U21 Professional Development League 2
Team: Halliday, Friel, Adjetey-Brew, Street, trialist, Wiles, Kennedy, Neil, Sanyaolu, Moore, Scarlett
Subs: Loades, Cuthbert, O’Brien, Coomes, Strachan
Rangers had won 5-0 convincingly in South Wales the previous week (with a Kieran Petrie hat-trick & a brace from Emmerson Sutton) and now faced Swansea City at the SkyEx Community Stadium.
A Swansea fan told me that Sam Parker and Aimar Govea had both played for the first team.
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages and had the ball in the net after 15 minutes from a corner, but it was ruled out following a foul on Joel Halliday.
Sam Parker’s powerful, low strike was well saved one-handed, and the Ranges keeper then managed to grab the ball.
For the R’s, Rico Kennedy went on a good run, evaded one challenge before knocking the ball into Philip Sanyaolu, who then shot into the keeper’s gloves. Half-time: 0-0.
Paul Furlong made his first change for the commencement of the second-half, when he brought on Lorenzo Strachan at the expense of Leon Scarlett.
Two minutes in, and it was the home side who almost took the lead. Philip Sanyaolu tapped just wide of the upright following a cross into the box.
However, it was the Swans who got their noses in front moments later, when Josh Pescatore belted the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
Then, after 49 minutes, Rangers equalised. Kit Margetson couldn’t keep out Philip Sanyaolu’s bullet header.
At the other end, Joel Halliday, made a superb save from Thomas Woodward’s low drive.
The Swans went ahead on 58 minutes courtesy of Josh Pescatore’s cross from the right, where Wales’ U19’s Thomas Woodward was to hand to head past Joel Halliday.
Mr Breen booked Jacob Cook and on 70 minutes Jake Coomes came on for Philip Sanyaolu.
The visitors went close to increasing their lead when substitute Callum Deacon’s shot bounced off the crossbar, which was followed by Aimar Govea’s overhead kick flying over the bar.
Then, Thomas Woodward’s angled header was successfully grabbed by the Rangers keeper.
For the R’s, Rico Kennedy knocked the ball inside to Lorenzo Strachan and the move resulted in a chip just wide of the target.
The final changes came on 75 minutes when Archie O’Brien and Gabriel Cuthbert replaced Rocco Friel and Kyreece Moore respectively.
Thomas Woodward scored his second goal of the evening after 88 minutes, when he squeezed the ball in following Aimar Govea’ s free kick.
From a cross in the closing stages, Rico Kennedy got into a good position after evading his marker, but a Swans defender put it behind.
It finished 3-1 to the visitors who certainly deserved their victory.
It was Premier League Cup action next, when the Development Squad took on Leicester City three days later at the SkyEx Community Stadium.
Steve Russell