Swansea City Under-18s Reading
11th February
Swansea City Under-18s suffered a seven goal defeat at home against high-flying Reading in Premier League South on Saturday.
With one eye on Sunday's FAW Youth Cup quarter-final against Merthyr Town, Swansea City Under-18s lined up with a youthful starting XI.
Reading took the lead inside two minutes as striker Ben House squared a ball for winger Michael Fernandes to fire home from in the area.
The visitors doubled their lead on the counter attack a minute later as Joel Rollinson found space on the right flank to fire a low strike into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Goalkeeper Alex Lang prevented the Royals from extending their lead with a low block to deny Fernandez from six yards before Reading midfielder Ethan Coleman's header struck the crossbar.
Swansea has their chances as substitute Matt Blake's saw his powerful strike from the left wing saved by the legs of Liam Driscoll in the Reading net just before the break.
Minutes into the restart Alex Lang was down low to deny Ramami Medford-Smith in the box.
Swansea were awarded a penalty soon after as Cameron Berry was fouled in the area, but Tom Price's resulting spot-kick was saved.
Despite chances for Berry and 16-year-old substitute Craig Davies, the Royals controlled the rest of the game and struck five more times in the second half to round off a disappointing afternoon for the young Swans.
SWANS U18s: Alex Lang, Rhydian Williams, Ben Erickson, Tom Price (Dan Williams, 65), Ben Cabango (Matt Blake, 30), Brandon Cooper (Capt), Finley Hazell, Cameron Berry, Matthew Roberts, Oliver Cooper, Jack Fox (Craig Davies, 62).
UNUSED SUBS: Shaquille Wynter-Coles, Ross Treacy.
READING U18s: Liam Driscoll, Joe Wilson, Akin Odimayo (Capt), Harry Philby, Ramami Medford-Smith (Cameron Green, 69), Tom Holmes, Joel Rollinson, Ethan Coleman (Jack Dention, 79), Ben House, Jazz Wallace (Jack Buchanan, 79), Michael Fernandez.
UNUSED SUBS: Costa Sparta, Jack Nolan.
