Defeat for Bristol City as Coventry City win the PDL2 National Final at Ashton Gate

There is some real talent coming through at Bristol City and when the long-serving Brian Tinnion says the current batch is the best that he has seen then it is worth a mention.

But Tuesday evening was not the occasion of the team in red, as the home side were defeated by Coventry City in the PDL2 final.

Bristol City were caught out in the opening seconds: 21-year-old Portuguese forward Fabio Tavares beat Callum Wood before picking out Romanian team-mate Marco Rus to finish from close range, before Wales U19s midfielder Ryan Howley scored a second all within eight minutes.

Owura Edwards got back on the scoresheet, after scoring a gem in the semi-final at York, just before the break before Tommy Conway arrowed into the corner with half an hour remaining. That made it 2-2.

The Sky Blues nicked it when defender Jay McGrath’s shot took a heavy deflection off George Burroughs to settle in the corner of the Bristol City goal with 10 minutes remaining.

The Professional Development League 2 - the national competition for Category 2 academies across the UK - culminated at Ashton Gate but perhaps Bristol City showed where their true focus lies as key defender Duncan Idehen was withdrawn from the fixture to have minor surgery to be ready in time for senior pre-season.

That defensive ability was sorely missed in the opening stages of this defeat as Coventry surged into the lead.

Currently 28 teams in the UK have been given Cat 1 status, but the Robins were contesting to be the league winners from those teams outside of that. That looked unlikely given the bad start.

After semi-final heartbreak, losing in the last minutes of injury time to Birmingham a year ago, Bristol City went a stage further - making the final - and though the West Country outfit rallied from two down in this game, much to their credit, the opportunity to grab a trophy was missed.

After winning the South Section last year, the completion of the Robins High Performance Centre, heavy senior involvement and a substantial commitment to youth, it’s nights like this that the club will cherish and local supporters will too, but it was not to be here.

But the emphasis is on learning and player development. As Lee Johnson asked several years ago, perhaps Bristol City have their own Jude Bellingham in the ranks at BS3. Matches like this may help forge such a talent.

Tale of the game

It was only two weeks ago that Bristol City beat their opponents 4-2 up at the Failand training ground, with Sam Bell, Saikou Janneh - missing from this game - and Tommy Conway (2) all finding the net.

Coventry played a similar side to then, and the Sky Blues made a fast start: a goal after just 200 seconds as the impressive Fabio Tavares broke down the right, bypassed centre-back Callum Wood, and found Rus in the area to slot under Will Buse.

Four minutes later, it was two - as Buse saved an initial shot, following Ricardo Dinganga running through the box, only for Howley to neatly slot in the rebound. A mountain to climb for the hosts.

On 17 minutes it was almost three as winger Will Bapaga hit the post when beautifully collecting a long ball. Just before that, Edwards had been unable to combine with his team-mates as the pitch opened up for the Robins attacker.

Taylor and Wood swapped positions (from full-back to centre-back, and vice-versa) to help the side in red get in the game but there was little service for dangermen Conway and Sam Bell, as an Edwards cross was over hit in the 23rd minute.

A great McGrath block on the half hour mark stopped Sam Bell netting and the Robins pressed as Marley Rose earned a free kick in a dangerous area, took it himself and forced a good save from Coventry goalkeeper Cian Tyler.

An even better save denied Conway seconds later as the forward scavenged in front of goal and had just the goalkeeper to beat.

Bristol City kept driving on and the top scorers in the competition were always likely to pose a threat - and that solidified when Zac Bell crossed from the Robins’ right and Edwards volleyed in from close range.

A second goal in successive games for the former Colchester United loanee halved the deficit, and Ryley Towler was well placed to clear off the line when Dinanga almost scored in the final minutes of the first half in reply.

Howley dragged wide just after the break, and Towler set the tempo with a crunching sliding tackle as Buse made a brilliant save to tip another Howley effort on goal - a stooping near-post header - over the bar.

Back came the Young Robins and after the normally reliable and impressive Sky Blues midfield conductor Jonny Ngandu gifted away possession, parity was restored.

Sub Tommy Backwell fed Conway who darted into the area and fired low into the far corner of the goal just before the hour mark. All to play for with half an hour to go.

Josh Reid and Sam Bell both fired over the bar before 70 minutes was up but it was Coventry who scored next. McGrath shot from the edge of the area and the ball deflected into the corner of the goal. Buse had little chance.

Tyler denied Sam Bell with six minutes left after a delicious Backwell pass, and an unsightly melee punctuated the final seconds of normal time, as six minutes of additional stoppage time was played out.

Josh Owers’ last-gasp header was cleared off the line following Backwell’s free kick, and the final whistle went. Coventry City win the PDL2 2021/22 competition.

Who stood out

A fantastic last ditch tackle from Wood in the 26th minute stopped an early goal, after the same player had been beaten by Tavares in the opening minutes for the first score.

Meanwhile, Kadji was a rampaging presence through the middle as per usual for the Young Robins. The central midfielder is expected to get senior recognition next season.

Sam Bell’s electric movement unruffled the team in blue and Coventry U23s boss Luke Tisdale’s side struggled to contain the sharp-shooter at times.

Towler’s clearance off the line was crucial to keep the Robins in the game and Buse was excellent coming off his line.

Zac Bell grabbed a welcome assist to go with his always energetic and aggressive defending, and James Taylor was a sure presence at the back.

Marley Rose showed superb footwork and looks a good prospect while Tommy Conway showed his undoubted great finishing ability as he netted an 11th goal in 13 games at this level.

Josh Owers put in a combative shift in the middle as Edwards was not given enough of the ball, as he at times slalomed past defenders with ease and scored a delightful volley to drag his team back into the contest.

Mention too for the substitutes: Backwell passed well and almost changed the game, while 17-year-old Olly Thomas’ time will come, as will young forward Seb Palmer-Houlden, who has scored freely this year for the U18s and U23s.

Bristol City U23s XI:

Buse; Z Bell, Wood (Backwell 59’), Towler, Taylor; Owers, Kadji (Palmer Houlden, 79’); Edwards; Conway, S Bell, Rose (Thomas 63’).