U21 Professional League 2
Team: Salamon, Agbude, Putman, Wilkie, Clarke-Salter, Alemayehu, Coomes, Aoraha, Hassan, Dyke, O’Brien
Subs: Halliday, Akindileni, Neziri, Oluwabusola, Neill
With the arrival of the team sheets, the pre-match chat then reverted to the return of Jake Clarke-Salter to the starting line-up.
Also surprising was that the R’s keeper was wearing a similar dark shirt as the visitors?
Four minutes in, and as Ridwan Hassan and Daniel Watts both climbed up to win the ball, the Swansea captain landed heavily and in need of some attention.
Following a fairly-even opening encounter at the Oliver Connell & Son Community Stadium, on 11 minutes, Jake Clarke-Salter was helped-off and replaced by Timothy Akindileni.
Samuel Parker’s powerful drive after 15 minutes was well held by Matteo Salamon.
At the other end, after a great ball had pierced the Swans defence, Jake Coomes’ cross picked out Alex Aoraha, but his attempt lacked power.
On 26 minutes, an excellent cross was headed wide by Isak Alemayehu.
Then, Matteo Salamon made a superb finger-tip save from Yori Griffith’s powerful strike.
The players took a refreshment break around the half-hour mark.
Jake Coomes’ shot from a widish position was comfortably held by Thomas Wright.
Mr Bloxham blew the half-time whistle following four added minutes.
The Swans got their noses in front just four minutes after the re-start from an own goal. Ramon Rees-Siso’s attempt entered the net via Alex Wilkie.
The visitors doubled their lead around the hour-mark courtesy of Joshua Pescatore.
Bobby Wales put Swansea further ahead after 70-odd minutes following a swift counter-attack.
Joshua Pescatore nabbed his second of the evening in the closing stages.
The home side offered little in the final third, and it finished 0-4 to the Swans.
Three changes were made during the course of the second-half, which saw the introduction of Enis Neziri, Fraser Neill and Gabriel Oluwabusola, at the expense of Isak Alemayehu, Archie O’Brien and Jake Coomes respectively.
Paul Furlong’s side then went on to face Watford at Loftus Road.
Steve Russell