Swansea City begin pre-season with victory over Haverfordwest County

Swansea City began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory over Haverfordwest County at Fairwood.

In a behind closed doors game, the hosts played a different team in each half in what was their first outing under new head coach Michael Duff.

The Swans dominated possession in the first period and had an early sight of goal when Joel Piroe headed just over from a Matt Grimes corner.

Grimes himself then saw a free kick comfortably saved by Zac Jones, before the keeper was called into action to brilliantly keep out Piroe’s low effort from just inside the box.

But the Dutch striker wasn’t to be denied minutes before the break, as he headed home a Grimes corner to give the hosts the lead at the interval.

Following 11 changes at half time, the Swans came close to extending their lead on 54 minutes as Jamie Paterson fired just over, before Morgan Whittaker shot wide and Josh Thomas saw his effort superbly blocked inside the box after a wonderful flowing move.

Whittaker then thought he’d doubled the home side’s lead with 73 minutes on the clock, but the forward saw his left-foot shot cleared off the line.

Ben Cabango was next in line as he met Paterson’s deep corner from the left but the defender’s header came off the crossbar.

Paterson was involved again two minutes later as he turned his man in the centre circle before playing Whittaker in on goal, but the former Derby man saw his effort saved by Jones.

But the Swans were rewarded for their efforts with just six minutes left to play as Jay Fulton set up Josh Thomas who rifled in a low drive across the keeper to seal the win.

Swansea City (first half): Andy Fisher, Brandon Cooper, Kyle Naughton, Nathan Wood, Joe Thomas, Ben Lloyd, Matt Grimes, Joe Allen, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Joel Piroe.

Swansea City (second half): Lewis Webb, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Azeem Abdulai, Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill, Jay Fulton, Jamie Paterson, Olivier Ntcham, Josh Thomas, Morgan Whittaker.