Two of the Counties top under 18 sides faced each other on Monday evening as United squared off against Staines Town in the Lucas Fettes Youth Cup at AFC Hayes.

With Simon East’s United side dogged by injuries that saw no fewer than 6 regulars missing, it was a good chance to take a look at some of the younger prospects in the squad.

Sadly for United things couldn’t have started in worse fashion as the Swans took the lead after just about 35 seconds. Jeremy Boakye cut out a United free-kick and fired the ball straight down the right flank to Cyril Ocansey, the striker then advanced and picked out his front running partner Oluwole Akinsanya who slid the ball past Ryan Mondiwa in the United goal.

United’s first opening came in the seventh minute when William Figueira collected a Dylan Hern pass and tried to curl a shot into the far corner but his effort was wide of the target.

Within a minute the Swans were 2 ahead as Akinsanya returned the favour and fed Ocansey who prodded the ball past Mondiwa at the near post.

In an open free flowing game, chances were coming at both ends, Ross Seldon had a shot saved by Swans skipper Charlie Hyam and minutes later Riquel Samuel blasted over from the edge of the area again for United. At the other end Ocanset broke through but fired straight at Mondiwa who held onto his shot.

Eddie Keen saw a shot swing wide of the upright while Hyam twice denied Figueira and for the Swans Brian Simbana hit a drive from fully 25 yards that Mondiwa did well to get his body fully behind.

Staines came out firing again at the start of the second period, Jack Harman saw a cross from the right loop up and over off the top of the crossbar, Erivaldo Felix missed the target by inches and the best chance of all to extend the lead saw Ocansey pull the ball back to Simbana but he fired wide from five yards.

Just after the hour mark the ever impressive Andrew Dean advanced into the Swans area, his shot was pushed away by Hyam to Samuel who fired back a shot that Harman did well to block away for a corner which was to come to nothing.

Mondiwa was soon into action again as Ocansey cut inside past impromptu left-back Presley Nkame, the United stopper spreading himself at the strikers feet and coming away with the ball.

Ocansey then blasted wide with just Mondiwa to beat before a third Swans goal arrived on 73 minutes. Ocansey again playing provider as he picked out Felix who shot across Mondiwa and in off the far post.

Far from laying down and accepting defeat, United’s young side continued to battle. Samuel had an effort blocked by Hyam after being set up by Figueira and then with 9 minutes remaining United got the goal they deserved. Dean picked out Hern’s run and the impressive wide man drew the keeper and placed the ball past his despairing dive.

Two minutes later Hyam denied United a second as substitute Hamdi Salah took the ball from Micah Gray in the six yard box and tried a shot from the tightest of angles that Hyam pushed around the post.

Figueira was then put through but screwed his shot wide and the game went into stoppage time. Hern had a great chance to reduce the arrears further as he chased down a throughball against Hyam, the United man getting to the ball first only for his lofted effort to clear the Staines crossbar.

United were not finished though as a second came in the fourth minute of stoppage time, skipper Prosper Ezewuzie smashing home his fourth of the season after Hyam’s punch was not strong enough to clear, sadly it was only to be a consolation as the final whistle soon sounded with United beaten.

Report by Kevin Watts.

United Man of the Match: Dylan Hern.