City secure narrow victory in pre-season opener. An avalanche of goals never materialised at the Lancer Scott Stadium despite City controlling the entire 90 minutes at the home of modest opposition. Neither Kelle Roos nor Reice Charles-Cook â both trialist goalkeepers â were unduly tested by their Toolstation Western League hosts, but only a solitary Joe Bryan strike just before half-time separated the sides on the scoreboard. Cityâs first statement of intent arrived in the sixth minute when skipper Liam Kelly stung the palms of goalkeeper Gary Clarke from distance, before the Ashton & Backwell number one made a superb stop to keep out Steven Davies at point-blank range. The Robins were unsurprisingly dominant, and went close again inside the opening ten minutes when Ryan Taylor struck the woodwork. The impressive Brendan Moloney crossed deep towards Davies, who headed the ball back across goal for his strike partner, only for Taylor to see his first-time shot on the turn bounce back into play off the underside of the crossbar. New faces Aden Flint and Derrick Williams were the starting centre-back duo, and the former Swindon Town man came close to opening the scoring but headed Martin Woodsâ right-wing corner just wide of goal. On-trial midfielder Woods was at the heart of things again when he fed the marauding Moloney, but the right-back was denied at the last by an excellent sliding challenge. Woods was becoming more influential drifting inside from the right flank and threaded a neat pass in behind the defence for Davies who could only blaze his right-footed attempt over the top. Youngsters Tom King and Bobby Reid both tested Clarke from distance before Bryan finally broke the deadlock in style. Picking the ball up 25 yards from goal just outside the left corner of the penalty area, the winger unleashed a ferocious left-footed drive into the far corner of the net via the keeperâs fingertips. Eleven changes at the interval meant City had to find a new rhythm, but Toby Ajala and Aaron Amadi-Holloway were both kept at bay by Unitedâs replacement stopper Lewis Coombes, before Greg Cunninghamâs cross to the far post found James Wilson sliding in but off target on the stretch. Cunningham himself looked to have found the elusive second when he finished off a fine team move, only to be denied by an offside flag at the end of the best piece of football of the game. Under-21 midfielder Luke Dobie showed glimpses of his talent, exchanging passes with Kevin Krans and firing a blistering drive just too high, before a subtle 20-yard chip over Coombes would not come down in time. All in all it was the most comfortable of evenings for Sean OâDriscollâs side, even if Cityâs dominance was not ultimately reflected by the result. City first half: Roos, Moloney, Flint, Williams, King, Woods, Kelly, Reid, Bryan, Taylor, Davies. Second half: Charles-Cook, Wilson, Carey, Fontaine, Cunningham, Ajala, Kilkenny, Wynter, Dobie, Krans, Amadi-Holloway.
