Report | Watford U21s 2 Swansea City U21s 3

Josh Thomas scored the winner as Swansea City Under-21s claimed all three points against Watford at Vicarage Road.

The Swans had surged into a 2-0 lead at the home of the Hornets, with Liam Smith and Lincoln McFayden on the scoresheet.

However, the Hornets responded after the break. Adrian Blake striking twice in quick succession to level matters.

But it was substitute Thomas who nicked the deserved winner for the Swans within the final 20 minutes of an entertaining clash.

It capped a positive afternoon for the academy side, with Tivonge Rushesha playing the last 30 minutes on his return from a serious knee injury.

The first chance of the afternoon went the way of the home side with captain Tobi Adeyemo having an effort saved by Lewis Webb, before Kian Jenkins made a good block to deny the Hornets skipper a few moments later.

Cameron Congreve fired just wide from distance before the visitors took the lead with 15 minutes played.

Smith was the scorer, netting for the first time since joining in January, completing a sweeping attacking including Congreve and Joel Cotterill by firing the ball past the keeper.

The stunning effort sparked more Swansea pressure. Ruben Davis sending an effort over the bar, while Smith was denied a second when he thought his long-range shot had crossed the line but no goal was given.

The Scot then made Swansea’s second goal, driving forward to drill the ball across goal for McFayden to tap in at the near post.

Swansea retained their two-goal advantage at the break, but Watford had the best chances early in the second period with Blake’s cross picking out Ezio Touray, who fired straight at Webb.

The visitors responded with two excellent chances from which they should have extended their lead.

Substitute Thomas rattled the post with a curling strike from the right, with Congreve then unable to convert the follow-up from close range.

Watford made the most of the let-off, and were level in no time at all.

Blake swept home to pull a goal back and, almost immediately from the kick-off, the home side surged forward again for the forward to convert.

It set up a frantic final 20 minutes, and Kai Ludvigsen made a superb last-ditch tackle to prevent Touray putting Watford ahead for the first time.

Instead it was Swansea who found the crucial winner, Thomas winning the ball off a defender and then turning his man before firing into the net to secure all three points.

Watford Under-21s: Jonathan Macaulay, Joshua Mullins, Aidan Coyne, Charlie Davis, Scott Holding (Jordan Fankwe 60'), Max Delyfer (Ryan Andrews 45'), Michael Adu-Poku, Adian Manning, Tobi Adeyemo (captain), Ezio Touray, Adrian Blake. 

Unused subs: Roraigh Browne, James Collins, Zak Fraser-Grante.  

Swansea City Under-21s: Lewis Webb, Joe Thomas, Kian Jenkins (Tivonge Rushesha 62'), Joel Cotterill (captain), Kai Ludvigsen, Ben Blythe, Liam Smith (Azeem Abdulai 70'), Cameron Congreve, Ruben Davies (Josh Thomas 45'), Sam Leverett (Ben Lloyd 62'), Lincoln McFayden. 

Unused subs: Remy Mitchell.