adebayo’s effort at the end of a swift Ipswich counter-attack, before gathering Nick Nkansa-Dwamena’s 30-yard effort.
At the other end, Ipswich stopper Alan Fleischer pulled off a fantastic one-handed save to deny Rohan Davies’ volley in the penalty area.
Ipswich started the second half as they had the first, finding the net in the early stages once again. A long-distance free-kick took numerous deflections inside the box before landing to Towler, who slotted into the right-hand corner.
The goals kept coming, and Pescatore made an immediate impact within four minutes of being introduced as a sub.
Govea’s pacy run and cross from the left caused problems, and the ball eventually fell to Pescatore’s feet for him to unleash a thunderous effort which proved too much for Fleischer.
Adebayo was agonisingly close to finding a third for his side with a lofted volley, which flicked off the top of the crossbar.
The closing stages became scrappy with numerous free-kicks being awarded and disrupting the flow.
But, deep into stoppage time, a nice stepover from Cameron Llewellyn teed up Davies from distance, and his half-volley forced a diving stop from the Ipswich keeper.
Woodward would have the final say as he rounded off his hat-trick in the last minute of stoppage time, fending off his man to find the net.
Swansea City Under-18s: Kit Margetson, Jack Fanning, Arthur Parker, Jacob Cook, Iestyn Jones, Harlan Perry, Thomas Searle (Josh Pescatore 60), Yori Griffith (Ben Phillips 78), Rohan Davies, Thomas Woodward, Aimar Govea (Cameron Llewellyn 75).
Substitutes: Ewan Griffiths, Teo Minchev.