📝 Report: Bristol City Under-23s 2-3 Coventry City Under-23s

After two goals for the visitors in the first seven minutes from Marco Rus and Ryan Howley, Owura Edwards and Tommy Conway struck to restore parity before the Sky Blues found a winner through a deflected Jay McGrath goal.

🧐 BACKGROUND

The young Robins had secured their place in the final with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United Under-23s courtesy of a fabulous late strike from Edwards.

✍️ WHAT HAPPENED?

Coventry took an early lead after just four minutes, as Rus was able to convert from close-range after the ball was laid off to him by Fabio Tavares.

Three minutes later Will Buse saved at the feet of Ricardo Dinanga, but unfortunately the ball came out to Howley, who slot the ball into the net to double the visitors’ advantage.

Will Bapaga later struck the post for the visitors after finding space to run into on the left-hand side. 

Callum Wood made a perfectly timed tackle on Dinanga to prevent him from taking a shot when he looked to be through on goal.

The young Robins had their first sight of goal after Conway played Sam Bell through into the penalty area, but McGrath was able to slide across and deflect the ball away for a corner.

Marley Rose then forced a save out of Cian Tyler from a free-kick 20 yards from goal, and from the resulting spell of corners, Conway was denied by Tyler as he tried to capitalise on the loose ball.

Having steadied the ship, the young Robins soon got right back into the contest. A wicked early ball into the box from Zac Bell left Edwards to finish from the edge of the six-yard box.

Coventry looked to respond and Buse had to be on his toes to deny Bapaga’s fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area.

⏱ HALF-TIME

Buse was called into action once again after the break, spectacularly tipping Howley’s flicked header over the bar. 

On the hour-mark however, the young Robins found the equaliser when substitute Tommy Backwell retrieved the ball in midfield and threaded the ball into the feet of Conway, who drove the ball low across Tyler and into the net.

The visitors retook the lead in agonising fashion with 15 minutes to go after McGrath’s shot cannoned off George Burroughs and left Buse wrong-footed and unable to scramble across and prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The young Robins threw everything at the Sky Blues to find a leveller, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

Report: Cameron Wyper