Report: Bristol City U23s 4-1 Colchester United U23s

The former Weston and Torquay United loanee provided three of City’s four goals, with George Nurse scoring the other, to record a seventh win in eight matches. 

Jamie McAllister’s side were on the back foot early on as Colchester enjoyed just as much possession as the hosts in the first period. 

But that soon changed in the second half, where City turned the screw and edged in front, reducing the U’s to ten men in the process. 

McCoulsky’s goalbound effort was kept out by the hand of Charley Edge on the line, with the Colchester defender subsequently given his marching orders. McCoulsky fired home down the middle of the goal from the resultant spot-kick to put City in front. 

McCoulsky doubled his and City’s advantage on the hour from a well-worked corner routine. The striker timed his run with perfection to nod in unmarked from the penalty spot. 

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was a half-time replacement and added a real presence to the midfield, ultimately providing an assist for Nurse’s goal. The Wales youth international stormed down the middle of the pitch before sliding it through to Nurse inside the area, who fired the ball inside the far post. 

Nurse conceded a penalty at the other end in the 74th minute. Jojo Wollacott saved the spot-kick, but Tariq Issa was on hand to reduce the deficit to 3-1. 

However, City and McCoulsky weren’t finished. A brilliant counter saw Opi Edwards released down the right and he timed a throughball perfectly for McCoulsky to fire in between the keeper’s legs for his hat-trick. 

Bristol City Under-23s: Wollacott; Harris, Challis, Lyons-Foster, Kelly; Morton; Harper, Morrell (Lemonheigh-Evans), McNulty (Nurse), Smith (Edwards 67); McCoulsky. Subs not used: Carey, Baldwin.