Under-23s succumb to swift second-half Swans

Four second half goals from Swansea saw our Under-23 side slip to a 4-1 defeat at Hotspur Way on Friday lunchtime.

We had taken the lead through a fine finish from Paris Maghoma on 36 minutes but two goals in three minutes from Liam Cullen turned the game on its head, before a brace from Botti Biabi sealed the win for the Swans.

It was a tight affair in the opening exchanges with both teams struggling to create anything of note but with just nine minutes remaining of the first half, we found ourselves in front.

J'Neil Bennett did superbly down the right wing to reach the by-line before fizzing in a teasing cross. The ball was partially cleared but only to the feet of midfielder Maghoma, who quickly turned and fired us in front.

That lead, however, lasted just three minutes into the second half, as two quick goals from Cullen at the start of the second period switched momentum in the visitors' favour.

The midfielder grabbed his first on 47 minutes when he bundled the ball home from Jordan Garrick's free-kick before he added his second just three minutes later, slamming home Tyler Reid's cross from close range.

We immediately looked to get back on terms and were unlucky not to have levelled when the lively Bennett sprinted away from Reid. The winger found space to get a shot away but could only curl his effort wide of the goal.

Five minutes later the Swans extended their lead further as Biabi got away from his man in the box before firing in Garrick's cross at the front post. 

As we continued to chase the game into the final few minutes, Biabi added his second and the away side's fourth as they broke on the counter attack. A misplaced pass was latched onto by Cullen before releasing Biabi, who sprinted clear of TJ Eyoma and Japhet Tanganga before slotting the ball comfortably past Brandon Austin.

Key moment

We came out for the second half with a 1-0 lead but were quickly left stunned when two goals in three minutes through Liam Cullen gave Swansea the lead.

Midfielder Cullen bundled in Jordan Garrick's free-kick on 47 minutes before smashing home Tyler Reid's cross on 50 minutes.

The quick goals turned the game on its head, forcing us to chase the game.

"When they turned it round to 2-1, we were then chasing the game," our Under-23s coach Wayne Burnett explained.

"They then sit in and they become very compact. It's then difficult to break them down and they can hit us on the counter but you have to defend your box and you have to defend your goal and we didn't do that well enough."

Coach's view

Following the frustrating defeat, coach Wayne Burnett was left to rue defensive mistakes as the game slipped away.

"I thought it was two completely different halves of football" he reflected. "First half, I thought it was very even game. We managed to get the goal and go ahead 1-0.

"We then spoke at half-time and said that we needed to be a bit more aggressive out of possession and we spoke about the need for a little bit more quality in the final third.

"It was all out of the window in the second half after five minutes when we went 2-1 down. If you don't defend your goal and your box well enough, that's what happens and we didn't do that. They were probably worthy winners in the end.

"We've now got to regroup, we've got to get together and we've got to see what we need to do to improve because regardless of whether we win or lose we have to keep developing and we have to keep improving."

Goals: Spurs - Maghoma 36; Swansea - Cullen 47, 50, Biabi, 66, 84.

Yellow card: Spurs – Roles 34. 

Referee: James Oldham.

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Sunny, 10 degrees.

Attendance: 105.