Town’s U21s came from behind to beat Swansea 2-1 at Playford Road with on-trial Spurs man Darren McQueen netting two late goals. All three of the game’s goals owed much to goalkeeping errors.
With the first team in action at Huddersfield tomorrow, Freddie Veseli, in central midfield, was the only senior player in action, having ended his successful loan spell with Bury at the weekend. Alex Henshall’s lack of involvement suggests the on-loan Manchester City winger has travelled with the senior side.
As has been the case in recent games, the U21s fielded a number of trialists, amongst them left-back Ben Wyatt, an 18-year-old second-year academy scholar from Norwich City, who was in their FA Youth Cup-winning side last season and has been with the Canaries since their U11s.
Again starting at right-back is Sam Westley, 20, the son of former Blues youth coach Terry Westley, who we understand is actually on a loan spell from Stoke City, which is effectively an extended trial.
Town had a couple of early attempts on goal, with Byron Lawrence shooting just over and academy schoolboy Sam Ford, one of this summer’s new intake of full-time scholars, having his shot saved by Zarbret in the Swansea goal.
Town relinquished their early control as a goalkeeping mistake lead to Swansea going in front. Kenji Gorre's shot from outside the box bounced just in front of Michael Crowe before rebounding off his chest into the path of Henry Jones, who had an easy finish from two yards out.
Four minutes later Crowe had regained his composure and made a smart save down to his left to prevent Adam King from adding to his side’s lead.
Town regained their grip on the game and started to make chances, with captain Byron Lawrence coming close, only to be denied by Gregor Zabret who produced a great save.
Swansea came close to doubling their lead as Kris Scott was picked out at the back-post, but he headed over with half of the goal wide open.
Town drew level with three minutes remaining against the 10 men of Swansea, whose complement had been reduced due to an injury to Alex Bray, having already made three subs.
Blues substitute Josh Emmanuel sent a cross in from the right signalling the start of a nightmare two minutes for keeper Zarbret. First, he spilled the ball at the feet of McQueen, who tapped in with ease to level the scores.
Two minutes later the keeper similarly failed to hold Freddie Veseli's long-range effort, which was hit straight at his body, and 18-year-old McQueen was on hand once again to tap in unchallenged to claim the victory.
The win was only the Town U21s’ third of the season and they have finished their season bottom of the U21 Professional Development League Two South.
With the Academy stepping up to category one next season — the audit which will confirm this takes place next weekend — the U21s will face stiffer opposition in the second tier of the newly restructured U21 Premier League in 2014/15.
U21s: Crowe, Westley (Benju 70), Wyatt, Berkane (Emmanuel 70), Fowler, Clarke, Galvin, Veseli, McQueen, Lawrence, Ford (Ingram 62). Unused: McDermid, McLoughlin
Swansea: Zarbret, Shepard, Hanley, Jones, Gogic, Tancock, Bray, King (Sheenan), Hedges (Samuel 70), Scott (Lucas 62), Gorre. Unused: Davies, Situ.