Report | Swansea City U21s 4 Crewe Alexandra U21s 0
Four second-half goals got Swansea City's Under-21s' Professional Development League campaign off to a flying start with victory over Crewe Alexandra at Landore.
Glory Nzingo netted a 15-minute hat-trick, with last term's under-18s' topscorer Thomas Woodward also getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Second-year scholars Jacob Cook, Iestyn Jones and Woodward were named in the starting XI. Ramon Rees-Siso, Callum Deacon, Milo Robinson and Billy Clarke - who were all involved in the under-18s' victory over Barnsley at the weekend - were named among the substitutes.
The opening stages proved even with both sides enjoying good spells of possession.
The first chance went Swansea's way when Harry Jones and Seb Dabrowski worked space in the visiting defence before finding Nzingo, whose effort was well held by Mikolia Cenarik.
Harry Jones was soon involved again. Woodward's neatly cut the ball across to the defender, who unselfishly returned the pass to tee up the 17-year-old in the box, but the final strike as straight at the keeper.
Woodward tested the Crewe defence again moments later, but the visitors got bodies around the ball to block his final effort.
The visitors lifted the pressure and appealed for a penalty following a Filip Lissah challenge in the area, but the referee quickly waved away the appeals.
Crewe keeper Cenarik was soon back in action again as he denied Liam Smith and Nzingo in quick succession, before Mitchell Bates rattled the woodwork after racing on to Cook's lofted pass.
It was somehow goalless at the break, but it was not long before the Swans broke the deadlock as Nzingo latched onto a ball down the left and drove infield to curl a fine strike into the net.
Just four minutes later and the forward would grab another goal. The Irishman was left unmarked at a Swans corner, and smashed a finish straight down the middle from inside the box.
The Swans were firmly on top, with chances coming thick and fast for Woodward and Smith. But Nzingo would soon complete his hat-trick, again cutting inside the area to beat a handful of Crewe defenders and curl the ball over Cenarik's despairing dive.
Woodward went on to round off the scoring after a scramble in the box ended with the striker prodding home.
The visitors had a decent spell after that goal, although without ever truly causing concern for Evan Watts in the Swansea goal as the hosts started the new campaign in fine style.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Harry Jones (Billy Clarke 73), Iestyn Jones, Jacob Cook (Milo Robinson 73), Filip Lissah, Arthur Parker, Liam Smith, Mitchell Bates (captain), Thomas Woodward, Glory Nzingo, Sebastian Dabrowski (Ramon Rees-Siso 73)
Substitutes: Sam Seager.
Crewe Alexandra Under-21s: Mikolja Cenarik, Oliver Armstrong, Xavier Smith, Joe Collins, Stanley Dancey, Lucas Sant, Josh Ashe, Luca Moore, Trialist, Callum Aguis (captain), Will Perry.
Substitutes: Ben Calder, Ben Furlong, Owen Taylor, CalluM hardy, Jordan Hodkin.