Swansea City Under-21s 2 Newcastle United Under-21s 0 | OneFootball

United's second-string conceded twice in the opening half hour at the Swansea.com Stadium, with Thomas Woodward breaking the deadlock for the Swans before Blair McKenzie's rebound doubled the hosts' lead.

Newcastle's youngsters were unable to stage a second half comeback, with Sean Neave hitting the post for the visitors, as their season came to an end at the hands of their Welsh counterparts, who finished in fourth place of the PDL.

Robbie Stockdale made three changes from their final Premier League 2 game of the 2025/26 campaign - a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers a fortnight ago - as Leo Shahar, Dylan Charlton and Kyle Fitzgerald were all handed starts against the Swans' second-string.

Magpies goalkeeper Aidan Harris, who spent the first half of the 2025/26 season on loan at NIFL Premiership side Coleraine FC, produced the opening save of the play-off clash as the 19-year-old 'keeper was on hand to gather Josh Pescatore's header.

In the 19th minute, Swansea took the lead through Woodward as the Welsh attacking midfielder completed a dangerous run towards goal before firing a clinical effort beyond Harris.

Newcastle were dealt a further blow nine minutes later as McKenzie extended the Swans' advantage. Despite Harris producing an excellent initial save to deny Woodward, the City defender managed to head the rebound into the net.

Anthony Munda, who joined the Magpies' Academy as a nine-year-old, was unable to halve the deficit in swift fashion as Iestyn Jones produced a last-ditch block to prevent the Cowgate-born midfielder from firing an effort towards goal.

Harris produced a key save to prevent Pescatore from extending Swansea's lead further as the teenage keeper, named on the bench for five of Newcastle's UEFA Champions League fixtures this season, palmed the low effort away to safety.

Neave went agonisingly close to netting his 16th goal of the season at under-21 level as the 18-year-old striker, who made his professional debut for his boyhood club in the UEFA Champions League during February's 6-1 away win against Qarabag FK, saw an effort strike the woodwork.

With Newcastle seeking a much-needed goal in the closing stages, Pescatore almost netted Swansea's third goal of the evening but his strike from an acute angle flew inches over the crossbar.

Munda, who made his first-team debut for the Magpies during a pre-season friendly against Hull City in July 2024, was denied in the closing stages by Joe Collins as the central midfielder's powerful strike was pushed away by the Irish goalkeeper.

Seven minutes of stoppage-time were awarded but Newcastle's second-string were unable to send the tie to extra-time as Swansea, ultimately, progressed into the quarter-final stages.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar (Kacey Wooster 70), Dylan Charlton, Miodrag Pivaš, Ciaran Thompson, Rory Finneran (Logan Watts 77), Kyle Fitzgerald (Michael Mills 59), Mason Miley (Baran Yildiz 77), Sean Neave, Anthony Munda, Seung-soo Park.

Subs not used: James Taylor.

Photograph courtesy of Ashley Crowden Photography