Simon Ireland issues instructions from the touchline
ALBION 1
Hoskins 9
*
BRISTOL CITY 1
Pearson 80A goalscoring return for Will Hoskins was not enough to prevent Albion’s under-21s being held to a frustrating draw by Bristol City.
The forward, who has spent more than 12 months out of action with a cruciate ligament injury, broke the deadlock just nine minutes into his 30-minute comeback after coolly side-footing Jeffrey Monakana’s cross into the net.
Hoskins had a chance to double Albion’s tally just minutes later, as he latched onto Charlie Harris’s through-ball only to fire just wide of the target.
Albion continued to press the Robins in the first half, when Monakana drifted in from the right-hand side and saw his shot go narrowly wide after linking up well with Jesse Starkey.
Robin Deen then created another opportunity for Hoskins with a whipped ball into the box, but the returning forward headed past the near post.
In contrast, City struggled to create many chances, as Conor Evans almost slid the ball beyond keeper Christian Walton before Stephen Pearson tested the Albion shot-stopper with a well taken free-kick.
Monakana continued to look dangerous down the right-hand side, as he shot over the crossbar after drifting inside, before delivering a dangerous ball across the six-yard box that only just failed to find another Albion player.
City tried to force the issue a bit more after the break when Kevin Krans headed an effort straight at Walton from Joe Morrell’s cross, but Albion still carried a threat through Monakana. The winger drifted into the penalty area but shot straight at City keeper David Richards.
Starkey’s free-kick then tested the Robins backline, as the ball fell to Harris on the edge of the area, only for the midfielder to fire his effort over the bar.
The away side then managed to engineer a chance when Marley Bishop almost got the better of Ben Barclay inside the box, but the Robins forward lost his footing at the vital moment.
Albion still had chances to double their advantage, as Louis Carey was booked for a challenge on Monakana only for Starkey to shoot his effort straight at Richards.
Glen Rea then presented the Robins with a chance to equalise after receiving a booking for tugging back Pearson, but the forward blazed the resulting set-piece over the upright.
Jimmy Muitt also had an effort saved after some good interplay with Monakana, before City defender Tom King cleared the danger.
But the scores were level with ten minutes remaining, as Bishop played a one-two with Pearson, with the latter sliding the ball home past Walton.
Both sides put in some crunching challenges in the closing stages in search of a second winning goal, as Monakana was forced off injured after a strong tackle by Gus Mafuta. Courtney Richards then entered the referee’s book for a late tackle on Joe Morrell.
Walton then made himself big to deny Bishop from inside the box as the two sides shared the spoils.
Albion: Walton (GK); Deen, Barclay, Rea, Hunt; Monakana (Mar-Larusson 87) Harris, Richards; Hoskins (Davis 35), Starkey, Muitt. Subs not used: Wray (GK), Barnett, Wiltshire.
Original article