Josh Thomas came off the bench to ensure Swansea City’s under-21s earned a share of the spoils in their Professional Development League clash with Cardiff City at Llandore on Monday night.

Liam Walsh, who has yet to spend six months sidelined with an Achilles injury, rose to lead the hosts before Morgan Wrigley came off the bench to restore parity in the second half.

Gavin White looked to have given the Bluebirds all three points with a fine free-kick, but Thomas was ready to save a point for the hosts.

READ MORE: Swansea City fans clarify their feelings about transfer window, reveal Russell Martin concerns

Cardiff have fielded a strong line-up for this encounter with the likes of Rubin Colville, Joel Bagan, White and Vontae Campbell all running but finding themselves on the defensive for most of the night.

In fact, from a Swans perspective, seeing midfielder Walsh gaining 45 minutes and a goal to his credit is probably a huge plus point for Russell Martin.

The Swans had an excellent first half, which could have produced more goals had it not been for a fantastic display by visiting goalkeeper Jake Dennis, who was ready to deny Joel Cotterill early on.

But he had to snatch the ball out of his net just minutes later when Walsh, still working his way back to full fitness, headed home.

Reuben Davies could have added a second, but for a powerful close-range save from Dennis and Lincoln McFayen hit the post 10 minutes before half-time.

Both teams made substitutions after the break, but Dennis’ brilliance continued as Swansea tried to score a second, another excellent diving save to avoid Ben Lloyd’s volley just after the hour mark.

And Swansea’s failure to double their lead was punished in the 18th minute after substitute Wigley appeared to round the goalkeeper and score.

It was a defining moment for the visitors, who, after so long under the basket, now had a bite between their teeth.

They looked to have sealed the win after just five minutes when White took a free-kick on goal.

But the Swans had the last word and saved a point when substitute Josh Thomas scored with seven minutes left.

Swansea City: Hugs; Joe Thomas, Jenkins (Lloyd 61), Walsh (Leverett 46), Abdoulaye, Ludwigsen (Blythe 43), Smith, Congreve, Davies (Josh Thomas 61, Cotterill (c), McFadden

Signatures n/a:Mitchell

Cardiff City: Denis; Campbell, Bagan, Antwi, Benjamin (c), McNamara (Jeffries 46), Spiers (Semenyo 49), Pritchard (Ware 46), Zimba, White, Colville (Wigley 57)

Signatures n/a: thomas

  • Swansea City fans express their feelings in the transfer window and reveal Russell Martin concerns

  • Swansea City transfer news, commentator accuses Swans of ‘softness’, Ollie McBurnie left upset, Bony heads to South America

  • Cardiff City transfer news: Wickham trades on the edge as Watters scores then sees red
  • Cardiff City notes: Lamouchi insists ‘I’m not a magician’, Bamba reacts to Sori Kaba and Connor Wickham update

  • Sabri Lamouche fires at Cardiff City, delivering ‘gifts’ to Middlesbrough as she delivers a resounding verdict of defeat