Swansea City gap Connah's Quay Under-19s
18th May
Swansea City Under-19s lifted the FAW Youth Cup for a seventh successive season with 5-0 win over gap Connah's Quay at Newtown's Latham Park on Wednesday night.
A double from Kyle Copp in the first half was added to by Owain Jones and Causso Darame in the second half.
Jones netted his second in stoppage time to ensure the young Swans retained the cup and lifted the title for a record 16th time in their history.
The young Swans beat Llanidloes Town, Cardiff City, Llandudno and Newport County en route to this seasons final netting 27 goals in the process.
Coaches Eric Ramsay and Chris Llewellyn named five first year pros in their starting XI including captain Keston Davies who helped the Under-19s to a 3-1 victory over Cardiff in the final last season.
Midfielders Tom Holland, Adnan Maric and Kyle Copp came back into the Swans starting line-up, while Owain Jones returned from injury to start up front for the young Swans.
CONNAH'S QUAY U19s: Jordan Manley, Ben Forshaw, Jack Riley, Ben Nash, Luke Blizzard (Chris Boyes 90), Kieran Gaul (Capt), Tom Bibby, James Kilburn, Josh Jones (Callum Cross, 86), Joe Johnson (Jake Jones, 56), Jack Chambers.
SUBS NOT USED: Jake Leonard, Cai Parry.
SWANS U19s: Lewis Thomas, Mael Davies, Aaron Lewis, Adnan Maric (Tom Dyson, 69), Keston Davies (Capt), Joe Rodon, Liam Cullen, Tom Holland (Jack Evans, 69), Owain Jones, Kyle Copp, Kieran Evans (Causso Darame, 56).
SUBS NOT USED: Dan Jefferies, Alex Lang, Tom Dyson.
Swansea had lifted the trophy on nine occasions coming into the final, scoring 27 goals in just four games en route. Meanwhile Connah's Quay were looking to make history in their first FAW Youth Cup final.
The Nomads made it difficult for Swansea in the opening exchanges at Latham Park as the Welsh Premier academy side kept out chances from Liam Cullen and Owain Jones during the first fifteen minutes.
Swans defender Aaron Lewis came close halfway through the first half, a searching ball from captain Keston Davies found the Lewis on the right to cut inside only for his shot to go inches wide.
But the deadlock was broken soon after when winger Kyle Copp headed home Cullen's cross from six yards to give Swansea a deserved lead.
Copp could have doubled the Swans advantage on the half hour mark only for Connah's Quay keeper Jordan Manley's reflex save to tip his shot over the bar before Jones rattled the Nomads crossbar from the resulting corner.
Swansea doubled their lead a minute before the break Copp was brought down by Manley in the area. The winger stepped up to fire home from 12 yards giving the Under-19s a solid 2-0 lead at the break.
HALF TIME: gap Connah's Quay U19s 0 Swans U19s 2
Swansea looked to build on their lead in the second half as Liam Cullen found space down the left flank to fire across goal only for his effort to be stopped by Manley in the Nomands net.
The in form keeper was on hand again to deny Copp his hat-trick on the hour mark, the wingers' stinging shot from outside the area tipped over the bar.
But, Connah's Quay did were not giving up the chance to win their first title as pacy winger Jack Chambers tested the Swans defence from the right minutes later only to see his effort cleared by captain Keston Davies.
Substistute Causso Darame could of added a spectacular third from the left flank minutes later only for Manley to punch clear the wingers' curling 20 yard effort.
Owain Jones did add the Swans third in the 75th minute when the striker cooly collected the ball to round Connah's Quay's keeper and tap home.
The Welsh Premier side desperately tried to get something from the game in the latter stages only for Darame to put the game beyond doubt with a powerful strike from the right flank in the 82nd minute.
Darame was on hand again in stoppage time to set up Owain Jones to fire home his second and the Swans fifth of the night to ensure the Under-19s maintained the FAW Youth Cup title for a seventh successive year.
