[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A clinical Bristol City U23s put Manor Farm to the sword despite a swarm of decent home chances, writes Jack Davies.
Farm understandably had more than one eye on Saturday’s big relegation play-off but started brightly, and somehow not ahead before the 10th minute. Visiting keeper Jose Caserande somehow denied both Owen Howe and Luco Ponsillo from point-blank range before a third scrambled effort from Jayden Nielsen was blocked on the line. City possessed great technical quality despite the young ages on the pitch and took the lead in some style. Marley Rose crossed to the back post and Josh Cambell-Slowey hammered his volley into the roof of the bet. Another home chance came and went for Ponsillo before City doubled their lead with only their second effort on target. A cross from the left somehow evaded two Farm defenders and Callum Hutton had the simple job of tapping into the empty net. Farm’s chances kept coming. A corner from Jake Gosling was headed across by Harry Lucas but Howe’s header was too central and was comfortably saved. Lloyd Mills drove an effort wide just before half time with Ponsillo also narrowly missing the target in stoppage time.
Farm probed early in the second half before being caught on the counter once again. Ross Marley spun his man and once his low shot was well saved, Hutton reacted quickest to tap in for his second. Ben Bament was rested from the off due to his importance to Saturday’s big game and he had a chance just seconds after being introduced on the hour. Nielsen found Gosling whose deep cross was headed just wide by Bament. City got a fourth in a carbon copy counterattack. Billy Phillips escaped down the right and fired home low into the corner. Farm were deterred but their finishing was much below their usual standard. Top scorer Howe lashed over a presentable chance inside the box before Bament’s attempted lobbed finish was caught by Caserande.
STAR MAN – Luco Ponsillo.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]