An injury time own goal from Curtis Obeng saw Town to a 2-1 victory over 10-man Swansea and through to the first round proper of the U21 Premier League Cup at Portman Road. The Blues went behind to Kenji Gorre’s first half goal after an error from Bartosz Bialkowski, Darren McQueen (pictured) equalised shortly after the break prior to Henry Jones seeing red for the Welshmen.
Bialkowski, Cameron Stewart, Tommy Smith, Balint Bajner and Alex Henshall all started, while the Blues also included trialist left-back George Wells, 18, who is currently with Ryman Premier League side Hampton and Richmond having previously been with Chelsea and QPR’s youth set-ups.
In sodden conditions with rain continuing to fall heavily, Town threatened for the first time in the sixth minute, skipper Matt Clarke, who was playing in central midfield, fed Stewart on the left and the former Hull City man sent in a cross which McQueen nodded straight at Swansea keeper Oliver Davies but with the linesman’s flag raised.
The visitors forced Bialkowski into his first save of the game four minutes later, Ryan Hedges riding a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot which the Polish keeper claimed with little trouble.
The lively McQueen shot wide from the edge of the area on 12 after good work from Clarke.
Town had been on top during most of the first quarter hour but on 16 Swans skipper Jones lashed a powerful 25-yard strike into the side-netting. A minute later Clarke picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Alex Samuel in the centre circle.
Despite the Blues having had the better of it up to then, the visitors went ahead in the 21st minute via a Bialkowski howler. Gorre hit a speculative low 25-yard effort which skidded off the wet turf just in front of the Town keeper, who misjudged it and could only help it on its way into the corner of the net with his left hand.
The Blues had had a lot of the ball but had created little, while the Swans had regularly taken pot shots from distance hoping to make the best of the conditions. On the half hour, Kyle Copp struck another 25-yard shot which Bialkowski did well to keep out.
Four minutes later, Henshall skipped down the left wing and sent a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Bajner looked all but certain to nod home but the wet ball slid off his head and wide.
Moments later the duo combined again, the Hungarian crossing deep from the right and Henshall taking a touch before lashing over. Trialist Wells wasn’t too far away with a strike from distance in the 38th minute.
A minute before the break Swansea broke quickly and Bialkowski did well to to save Copp’s low shot to his left.
While Town had had a lot of the ball, they hadn’t threatened to score until the closing stages. The visitors’ goal had been down to Bialkowski’s error but the Town keeper had been much the busier of the two.
The not overly involved Bajner was replaced by New Zealand U20 international Monty Patterson.
Two minutes after the restart Stewart found Henshall with a deep cross from the right but the former Manchester City man dallied and keeper Davies was able to block. From the resultant corner, Clarke headed over when he will feel he should have hit the target.
On 49 the Blues got back on terms. Patterson charged down a Swans clearance on the edge of the box and the ball ricocheted into the path of McQueen, who gleefully rolled it home from 10 yards.
Four minutes later trialist Wells twice won tackles down the left before threading an inch perfect pass through to Patterson, who smashed a shot only just wide. On 58 Kurtis March was booked for a cynical foul on McQueen as Town broke quickly.
The Blues didn’t threaten again until 67th minute when Clarke fed right-back Joe Robinson breaking into the area. Keeper Davies saved and Patterson’s follow-up was blocked.
At the other end, Gorre sent a low ball across the six-yard box which fortunately for Town no one managed to divert into the net.
Swansea were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute when Jones was shown a straight red card for a wild challenge on McQueen 10 yards outside the area. Referee Jonathan Burridge had no hesitation in dismissing the Swansea skipper and there were few complaints from the visitors.
Town looked to make the extra man tell - with few wanting to see extra-time with the rain still teeming down - and on 77 a Stewart corner from the left found Smith inside the six-yard box but the defender was unable to turn it goalwards. Patterson diving in at the post sent it into the side-netting.
A minute later, Stewart went within inches of claiming a superb equaliser with a rasping 30-yard drive that flew only just past Davies’s right post.
The Blues continued to press, Robinson hit a well struck shot which was too close to the keeper, then the impressive Kundai Benyu screwed an effort into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.
On 84 Gorre was booked for the latest in a succession of fouls, this time on Benyu 30 yards out. From the freekick the ball was played to Henshall, who rather wasted the opportunity, blazing his shot high and wide.
With a minute of normal time remaining Swansea keeper Davies made a mess of Stewart’s curling effort from distance but no Town player was able to get onto the loose ball.
As the game moved into injury time, Gorre lashed a shot wide after what was by this time a rare Swansea attack.
Just as it was looking like the tie would go into extra-time, the Blues scored a somewhat fortunate winner. Stewart crossed and Obeng looped a header over his own keeper and into the net.
Swansea had one freekick in a dangerous area which the Blues defended successfully to see themselves through to the U21 Premier League Cup first round proper.
"Overall, the Blues deserved it, however, perhaps appropriately for the conditions, they made rather heavy weather of sealing the win given the number of senior players involved and with the Swans having been down to 10 men for the final 19 minutes.
Benyu and Clarke impressed in the centre of midfield, sub Patterson made a significant impression having come off the bench at half-time, trialist Wells will have done his hopes of extending his stay at Portman Road little harm.
U21s: Bialkowski, Robinson, Wells, Benyu, Sowunmi, T Smith, Stewart, Clarke (c), McQueen, Bajner (Patterson 46), Henshall. Unused: Crowe, Kenlock, McLoughlin, Galvin.
Swansea: Davies, Obeng, Hanley, H Jones (c), Gogic, Gallipuoco, Hedges, March, Samuel (Cullen 90), Copp (Francis 61), Gorre. Unused: J Jones, Zabret, Maric.