Our U21s secured a stirring and hard earned victory over Hull City here played out in thoroughly miserable weather here at Landore.
Hull are in 2nd place in PDL North and fought tooth and nail throughout to get something out of the match.
Jack Fanning’s towering header from a Dan Watts free-kick finally put the Swans in front after they’d gone close on several occasions. The final 10 minutes – plus a further 5 added – saw both sides ambitiously trading attacks. The Swans knuckled down, regrouped and kept the home goal intact to clinch the win.
The team operated 4-2-3-1, with Jacob Cook and Dan Watts providing the holding roles in front of the back 4. Seb Dabrowski skippered the side from the left side of the 3 advanced midfielders: Kit Margetson; Zac Jeanes, Arthur Parker, Jack Fanning, Nathan Tjoe-A-On (s – Ramon Rees-Siso); Dan Watts, Jacob Cook; Aimar Govea (s – Caleb Demery 69m), Thomas Woodward (s – Iestyn Jones 90m), Seb Dabrowski (captain); Morgan Bates.
Unused sub – Sam Seager.
Caleb Demery, who guested for us in pre-season 2023 and who’s since been playing Cymru Premier football with Briton Ferry Llansawel, was among the substitutes.
Although the first half was goalless, we looked the most likely to open the scoring – Morgan Bates receiving lively support from Govea, Woodward and Dabrowski. Zac Jeanes and Nathan Tjoe-A-On were also getting forward constructively. Bates came closest but couldn’t keep a header down from a clever dinked Dan Watts cross from the left.
Hull played their way into the game. Zane Myers, who in his 2 years with our academy was an exclusively left sided full back or wing back, was selected at right wing and understandably cut inside to create a couple of shooting opportunities. Small striker Harry Vaughan increasingly troubled our defence as the game progressed – Arthur Parker rescuing the situation when Vaughan worked his way into our 6 yard box on the half hour.
Hull were notably threatening at a combination of deep and inswinging corners and that threat became pronounced in the 2nd half.
The Swans continued to create, although clear chances were at a premium – Govea, Woodward and Bates all seeing efforts deflected out of harm’s way or just out of reach. Hull keeper Howard made an impressive instinctive save to keep out Bates at point blank range after Dabrowski’s header across the box set up our centre forward.
Play noticeably quickened on the hour, Myers had another sight of goal that Margetson punched clear and we survived another bout of searching corners.
Still, we looked more likely to go ahead – Thomas Woodward scooping a shot over after Tjoe-A-On found him in space in the area.
Jack Fanning finally breached the visitors’ net on 80 minutes. It was however in no way a formality that we’d overcome a Hull side that seemed to get a 2nd wind and put our defence under further pressure by closing down quickly and in numbers. Margetson denied a strong shot from Vaughan. Further corners and set-pieces tested our resistance, but we held firm – Arthur Parker in particular making crucial saving challenges.
As the 2 teams battled it out toe to toe, we broke at pace and fashioned strong chances for Woodward and Rees-Siso and then for newcomer Demery, who exchanged passes with Bates to set himself up.
The final whistle, when it came, was a real relief. The team was skilful, dogged and ultimately achieved a well-earned result against an insistent opposition. Full credit to the entire team, including the substitutes. Arthur Parker was a powerful presence at the back alongside Jack Fanning. Morgan Bates toiled tirelessly up front to give us an effective outlet. Dan Watts and Jacob Cook kept the engine room running throughout. Another impressive contribution also from Seb Dabrowski – and a clean sheet for Kit Margetson, who was put under a great deal of pressure at times and rose to the occasion really well.