Bristol City U21 Dominates AFC Bournemouth in 5-0 Victory

Bristol City Under-21s delivered an emphatic performance with a 5-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth at a windy Robins High Performance Centre on September 30, 2024. Billy Phillips was instrumental in the win, scoring twice for the dominant Young Robins.

The match also provided valuable playtime for Rob Atkinson, Ross McCrorie, and Adam Murphy as part of their recuperation processes from injury. Harry Cornick, whose appearances with the first team have been limited this season, also participated in the match.

The Young Robins took the lead in the 12th minute through Phillips, who finished a well-placed pass from Elijah Morrison after a swift run down the left flank. Just six minutes after the opening goal, Bristol City was awarded a double opportunity to strengthen their lead. However, efforts by Jed Meerholz and Phillips were denied by Bournemouth’s goalkeeper McKenna and the defense in succession.

Bournemouth showed resilience, with Stuttle attempting to equalize after intercepting a pass, but City’s Josey Casa-Grande made a crucial save. City regained momentum and pressured Bournemouth’s defense, with Joseph James crafting a crucial pass in the 37th minute that led to Phillips nearly scoring again.

Into the second half, City maintained pressure, and in the 50th minute, Murphy doubled the score with a spectacular half-volley goal following sustained pressure from successive corners. Opportunities continued to arise for City, with Meerholz, Backwell, and Cornick all testing Bournemouth’s defense.

Phillips secured his second goal after an intense play involving Cornick and Meerholz, putting City 3-0 up. Substitutes Raphael Araoye and Marley Rose capitalized on the continued pressure, adding goals in stoppage time.

Araoye scored first in the 91st minute, reacting quickly to convert after Rose’s corner hit the crossbar. Later, in the 95th minute, Rose concluded the match with a stunning strike, solidifying a comprehensive 5-0 win.

Next, the young squad is set to face Queens Park Rangers away at Loftus Road on October 8, 2024, promising another competitive outing for the team.

The encounter saw bookings for Winterburn of AFC Bournemouth and Rose of Bristol City, overseen by referee Steven Swan. The match lineups featured multiple changes and showcased both teams’ burgeoning talents.