Report: Bristol City Under-18s 3-1 Colchester United Under-18s

Sam Pearson scored either side of a Tommy Conway penalty in the opening 45 minutes to ensure the points for Trevor Challis’ side.

The away side did pull a goal back before the half-time whistle, however, with Callum Pearson ricocheting the ball into his own net after a defensive mix-up.

This result means City maintain their unbeaten home record so far this season.

Conway would have the game’s opening chance shortly before the ten-minute mark. The striker turned well, but his shot was straight at Callum Coulter in the Colchester goal.

Pearson was the next City player to come close to breaking the deadlock as he beat his marker to the ball, but was unable to direct his header goalwards.

It wasn’t long before City were in front, however. After some good passing play, the ball found its way to Pearson, who finished smartly beyond the goalkeeper.

City would have a chance to double their lead 90 seconds later when Pearson won the hosts a penalty, which Conway confidently converted, sending the keeper the wrong way.

The lively Pearson added his second moments later when he found the back of the net from a seemingly impossible angle.

Only the crossbar denied City a fourth goal before half-time. Pearson was denied a hat-trick with a smart save by Coulter, before Ayman Benarcus’ rebound hit the crossbar.

The away side would find some sort of reprieve before half-time when a defensive mix-up saw the ball come back off Callum Pearson, and rolled into the back of the net.

In comparison to the first, the game’s second half was very tame, with both sides only creating half-chances.

Will Buse in the City goal had to be alert during the second half to deny Colchester’s Reuben Hudd and Jake Hutchinson, saving well.

And in the game’s dying embers, Conway almost added a City fourth. The Colchester goalkeeper fumbled from a corner, and Conway’s stab towards goal was cleared off the line.

The Under-18s are back in action on October 20^th, with the side travelling to Queens Park Rangers.

City Under-18s: Buse, Smith (Mail), Low, C.Pearson, Spark, Taylor, Owers (South-Thomas), Williams, Conway, Benarcus, S.Pearson (Gould). Subs not used: Robertson, Henry.

Written by Ryan Payne.